Nature News -- ScienceDaily
Nature. Read the latest scientific research on the natural world, ecology and climate change.
Why women live longer than men, explained by evolution
Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:39:43 EDT
An international team of researchers led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, working with 15 collaborators around the world, has conducted the most comprehensive study yet of lifespan differences between the sexes in mammals and birds. Their findings shed new light on one of biology??s enduring mysteries: why males and females age differently.
A 151-million-year-old fly just changed what we know about evolution
Wed, 15 Oct 2025 04:06:53 EDT
Scientists have uncovered a 151-million-year-old midge fossil in Australia that challenges long-held views about insect evolution. Named Telmatomyia talbragarica, the fossil shows freshwater adaptations previously thought to exist only in marine species. This discovery suggests that Chironomidae may have originated in Gondwana, offering new insight into ancient biogeographical patterns.
A hidden temperature law governs all life on Earth
Sat, 25 Oct 2025 23:54:42 EDT
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists at Trinity College Dublin have identified a "universal thermal performance curve" that governs how all living organisms respond to temperature. This finding reveals that evolution has been unable to escape a single, unifying rule linking performance and heat across every branch of life??from bacteria and plants to reptiles and fish. The curve shows that while organisms perform better as temperatures rise, performance rapidly collapses beyond an optimal point, posing grave risks in a warming world.
Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:54:51 EST
Beneath the ocean??s surface, bacteria have evolved specialized enzymes that can digest PET plastic, the material used in bottles and clothes. Researchers at KAUST discovered that a unique molecular signature distinguishes enzymes capable of efficiently breaking down plastic. Found in nearly 80% of ocean samples, these PETase variants show nature??s growing adaptation to human pollution.
This flower smells like dying ants, and flies can??t resist it
Thu, 25 Sep 2025 04:07:22 EDT
Vincetoxicum nakaianum tricks flies into pollinating it by imitating the smell of ants attacked by spiders. Ko Mochizuki stumbled upon this finding when he noticed flies clustering around the flowers and later confirmed their unusual preference. The study reveals the first known case of ant odor mimicry in plants, expanding our understanding of how diverse floral deception can be.
A warming Earth could accidentally trigger a deep freeze
Sun, 02 Nov 2025 05:02:16 EST
Earth??s climate balance isn??t just governed by the slow weathering of silicate rocks, which capture carbon and stabilize temperature over eons. New research reveals that biological and oceanic feedback loops??especially involving algae, phosphorus, and oxygen??can swing the planet??s temperature far more dramatically.
A ??scary? new spider species found beneath California??s beaches
Sun, 02 Nov 2025 21:28:59 EST
UC Davis scientists uncovered Aptostichus ramirezae, a new trapdoor spider species living under California??s dunes. Genetic analysis revealed it was distinct from its close relative, Aptostichus simus. The species was named after pioneering arachnologist Martina Ramirez. Researchers warn that shrinking coastal habitats could threaten both species?? survival.
Insects are disappearing from the last places we thought were safe
Tue, 23 Sep 2025 01:51:44 EDT
A long-term study in Colorado reveals that insect populations are plummeting even in remote, undisturbed areas. Over two decades, flying insect abundance dropped by more than 70%, closely linked to rising summer temperatures. The results suggest that climate change, not just human land use, is driving massive losses. Scientists warn that biodiversity hotspots, especially mountain ecosystems, are now at serious risk.
The Red Sea that vanished and the catastrophic flood that brought it back
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 04:27:10 EDT
Researchers at KAUST have confirmed that the Red Sea once vanished entirely, turning into a barren salt desert before being suddenly flooded by waters from the Indian Ocean. The flood carved deep channels and restored marine life in less than 100,000 years. This finding redefines the Red Sea??s role as a key site for studying how oceans form and evolve through extreme geological events.
55-million-year-old fossils reveal bizarre crocs that dropped from trees
Sat, 15 Nov 2025 02:32:26 EST
Scientists uncovered Australia??s oldest known crocodile eggshells, revealing the secret lives of ancient mekosuchine crocodiles that once dominated inland ecosystems. These crocs filled surprising niches, including terrestrial stalking and possibly tree-dropping ambushes.
