A groundbreaking expedition to Antarctica’s Denman Glacier has revealed how ancient DNA (aDNA) can help scientists predict the future of Earth’s ecosystems. As climate change accelerates, researchers are turning to genetic material preserved in marine life to reconstruct past environments and anticipate how ecosystems might respond to ongoing environmental shifts. The study, led by Australian ...
New research has revealed that biofluorescence in marine fishes is far more ancient and widespread than previously believed. Studies show that this glowing trait has evolved independently more than 100 times over the past 112 million years. Led by scientists from the American Museum of Natural History, the findings highlight the evolutionary significance of biofluorescence ...
Under the turquoise seas of Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago, a paradox exists: the very minerals driving the global green energy revolution are destroying one of Earth’s most biodiverse marine environments. Called the “Amazon of the Seas,” Raja Ampat boasts a rainbow of marine life and 75% of the coral species found worldwide. But nickel mining ...
A recent study has revealed that Alicella gigantea, a rarely sighted giant amphipod, is far more widespread than previously believed. Researchers from the University of Western Australia compiled data from multiple expeditions and genetic analyses, demonstrating that this deep-sea crustacean inhabits more than half of the world’s oceans. These findings challenge prior assumptions about the ...
The ocean is 71% of Earth’s surface, moderates our climate and feeds billions of us yet it is in trouble. Overfishing, plastic pollution and rising temperatures are driving marine ecosystems to the brink. The onus falls on the next month’s U.N. Ocean Conference in Nice, France, to be a turning point where all nations look these crises in ...
A previously unknown species of ribbon worm, Pararosa vigarae, has been discovered off the northwest coast of Spain. The marine worm, nicknamed the accordion worm, can shrink to one-fifth of its size when alarmed, forming distinct ring-like folds along its body. Scientists believe this unique contraction ability may serve as a defensive mechanism or aid ...
For decades, oyster reefs were considered relics of the past lost victims of overharvesting, pollution, and coastal development. But in a breathtaking find, scientists have revealed extensive, living oyster reefs running along Australia’s tropical north, some covering as much as five hectares and comparable to football fields in size. These reefs, concealed in plain sight, ...
