https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/top/environment/ Top stories featured on ScienceDaily's Plants & Animals, Earth & Climate, and Fossils & Ruins sections. en-us Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:26:31 EDT Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:26:31 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/top/environment/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005012444.htm Scientists found that prolonged fasting triggers major changes throughout the body, but many of the most interesting effects only appeared after about three days without food. The results suggest fasting may influence health in ways that go beyond weight loss and could eventually inspire treatments that mimic its effects. Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:26:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005012444.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080023.htm Scientists have discovered that E-cadherin, a protein best known as the “glue” holding cells and tissues together, has a surprising second job: helping epithelial cells swallow nearby dead cells. Using live zebrafish and mouse embryos, researchers found that cells can dramatically reshape their lower surfaces to engulf cellular debris while keeping their upper surfaces stable, allowing protective barriers to remain sealed. Sun, 04 Oct 2026 23:12:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080023.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080013.htm Scientists have discovered a human gene with a remarkable double life: it appears to play an important role in brain cells while still retaining the ability to jump around the genome. Called BC200, the gene evolved millions of years ago from a mobile piece of DNA known as a transposon, but unlike most genes that arose this way, it never lost its mobility. Researchers even found BC200 embedded inside a human poxvirus, suggesting it may have jumped from infected skin cells into the virus. Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:06:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080013.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080012.htm A meteor crater buried beneath Oklahoma has turned out to be nearly 100 million years younger than scientists thought. Zircon crystals show the Ames impact occurred about 370 million years ago, meaning it was not part of the mysterious Ordovician bombardment once linked to a possible ring of debris around Earth. Instead, the impact coincided closely with a major mass extinction that devastated marine life. Sun, 04 Oct 2026 08:41:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080012.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001214120.htm A 30-year forestry experiment in Australia found that heavily thinned mountain ash forests grew unusually large trees while recovering enough carbon to match or exceed untouched areas. The results suggest carefully managed thinning could support timber production, wildlife habitat, and carbon storage at the same time. Sun, 04 Oct 2026 07:50:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001214120.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001214017.htm A new light-activated material can efficiently produce hydrogen from water without requiring an additional expensive metal catalyst. Researchers say its unusual sulfur-based chemistry could point toward cheaper and more practical ways to turn sunlight into clean fuel. Sun, 04 Oct 2026 07:11:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001214017.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001095521.htm Researchers say stress on Southern California’s San Andreas and San Jacinto faults has reached some of the highest levels seen in a 1,000-year simulation. Because both faults are highly stressed at the same time, the Cajon Pass junction may be increasingly primed for a rupture that could cross both systems, although the study does not predict when an earthquake will happen. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:58:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001095521.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001095319.htm The essential amino acid leucine can boost cellular energy production by protecting key proteins on mitochondria from being destroyed. The discovery reveals a new connection between nutrition and metabolism that could eventually lead to new approaches for metabolic disorders and cancer. Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:33:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001095319.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020329.htm Mysterious 97-million-year-old magnetic fossils may be the oldest evidence of an animal using Earth’s magnetic field like a built-in GPS. Their sophisticated magnetic structure could have helped an unknown ocean creature navigate thousands of kilometers with surprising precision. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:54:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020329.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020315.htm Scientists have identified two new species of large Australian stick insects, including one that lays extraordinary “lidded” eggs never before recorded in the group. The discovery also revealed that a familiar stick insect had been misidentified for decades, showing how much biodiversity may still be hiding in plain sight. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:59:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020315.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020257.htm A new protective fabric boosted strawberry yields by as much as 3.56 times while blocking insects and still allowing sunlight, rain, and airflow to reach the plants. Originally inspired by research on military clothing, Plant Armor could also help farms reduce pesticide and water use. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:43:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020257.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053546.htm Scientists may have found a clue to one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the origin of life: how fragile RNA molecules could gather and survive before cells existed. New research shows that RNA is unusually good at assembling into tiny liquid-like droplets that concentrate molecules and can harden into protective, gel-like structures. Remarkably, much of this behavior may come down to a single oxygen-containing chemical group that RNA has but DNA lacks. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:21:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053546.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053536.htm Wild blacktip sharks can detect low-frequency sounds from nearly 250 feet away, according to experiments conducted off the Florida coast. The sharks not only heard the sounds but sharply changed direction away from them, suggesting they could pinpoint where they were coming from. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:58:33 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053536.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053531.htm A huge genomic and fossil study suggests bats first evolved in Europe around 65 to 60 million years ago before spreading across the globe. The findings also indicate that flight and echolocation emerged near the beginning of bat evolution, potentially helping explain how bats became one of the most successful mammal groups on Earth. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 01:12:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053531.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053528.htm Enceladus may naturally separate and concentrate chemicals from its hidden ocean as droplets slowly freeze and shatter on their way into space. The process could explain Cassini’s puzzling ice-grain chemistry while giving future spacecraft a powerful advantage in searching for organic compounds and clues to life. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:58:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053528.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100603.htm Marine heatwaves may be only the most intense part of much longer warming events, with elevated temperatures sometimes lingering for months. Researchers found that conventional measurements underestimate total heat exposure by more than 150% on average, potentially overlooking a major source of stress on marine ecosystems. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:15:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100603.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100551.htm Mulberry compounds may reshape the gut microbiome in ways that support intestinal health and metabolism, with some combinations showing especially strong effects in animal studies. However, the results vary depending on the plant part and processing method, and the benefits have yet to be confirmed in humans. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 07:45:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100551.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100540.htm Scientists may have solved why the length of Earth’s day changes by a few milliseconds over decades. Subtle shifts in the inner core appear to tug on the mantle, revealing a surprisingly dynamic world thousands of kilometers beneath our feet. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 01:08:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100540.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100531.htm Mount Vesuvius’ famous 79 CE eruption has given scientists a remarkably precise benchmark for dating events deep in Earth’s past. The improved technique could sharpen the timelines of volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts, extinctions, and other major moments in geological history. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 05:37:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100531.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225036.htm A 245-million-year-old marine reptile fossil preserves an astonishing amount of detail, including its stomach, liver, and intestines. The discovery reveals that Austronaga minuta was highly adapted for swimming even though its digestive system remained surprisingly simple. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:39:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225036.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225032.htm Yellow-morph green sea turtles in the Galápagos surprised scientists by staying remarkably close to home instead of making the long journeys typically associated with sea turtles. Satellite tracking showed that none left the marine reserve during the study, revealing just how important the islands’ coastal habitats may be to their survival. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:12:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225032.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225027.htm Scientists have discovered a new tick-borne virus in China that causes flu-like illness and may account for previously unexplained cases of fever, fatigue, digestive problems, and low platelet counts. Most patients with ALTNV alone recovered, but coinfections with another dangerous tick-borne virus were linked to more serious complications. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 21:45:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225027.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093204.htm A beautifully preserved fossil from Mongolia’s Gobi Desert has solved a mystery that puzzled paleontologists for nearly 40 years. Tamirkhan balcarceli shows that zhelestids were not early relatives of modern placental mammals, despite having teeth that seemed to suggest they were. Instead, the rabbit-like animal belonged to a separate lineage of small Cretaceous mammals. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:25:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093204.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093201.htm Scientists have found that a famous 2-billion-year-old chemical signature, once thought to record a massive global change in Earth’s carbon cycle, may instead have been produced by local magma, hydrocarbons, and methane-eating microbes. The discovery raises new questions about what was really happening as oxygen transformed the young planet. Sat, 26 Sep 2026 10:38:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093201.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093155.htm Scientists resurrected antimicrobial peptides from mammals that lived millions of years ago and found that some were more potent against drug-resistant bacteria than modern human versions. These evolutionary relics could provide new clues for designing treatments as antibiotic resistance becomes an increasingly serious threat. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 05:59:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093155.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005447.htm Scientists studying ancient Australian rocks uncovered more than 12,000 fossils from some of the oldest known eukaryotes on Earth. These early complex cells lived in settings ranging from coastal mudflats to the open sea, but only where oxygen was available. Oxygen-free environments contained simpler microbes instead. The findings strengthen the idea that oxygen played a crucial role in the emergence of complex life. Sun, 27 Sep 2026 07:55:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005447.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005444.htm Ancient DNA shows that adults and children buried together in medieval Sweden were often not members of the same immediate family, suggesting that burial choices reflected more than biological kinship. The research also revealed early gender-based burial customs and uncovered the remarkable story of a young woman who may have completed a pilgrimage across Europe. Sat, 26 Sep 2026 22:49:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005444.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005441.htm Scientists have streamlined a method for measuring DNA-bound phosphorus in soil, making it cheaper and easier while preserving its accuracy. The technique could reveal how soil microbes help recycle phosphorus and ultimately support more sustainable fertilizer and nutrient management. Sun, 27 Sep 2026 08:10:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005441.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005414.htm Scientists discovered that tiny amounts of lead in ancient ink can make writing inside burned papyrus scrolls stand out dramatically in X-ray scans. The technique could help unlock lost Greek and Roman texts preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago. Sat, 26 Sep 2026 10:04:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005414.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005412.htm Scientists discovered two strange new sea spider species in the Salish Sea, including a hairy-legged, red-eyed species that can groom itself with comb-like appendages. Another is frequently covered in tiny parasites, and researchers say many more undiscovered sea spiders may still be hiding in the region. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 09:56:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005412.