A crisis deepens as African penguins compete with fishing fleets for food
Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:56:42 EST
During years of scarce fish, African penguins crowd into the same areas as commercial fishing vessels, heightening competition for dwindling prey. A new metric called ??overlap intensity? shows how many penguins are affected and is already shaping improved conservation policies.
Humans evolved faster than any other ape
Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:55:32 EDT
UCL scientists found that human skulls evolved much faster than those of other apes, reflecting the powerful forces driving our brain growth and facial flattening. By comparing 3D models of ape skulls, they showed that humans changed about twice as much as expected. The findings suggest that both cognitive and social factors, not just intelligence, influenced our evolutionary path.
Birds around the world share a mysterious warning cry
Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:11:13 EDT
Birds across the globe independently evolved a shared warning call against parasites, blending instinct and learning in a remarkable evolutionary pattern. The finding offers a rare glimpse into how cooperation and communication systems evolve across species.
A 400-million-year-old plant creates water so weird it looks alien
Thu, 13 Nov 2025 03:31:03 EST
Researchers discovered that living horsetails act like natural distillation towers, producing bizarre oxygen isotope signatures more extreme than anything previously recorded on Earth??sometimes resembling meteorite water. By tracing these isotopic shifts from the plant base to its tip, scientists unlocked a new way to decode ancient humidity and climate, using both modern plants and fossilized phytoliths that preserve isotopic clues for millions of years.
Closest alien civilization could be 33,000 light years away
Sun, 12 Oct 2025 04:51:44 EDT
Complex, intelligent life in the galaxy appears vanishingly rare, with the nearest possible civilization perhaps 33,000 light-years distant. Yet despite the odds, scientists insist that continuing the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is essential ?? for either outcome reshapes our understanding of life itself.
Soil microbes remember drought and help plants survive
Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:47:40 EDT
Researchers discovered that soil microbes in Kansas carry drought ??memories? that affect how plants grow and survive. Native plants showed stronger responses to these microbial legacies than crops like corn, hinting at co-evolution over time. Genetic analysis revealed a key gene tied to drought tolerance, potentially guiding biotech efforts to enhance crop resilience. The work connects ecology, genetics, and agriculture in a novel way.
From gentle giants to ghostly hunters, sharks face an unseen peril
Sat, 04 Oct 2025 09:29:09 EDT
New research reveals that deep-sea mining could dramatically threaten 30 species of sharks, rays, and ghost sharks whose habitats overlap with proposed mining zones. Many of these species, already at risk of extinction, could face increased dangers from seafloor disruptions and sediment plumes caused by mining activity.
A tiny mineral may hold the secret to feeding billions sustainably
Wed, 24 Sep 2025 01:22:30 EDT
Rice, a staple for billions, is one of the most resource-hungry crops on the planet??but scientists may have found a way to change that. By applying nanoscale selenium directly to rice plants, researchers dramatically improved nitrogen efficiency, boosted yields, and made grains more nutritious while reducing fertilizer use and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists discover 14 strange new species hidden in the deep sea
Sun, 02 Nov 2025 21:12:17 EST
Scientists are revolutionizing how new marine species are described through the Ocean Species Discoveries initiative. Using advanced lab techniques, researchers recently unveiled 14 new species from ocean depths exceeding 6,000 meters. Their findings include a record-setting mollusk, a carnivorous bivalve, and a popcorn-like parasitic isopod. The project aims to make taxonomy faster, more accessible, and globally collaborative.
Scientists discover orchids sprouting from decaying wood
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:09:34 EDT
Kobe University researchers found that orchids rely on wood-decaying fungi to germinate, feeding on the carbon from rotting logs. Their seedlings only grow near deadwood, forming precise fungal partnerships that mirror those seen in adult orchids with coral-like roots. This discovery highlights a hidden carbon pathway in forest ecosystems and explains the evolution of fully fungus-dependent orchid species.
Scientists just found rare spores inside a fossil older than dinosaurs
Sat, 27 Sep 2025 02:58:01 EDT
Scientists reclassified a long-misunderstood fossil from Brazil as a new genus, Franscinella riograndensis. Using advanced microscopy, they discovered spores preserved in situ??a rare find that links fossil plants to microfossil records. The breakthrough reshapes knowledge of Permian ecosystems and highlights the power of revisiting classic fossils with new tools.
