🧬 Latest in Biology

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• Melting glaciers mean an uncertain future for Europe's rivers
  Europe is warming faster than any continent. That's speeding up glacial melt, which is already threatening Europe's largest rivers.
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• Is it the magnesium or the massage? The facts about magnesium lotion for sleep
  Social media influencers claim that using lotion with magnesium promotes sleep. But there's little evidence magnesium taken in this way is effective.
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• Australia approves vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia
  Chlamydia in koalas can cause blindness, infertility and even death.
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• What you should know about the poisonous death cap mushroom species
  NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Prof. Anne Pringle, a mycologist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, about the latest research on death cap mushrooms, revealing new information about the enigmatic fungus.
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• Insect populations drop even without direct human interference, a new study finds
  Research published this month found that even in pristine, untouched areas, insect populations are still on the decline. Climate change is a likely culprit.
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• Health care costs are soaring. Blame insurers, drug companies — and your employer
  Some 154 million people in the United States get health care through their employer — and for many, their costs are about to go way up.
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• A play about the revolt of human workers — not machines — gave us the word 'robot'
  A Czech playwright introduced the word to English in the 1920s. But back then, it wasn't analogous to machinery. New interpretations of the robot reflect a modernity once skewered by the writer.
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• After 10 years of black hole science, Stephen Hawking is proven right
  Researchers have spent 10 years improving the massive detectors they use to catch shockwaves from colliding black holes, and now the science is precise enough to test one of Stephen Hawking's key ideas.
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• Inside the lab working to identify the remains of 9/11 victims
  1,100 people killed on 9/11 in New York City have not had any of their remains identified by authorities. The medical examiner's office is using new technology to identify more people.
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• Male tarantulas are moving and wooing their way across Colorado
  These hairy spiders spend almost all of their lives underground. But when it's time to mate, they must brave the great outdoors before they perish.
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• Scientists measure the 'natal kick' that sent a baby black hole careening through space for the first time
  Two black holes merged together 2.4 billion light years away from Earth, and scientists have just figured out how fast the newborn ricocheted, and in which direction.
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• 'Russian nesting doll' virus hides inside a deadly fungus, making it even more dangerous to people
  A virus found lurking inside a deadly fungus may make the microbe even stronger and harder to kill when it infects people.
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• Diet change could make brain cancer easier to treat, early study hints
  A new lab study exploited a unique aspect of metabolism in glioblastoma to boost the effectiveness of chemoradiation, turning the cancer's properties against itself.
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• Suunto Run fitness tracker review — Light, feature-packed and reasonably priced
  A budget-friendly, feature-rich fitness tracker good for sports and running if heart rate tracking isn’t your priority.
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• New EV battery tech could power 500-mile road trips on a 12-minute charge
  An EV battery breakthrough from Korea could help give lithium-metal tech the green light.
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• Potentially habitable, Earth-size exoplanet TRAPPIST-1e may have an atmosphere, James Webb telescope hints
  Scientists studying the rocky exoplanet TRAPPIST-1e may have found hints of an atmosphere. If confirmed, it could be an important step toward finding a habitable world outside our solar system.
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• The best star projector we've tested is 38% cheaper on Amazon, taking it to one of its lowest-ever prices
  The Orzorz Galaxy star projector delivers bright, high-resolution projections that rival more expensive products, and it comes highly recommended by our own star projector review team.
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• Pawnee Star Chart: A precontact elk-skin map used by Indigenous priests to tell an origin story
  The unique map depicts patterns of stars in the night sky, but its meaning is debated.
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• Where is Queen Boudica buried?
  The remains of Britain's national heroine — Queen Boudica of the Iceni tribe — are not under a train station in north London. So, where is her grave?
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• AI could use online images as a backdoor into your computer, alarming new study suggests
  Artificial-intelligence agents — touted as AI's next wave — could be vulnerable to malicious code hidden in innocent-looking images on your computer screen
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• 'Your fear is well-founded': How human activities have raised the risk of tick-borne diseases like Lyme
  Changes to forests, and how close people and their livestock live to them, have changed tick habitats and the risks humans face of Lyme disease and other illnesses.
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• Chinese scientists hunt for alien radio signals in 'potentially habitable' TRAPPIST-1 system
  Researchers in China have conducted the most thorough search yet for alien radio signals in the nearby TRAPPIST-1 system, which may harbor potentially Earth-like planets.
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• Scientists are closing in on Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA
  A groundbreaking project is piecing together Leonardo da Vinci’s genetic profile by tracing his lineage across 21 generations and comparing DNA from living descendants with remains in a Da Vinci family tomb. If successful, the effort could reveal new insights into Leonardo’s health, creativity, and even help confirm the authenticity of his works.
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• Who are the Papua New Guineans? New DNA study reveals stunning origins
  On remote islands of Papua New Guinea, people carry a story that ties us all back to our deepest roots. Although their striking appearance once puzzled scientists, new genetic evidence shows they share a common ancestry with other Asians, shaped by isolation, adaptation, and even interbreeding with mysterious Denisovans. Yet, their unique history — marked by survival bottlenecks and separation from farming-driven booms — leaves open questions about the earliest migrations out of Africa and whether their lineage holds traces of a forgotten branch of humanity.