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924231826.htm Scientists have mapped the genetics of cat cancer on an unprecedented scale and found surprising similarities with tumors in humans. The findings could help bring precision cancer treatments to cats while also revealing new clues about how human cancers develop and respond to drugs. Sat, 26 Sep 2026 22:01:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924231826.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924231711.htm Scientists discovered rare flavoalkaloids in Cannabis leaves for the first time, along with dozens of other phenolic compounds that had never been reported in the plant. The findings suggest that Cannabis leaves, often discarded as waste, may contain a surprisingly rich source of potentially useful chemicals. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 21:25:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924231711.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924231343.htm Scientists have captured a subduction zone off Vancouver Island in the process of tearing itself apart, revealing that these massive tectonic systems may die piece by piece rather than all at once. The discovery could help explain ancient plate fragments, volcanic activity, and how hidden breaks beneath Cascadia may influence future earthquakes. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:20:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924231343.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020400.htm Scientists think beneficial fungi could help transform nutrient-poor lunar and Martian regolith into a material capable of supporting crops. By helping plants access nutrients and withstand harsh conditions, these microbes could someday make self-sustaining space farming more realistic. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 22:26:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020400.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020357.htm A magnet-producing bacterium extended the average lifespan of C. elegans worms by more than 43% while helping protect their neurological and intestinal health. Researchers traced much of the effect to suppression of ferroptosis, a damaging form of cell death linked to iron buildup and oxidative stress. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:52:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020357.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260923035936.htm Scientists discovered two tiny new snail species in Montenegro, showing that even Europe still holds animals unknown to science. One lives in the threatened Komarnica Canyon, where a proposed hydropower reservoir could destroy habitat before its full biodiversity is understood. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:59:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260923035936.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922222730.htm The Cascadia subduction zone and northern San Andreas fault may sometimes rupture in rapid succession, according to evidence preserved in 3,100 years of ocean sediments. Researchers identified unusual sediment layers suggesting that earthquakes on the two systems have occurred just minutes to hours apart, including around the massive Cascadia earthquake of 1700. If such synchronization happened again, several major West Coast cities could face emergencies at nearly the same time. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:07:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922222730.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922222558.htm Scientists have found strong observational evidence that a key part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation has been weakening across a wide stretch of ocean for nearly two decades. The slowdown could eventually reshape weather patterns, rainfall, storms, winters, and coastal sea levels around the Atlantic. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 01:09:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922222558.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005805.htm Scandinavian museums are trying to move beyond the familiar image of Vikings as sword-wielding male warriors, highlighting women, farmers, traders, and a far more complicated society. But the enduring popularity of the Viking myth means exhibitions often balance historical accuracy with stories that reflect modern ideas about national identity and culture. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:58:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005805.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005715.htm Stonehenge’s six-ton Altar Stone may have been carried from Scotland to Dogger Bank by glaciers before prehistoric people transported it hundreds of kilometers to Salisbury Plain. The possible multistage journey suggests remarkable organization and raises the possibility that the stone was valued long before it became part of Stonehenge. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:26:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005715.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005712.htm Some tropical trees have evolved a clever way to survive drought by taking in carbon dioxide at night, allowing them to keep their pores closed during the hot daytime and conserve water. By comparing three Clusia species, researchers discovered that this water-saving form of photosynthesis, known as CAM, did not arise through a single evolutionary change. Instead, ancient genome duplications followed by millions of years of genetic reshuffling produced strikingly different strategies, from strong CAM to stress-triggered and hybrid forms. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:05:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005712.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005709.htm A broken rib from Scotty, the largest known T. rex skeleton, contains an extraordinary fossilized network of blood vessels formed while the dinosaur was healing. Scientists used neutron and X-ray imaging to look inside the 66-million-year-old bone without damaging it, revealing details rarely preserved in fossils. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:20:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005709.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005701.htm Lake Powell has fallen to its lowest level on record after an exceptionally dry and warm winter left the Colorado River Basin with little mountain snow to melt. Lake Mead also reached record lows, raising concerns for a river system that supplies water and power to more than 40 million people. Federal officials have taken emergency steps to stabilize Lake Powell, including sending in water from another reservoir and reducing releases downstream. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:01:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005701.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005658.htm The Arctic sea ice melt season is roughly 40 days longer than it was in 1979, yet its rapid expansion unexpectedly leveled off around 2010. Scientists say changing clouds and increasingly thin ice may explain the pause, but continued Arctic warming could eventually trigger another period of rapid change. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:39:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005658.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005655.htm A Yellowstone super-eruption would begin not with a sudden surprise, but with weeks of increasingly alarming warning signs such as migrating earthquake swarms, rapid ground uplift, changing geysers, and rising volcanic gases. In a worst-case scenario, those signals could culminate in a VEI 8 eruption that blasts ash tens of kilometers into the atmosphere, unleashes deadly pyroclastic flows, buries parts of the western United States in ash, and cripples transportation, electricity, water systems, agriculture, and communications across much of North America. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:32:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005655.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081105.htm Researchers have created a concrete mixture that is both stronger and capable of absorbing carbon dioxide. The best formula, combining zeolite with bamboo biochar, boosted compressive strength by 7.48% and tensile strength by 15% compared with conventional concrete. It also captured about 1.2 grams of CO₂ per day in laboratory testing. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 07:46:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081105.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081101.htm An amateur astronomer searching satellite maps for a Quebec camping spot accidentally discovered a massive ancient impact crater. Scientists later found shatter cones that confirmed the 25-kilometer-wide structure was blasted into Earth roughly 390 million years ago. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 06:43:31 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081101.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081050.htm Researchers observed a humpback whale mother staying beside her presumed stillborn calf for hours and possibly days off Australia’s Gold Coast. She maintained eye contact and remained close to the calf in behavior resembling caregiving and nurturing. Scientists say the rare observation may provide new insight into grief, maternal attachment, and emotional complexity in humpback whales. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:05:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081050.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222410.htm Genetic evidence has revealed a previously unknown gentoo penguin species on the remote Kerguelen Islands and shown that gentoos actually consist of four distinct species. The discovery also highlights a growing threat, as warming oceans could leave several island populations with little suitable habitat by 2050. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:11:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222410.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222356.htm A large Amazon study suggests the most powerful conservation move may be protecting the forests that are already standing. Preventing damage from wildfires and logging delivered the greatest biodiversity benefits and nearly matched deforestation prevention for protecting carbon. Restoration remains important, particularly where forests have already been heavily cleared, but it was more expensive and less effective on its own. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 07:54:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222356.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031037.htm Nearly three decades of Hurricane Hunter data reveal four features that can help a tilted tropical cyclone straighten its circulation and become capable of intensifying. The findings could give forecasters an earlier warning that a seemingly disorganized storm is becoming primed to strengthen. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:29:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031037.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031035.htm Researchers may have solved a long-running mystery surrounding the Dead Sea Scrolls by proposing that the Qumran sect really did use its distinctive 364-day calendar. Its perfectly ordered 52-week system kept holidays on the same weekdays, but it slowly drifted out of sync with the seasons because it was shorter than the true solar year. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 07:58:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031035.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031033.htm Cats may identify one another through a surprisingly durable chemical “calling card” made from 13 unusual fatty acids in their urine. The compounds appear linked to mysterious fat droplets in the kidneys and may represent a scent-recognition system shared across the cat family. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:24:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031033.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm Chemical clues preserved inside fossilized T. rex teeth reveal that the dinosaur maintained a body temperature of about 97 degrees Fahrenheit, almost identical to humans. The finding provides direct evidence that the giant predator was warm-blooded, helping explain how it stayed active and survived in chilly environments as far north as Alaska. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:56:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919025248.htm A chemical that stops drywood termites from building new exoskeletons killed about 95% of colonies in testing, offering a potentially safer alternative to traditional fumigation. Because termites eventually have no choice but to molt, the treatment turns a normal stage of their life cycle into a fatal weakness. Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:29:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919025248.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024816.htm A newly discovered snake from New Guinea has been named after Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, who has loved reptiles since childhood. Genetic testing and physical differences confirmed that the reddish-brown groundsnake, Lielaphis slashi, is a species scientists had never formally recognized before. The nonvenomous snake may use large rear teeth to catch slippery lizards and reptile eggs. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:07:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024816.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024812.htm A single-celled organism can shrink to one-quarter of its length in milliseconds using a remarkable calcium-powered protein “fishnet.” Scientists hope its unusual machinery could inspire artificial muscles capable of moving far faster than today’s designs. Sat, 19 Sep 2026 07:39:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024812.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024810.htm A deep-sea microbe uses an exceptionally heat-resistant enzyme to turn atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia at temperatures that would destroy most proteins. Its unusual structure and a newly observed reaction state may reveal an ancient, shared mechanism behind nitrogen fixation and could eventually inspire cleaner biotechnology and fertilizer production. Sat, 19 Sep 2026 07:49:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024810.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024807.htm A 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil from Spain has been identified as the first confirmed Diplodocus ever found outside North America. The giant sauropod measured about 25 meters long and was preserved well enough for researchers to match distinctive features in its tail bones to the famous genus. Its unexpected appearance in Europe suggests dinosaurs were moving between the continents during the Late Jurassic, possibly across temporary land connections. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:51:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024807.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024759.htm Scientists are looking to diatoms, sea sponges, and plants for a cleaner way to recover rare earth elements and other valuable minerals hidden inside coal ash, red mud, and mine tailings. The bio-inspired approach could turn massive industrial waste piles into useful materials while reducing energy use, harsh chemicals, and reliance on new mining. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:08:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024759.htm