Scientists uncover a hidden universal law limiting life??s growth
Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:28:34 EST
Japanese researchers uncovered a universal rule describing why life??s growth slows despite abundant nutrients. Their ??global constraint principle? integrates classic biological laws to show that multiple factors limit cellular growth in sequence. Verified through E. coli simulations, it provides a powerful new lens for studying living systems. The work could boost crop yields and biomanufacturing efficiency.
Scientists shocked as birds soaked in ??forever chemicals? still thrive
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:09:36 EDT
Tree swallows in polluted U.S. regions are accumulating high levels of ??forever chemicals.? These durable pollutants, used in firefighting foams and consumer products, are found everywhere from soil to human blood. Surprisingly, researchers observed no significant impact on the birds?? reproduction, suggesting possible resilience in wild populations.
Archaeologists uncover lost land bridge that may rewrite human history
Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:04:36 EDT
New research along Turkey??s Ayvalık coast reveals a once-submerged land bridge that may have helped early humans cross from Anatolia into Europe. Archaeologists uncovered 138 Paleolithic tools across 10 sites, indicating the region was a crucial migration corridor during the Ice Age. The findings challenge traditional migration theories centered on the Balkans and Levant, suggesting instead that humans used now-vanished pathways across the Aegean.
A 480-million-year-old parasite still infects oysters today
Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:52:56 EST
Researchers discovered fossil evidence showing that spionid worms, parasites of modern oysters, were already infecting bivalves 480 million years ago. High-resolution scans revealed their distinctive question mark-shaped burrows. The finding highlights a parasitic behavior that has remained unchanged for nearly half a billion years.
Warm ocean beneath Saturn??s icy moon Enceladus may be perfect for life
Sun, 09 Nov 2025 03:46:46 EST
NASA??s Cassini mission has revealed surprising heat flow at Enceladus?? north pole, showing the moon releases energy from both ends. This balance of heat could allow its subsurface ocean to remain liquid for billions of years, supporting conditions for life. The study also refined estimates of ice thickness, giving scientists a clearer picture of where to search next.
Before plants or animals, fungi conquered Earth??s surface
Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:11:34 EDT
Fungi??s evolutionary roots stretch far deeper than once believed ?? up to 1.4 billion years ago, long before plants or animals appeared. Using advanced molecular dating and gene transfer analysis, researchers reconstructed fungi??s ancient lineage, revealing they were crucial in shaping Earth??s first soils and ecosystems.
Ancient fish with human-like hearing stuns scientists
Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:54:45 EST
Long ago, some saltwater fish adapted to freshwater ?? and in doing so, developed an extraordinary sense of hearing rivaling our own. By examining a 67-million-year-old fossil, researchers from UC Berkeley discovered that these ??otophysan? fish didn??t evolve their sensitive Weberian ear system in rivers, as long thought, but rather began developing it in the ocean before migrating inland. This new timeline suggests two separate invasions of freshwater, explaining why so many freshwater species exist today.
Tiny protein pairs may hold the secret to life??s origin
Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:29:18 EDT
A team from the University of Illinois has uncovered surprising evolutionary links between the genetic code and tiny protein fragments called dipeptides. By analyzing billions of dipeptide sequences across thousands of species, the researchers revealed that these molecular pairs trace the earliest steps in the origin of life.
Birds, not wind, brought life to Iceland??s youngest island
Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:41:48 EST
When Surtsey erupted from the sea in 1963, it became a living experiment in how life begins anew. Decades later, scientists discovered that the plants colonizing this young island weren??t carried by the wind or floating on ocean currents, but delivered by birds ?? gulls, geese, and shorebirds serving as winged gardeners. Their findings overturn long-held beliefs about seed dispersal and reveal how deeply interconnected life truly is.
They??re smaller than dust, but crucial for Earth??s climate
Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:54:52 EDT
Coccolithophores, tiny planktonic architects of Earth??s climate, capture carbon, produce oxygen, and leave behind geological records that chronicle our planet??s history. European scientists are uniting to honor them with International Coccolithophore Day on October 10. Their global collaboration highlights groundbreaking research into how these microscopic organisms link ocean chemistry, climate regulation, and carbon storage. The initiative aims to raise awareness that even the smallest ocean dwellers have planetary impact.