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• Guava’s secret molecule could fight liver cancer
  Nature has long been the source of lifesaving medicines, from willow bark’s natural aspirin to new discoveries in tropical fruits. Now, chemists at the University of Delaware have pioneered a way to recreate powerful molecules from guava plants that show promise against liver cancer. Their method provides a low-cost, scalable recipe for scientists worldwide, sparking collaboration and potentially transforming cancer treatment.
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• Scientists just found hidden parasitic wasps spreading across the U. S.
  Researchers discovered two new parasitic wasp species living in the U.S., tracing their origins back to Europe and uncovering clues about how they spread. Their arrival raises fresh questions about biodiversity, ecological risks, and the role of citizen science in tracking hidden species.
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• Cannabis use may quadruple diabetes risk
  A massive study of over 4 million adults has revealed that cannabis use may nearly quadruple the risk of developing diabetes. Despite some earlier suggestions that cannabis might have metabolic benefits, this large analysis found significantly higher diabetes rates among users, even after adjusting for other health factors.
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• 150-million-year-old teeth expose dinosaurs’ secret diets
  By analyzing tooth enamel chemistry, scientists uncovered proof that Jurassic dinosaurs divided up their meals in surprising ways—some choosing buds and leaves, others woody bark, and still others a mixed menu. This dietary diversity helped massive plant-eaters coexist, while predators carved out their own niches.
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• The sweetpotato’s DNA turned out stranger than anyone expected
  Sweetpotato, a critical food crop for millions, has finally had its genetic code fully decoded after decades of mystery. Scientists unraveled its extraordinarily complex genome of six chromosome sets, revealing a hybrid origin stitched together from multiple wild ancestors. This achievement not only sheds light on sweetpotato’s remarkable adaptability and resilience but also provides powerful tools for breeders to create higher-yielding, more nutritious, and climate-resistant varieties.
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• Was mars once warm, wet, and ready for life
  Billions of years ago, Mars may not have been the frozen desert we see today. New simulations suggest that volcanic eruptions pumped out reactive sulfur gases, creating greenhouse effects strong enough to trap warmth and possibly liquid water. This strange sulfur-rich chemistry might have made the planet more Earth-like, even supporting microbial life in hydrothermal-style environments.
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• No one knows what these strange larvae grow into
  Not all barnacles just sit on rocks and ships. Some invade crabs, growing like a parasitic root system that hijacks their bodies. A mysterious group called y-larvae has baffled scientists for over a century, with no known adult stage. Genetic evidence now reveals they’re related to barnacles and may also be parasites — lurking unseen inside other creatures.
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• Scientists just discovered how octopuses really use their arms
  Octopuses aren’t just flexible—they’re astonishingly strategic. A new study reveals how their eight arms coordinate with surprising precision: front arms for exploring, back arms for locomotion, and every arm capable of twisting, bending, shortening, and elongating in unique ways. Researchers observed nearly 7,000 deformations across multiple habitats, capturing behaviors from camouflage tricks to elaborate hunting techniques. This insight doesn’t just unlock secrets of octopus biology, it could also inspire new innovations in robotics and neuroscience.
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• Surprising giant DNA discovery may be linked to gum disease and cancer
  Scientists in Tokyo have uncovered “Inocles,” massive strands of extrachromosomal DNA hidden inside bacteria in human mouths. These giants, overlooked by traditional sequencing, could explain how oral microbes adapt, survive, and impact health. Found in nearly three-quarters of people, Inocles carry genes for stress resistance and may even hint at links to diseases like cancer, opening a whole new frontier in microbiome research.
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• NASA's Perseverance rover finds clues to ancient Mars chemistry and possible life
  Mars’ Jezero Crater holds signs of ancient water and strange mineral reactions, some linked with organic compounds. With Perseverance’s samples and AI-refined mineral maps, scientists are closing in on whether Mars once had the chemistry needed for life.
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• Tarleton wins 2025 Student Chapter of Year Award
  Student chapter in Texas gives its members a leg up on wildlife experience upon graduation
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• Process begins to end Roadless Rule
  USDA has kicked off the process of rescinding the rule limiting road building and timber harvest
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• Janice Gardner wins Jim McDonough Award
  The award recognizes her dedication to wildlife—and supporting the people who protect it
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• Why are there no rats in Alberta?
  A unique combination of regulatory foresight and wildlife management has helped the province achieve the nearly unthinkable
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• Study reveals sex mismatches in wild birds
  Five bird species in four avian orders exhibit mismatches in genetic and physical sex
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• Christopher Rota and TJ Benson win McAtee/Burger Awards
  The awards honor associate editors of TWS’ Journal of Wildlife Management and Wildlife Society Bulletin
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• Texas cracks massive deer smuggling ring
  A wildlife smuggling bust unveils a statewide black market in captive deer trafficking and regulatory fraud
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• JWM: Swine fever drives starving tigers into Russian villages
  A drop in wild prey is leading to increasing conflict between humans and predators
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• Major expansion of hunting and fishing access
  Now 87,000 acres of public land are open to hunting and fishing
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• An herbivore by any other name
  Rethinking how we classify animals based on what they eat—and what it means for wildlife management
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