Soil warming experiments challenge assumptions about climate change
Wed, 17 Sep 2025 02:08:51 EDT
Heating alone won??t drive soil microbes to release more carbon dioxide ?? they need added carbon and nutrients to thrive. This finding challenges assumptions about how climate warming influences soil emissions.
Animals are developing the same chronic diseases as humans
Mon, 17 Nov 2025 03:21:37 EST
Across the planet, animals are increasingly suffering from chronic illnesses once seen only in humans. Cats, dogs, cows, and even marine life are facing rising rates of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and obesity ?? diseases tied to the same factors affecting people: genetics, pollution, poor nutrition, and stress. A new study led by scientists at the Agricultural University of Athens proposes a unified model linking these conditions across species.
Strange new hybrid bird spotted in Texas backyard
Sat, 20 Sep 2025 23:45:10 EDT
In Texas, biologists have documented an extraordinary bird ?? the natural hybrid offspring of a green jay and a blue jay. Once separated by millions of years of evolution and distinct ranges, the two species were brought together as climate change expanded their territories. A backyard birder??s photo led to the discovery, and after years of elusiveness, scientists confirmed the bird??s identity through genetic testing.
A pink bumpy snailfish was just discovered miles beneath the ocean
Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:31:52 EDT
Scientists have identified three new species of deep-sea snailfish, including the strikingly pink ??bumpy snailfish,? thanks to MBARI??s advanced technology and global collaborations. Found thousands of meters below the surface off California, these elusive fish demonstrate remarkable adaptations for life under crushing pressure and darkness.
Scientists uncover a mysterious Jurassic lizard with snake-like jaws
Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:40:13 EDT
A strange Jurassic lizard discovered on Scotland??s Isle of Skye is shaking up what we know about snake evolution. Named Breugnathair elgolensis, the ??false snake of Elgol? combined hook-like, python-style teeth and jaws with the short body and limbs of a lizard. Researchers spent nearly a decade studying the 167-million-year-old fossil, revealing that it belonged to a newly defined group of squamates and carried features of both snakes and geckos.
Glowing shark and hidden crab found deep off Australia
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:09:43 EDT
In a stunning glimpse into the mysteries of the deep, scientists have uncovered two new marine species off Western Australia??a glowing lanternshark and a tiny porcelain crab. The discoveries, made from specimens collected during a 2022 CSIRO research voyage, highlight both the dazzling adaptations of life in the deep sea and the vast number of species yet to be described.
A new microscopy breakthrough is revealing the oceans?? invisible life
Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:57:07 EDT
A pandemic-era breakthrough has allowed scientists to literally expand our view of plankton. By using ultrastructure expansion microscopy, researchers visualized the inner workings of hundreds of marine species for the first time. The effort, tied to the TREC expedition, maps the evolutionary architecture of life??s smallest ocean dwellers. It??s the start of a global atlas revealing how complexity evolved beneath the waves.
Scientists finally discover what??s fueling massive sargassum blooms
Wed, 19 Nov 2025 03:56:56 EST
Massive Sargassum blooms sweeping across the Caribbean and Atlantic are fueled by a powerful nutrient partnership: phosphorus pulled to the surface by equatorial upwelling and nitrogen supplied by cyanobacteria living directly on the drifting algae. Coral cores reveal that this nutrient engine has intensified over the past decade, perfectly matching surges in Sargassum growth since 2011. By ruling out older theories involving Saharan dust and river runoff, researchers uncovered a climate-driven process that shapes when and where these colossal seaweed mats form.
Meet the desert survivor that grows faster the hotter it gets
Sun, 09 Nov 2025 04:01:43 EST
In Death Valley??s relentless heat, Tidestromia oblongifolia doesn??t just survive??it thrives. Michigan State University scientists discovered that the plant can quickly adjust its photosynthetic machinery to endure extreme temperatures that would halt most species. Its cells reorganize, its genes switch on protective functions, and it even reshapes its chloroplasts to keep producing energy. The findings could guide the creation of crops capable of withstanding future heat waves.
Scientists just found a surprising twist in Earth??s extinction story
Mon, 27 Oct 2025 08:32:40 EDT
Extinction rates are not spiraling upward as many believe, according to a large-scale study analyzing 500 years of data. Researchers found that species losses peaked about a century ago and have decreased since, with different drivers shaping past and present threats. Whereas invasive species once caused most island extinctions, habitat destruction now looms largest on continents.
??Lost? giant rat found alive in Papua mountains after 30 years
Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:34:34 EDT
In the mist-shrouded mountains of New Guinea, a Czech researcher has achieved a world-first ?? capturing photos, video, and data of the elusive Subalpine Woolly Rat, Mallomys istapantap. Once known only from museum specimens, this giant, shaggy rodent has been rediscovered after three decades, revealing a hidden ecosystem of biodiversity. Working alongside indigenous hunters, the expedition not only unveiled new scientific insights but also strengthened the bridge between local knowledge and modern research ?? offering hope for conservation in one of the planet??s last unexplored frontiers.
Hidden bacterial molecules in the brain reveal new secrets of sleep
Thu, 25 Sep 2025 03:48:24 EDT
New studies show that a bacterial molecule, peptidoglycan, is present in the brain and fluctuates with sleep patterns. This challenges the idea that sleep is solely brain-driven, instead suggesting it??s a collaborative process between our bodies and microbiomes. The theory links microbes not only to sleep but also to cognition, appetite, and behavior, pointing to a profound evolutionary relationship.
Microbes that breathe rust could help save Earth??s oceans
Sun, 09 Nov 2025 09:41:02 EST
Researchers from the University of Vienna discovered MISO bacteria that use iron minerals to oxidize toxic sulfide, creating energy and producing sulfate. This biological process reshapes how scientists understand global sulfur and iron cycles. By outpacing chemical reactions, these microbes could help stop the spread of oceanic dead zones and maintain ecological balance.
Japan??s hot springs hold clues to the origins of life on Earth
Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:40:09 EDT
Billions of years ago, Earth??s atmosphere was hostile, with barely any oxygen and toxic conditions for life. Researchers from the Earth-Life Science Institute studied Japan??s iron-rich hot springs, which mimic the ancient oceans, to uncover how early microbes survived. They discovered communities of bacteria that thrived on iron and tiny amounts of oxygen, forming ecosystems that recycled elements like carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur.
Dinosaurs were thriving when the asteroid struck
Sun, 26 Oct 2025 11:05:11 EDT
Dinosaurs weren??t dying out before the asteroid hit??they were thriving in vibrant, diverse habitats across North America. Fossil evidence from New Mexico shows that distinct ??bioprovinces? of dinosaurs existed until the very end. Their extinction was sudden, not gradual, and the recovery of life afterward mirrored climate-driven patterns. It??s a powerful reminder of life??s adaptability and fragility.
A fierce crocodile ancestor that hunted before dinosaurs has been found
Wed, 12 Nov 2025 23:09:43 EST
Scientists have identified a new crocodile precursor that looked deceptively dinosaur-like and hunted with speed and precision. Named Tainrakuasuchus bellator, the armored ??warrior? lived 240 million years ago and occupied a powerful niche in the Triassic food chain. Its fossils reveal deep evolutionary links between South America and Africa. The find sheds light on a vibrant ecosystem that existed just before dinosaurs emerged.
Scientists stunned as island spider loses half its genome
Sun, 02 Nov 2025 21:48:10 EST
On the Canary Islands, scientists discovered that the spider Dysdera tilosensis has halved its genome size in just a few million years??defying traditional evolutionary theories that predict larger, more repetitive genomes in island species. This unexpected downsizing, revealed through advanced genomic sequencing, shows that despite its smaller DNA, the island spider is genetically more diverse than its continental relatives.
After 25 years, scientists solve the bird-eating bat mystery
Sun, 02 Nov 2025 01:06:24 EDT
After decades of mystery, scientists have finally proven that Europe??s largest bat, the greater noctule, hunts and eats small songbirds mid-air??more than a kilometer above ground. Using tiny biologgers strapped to bats, researchers recorded astonishing dives and mid-flight chewing sounds confirming bird predation long suspected but never observed.
Glowing sugars show how microbes eat the ocean's carbon
Sun, 19 Oct 2025 22:54:42 EDT
Researchers have developed a light-emitting sugar probe that exposes how marine microbes break down complex carbohydrates. The innovative fluorescent tool allows scientists to visualize when and where sugars are degraded in the ocean. This breakthrough helps map microbial activity and carbon cycling, providing new clues about how the ocean stores and releases carbon.
Scientists unearth a 112-million-year-old time capsule filled with ancient insects
Sat, 11 Oct 2025 11:33:09 EDT
Researchers have unearthed South America??s first amber deposits containing ancient insects in an Ecuadorian quarry, offering a rare 112-million-year-old glimpse into life on the supercontinent Gondwana. The amber, found in the Hollín Formation, preserved a diverse range of insect species and plant material, revealing a humid, resin-rich forest teeming with life.
Scientists grow a tiny human ??blood factory? that actually works
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:24:49 EST
Researchers have recreated a miniature human bone marrow system that mirrors the real structure found inside our bones. The model includes the full mix of cells and signals needed for blood production and even maintains this process for weeks. It could transform how scientists study blood cancers and test new drugs. In the future, it may support more personalized treatment strategies.
This tiny butterfly has the most chromosomes of any animal on Earth
Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:31:07 EDT
Scientists have confirmed that the Atlas blue butterfly carries the most chromosomes of any animal, with 229 pairs. Unlike duplication, its chromosomes split apart, reshaping its genome in surprising ways. This discovery sheds light on evolution, conservation, and even cancer research.
Life found in a place scientists thought impossible
Sun, 09 Nov 2025 05:05:38 EST
Deep beneath the ocean, scientists uncovered thriving microbial life in one of Earth??s harshest environments??an area with a pH of 12, where survival seems nearly impossible. Using lipid biomarkers instead of DNA, researchers revealed how these microbes persist by metabolizing methane and sulfate. The discovery not only sheds light on deep-sea carbon cycling but also suggests that life may have originated in similar extreme conditions, offering a glimpse into both Earth??s past and the limits of life itself.
DNA in seawater reveals lost hammerhead sharks
Sat, 08 Nov 2025 11:03:47 EST
A revolutionary eDNA test detects endangered hammerhead sharks using genetic traces left in seawater, eliminating the need to capture or even see them. This powerful tool could finally uncover where these elusive species still survive, and help protect them before they disappear for good.
Scientists reveal kissing began millions of years before humans
Fri, 21 Nov 2025 09:35:13 EST
Scientists have traced kissing back to early primates, suggesting it began long before humans evolved. Their analysis points to great apes and even Neanderthals sharing forms of kissing millions of years ago. The behavior appears to have persisted through evolution as a social or bonding tool. Yet its patchy presence across human cultures hints at a mix of biology and cultural invention.
Secret underwater language of Hawaiian monk seals has 25 new calls
Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:56:44 EST
Scientists have revealed that Hawaiian monk seals produce far more underwater vocalizations than previously believed. Their newly discovered 25-call repertoire includes complex combinations and a rare foraging-related call. These findings highlight an intricate acoustic world unfolding beneath the waves. The research opens the door to better protection strategies as human-made ocean noise continues to rise.
A volcano erased an island??s plants. Their DNA revealed how life starts over
Mon, 15 Sep 2025 23:33:10 EDT
Volcanic eruptions on the remote island of Nishinoshima repeatedly wipe the land clean, giving scientists a rare chance to study life??s earliest stages. Researchers traced the genetic origins of an extinct purslane population to nearby Chichijima but found striking quirks??evidence of a founder??s effect and genetic drift. These discoveries shed light on how plants recolonize harsh environments and how ecosystems evolve from scratch.
The billion-year reign of fungi that predated plants and made Earth livable
Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:53:40 EDT
Fungi may have shaped Earth??s landscapes long before plants appeared. By combining rare gene transfers with fossil evidence, researchers have traced fungal origins back nearly a billion years earlier than expected. These ancient fungi may have partnered with algae, recycling nutrients, breaking down rock, and creating primitive soils. Far from being silent background players, fungi were ecosystem engineers that prepared Earth??s surface for plants, fundamentally altering the course of life??s history.
DNA from old ants reveals a hidden insect apocalypse in Fiji
Sat, 20 Sep 2025 20:45:02 EDT
Insects are essential for ecosystems, but mounting evidence suggests many populations are collapsing under modern pressures. A new study used cutting-edge genomic techniques on museum specimens to track centuries of ant biodiversity across Fiji. The results reveal that nearly 80% of native ants are in decline, with losses intensifying in the past few hundred years as human activities expanded.
