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Top stories featured on ScienceDaily's Plants & Animals, Earth & Climate, and Fossils & Ruins sections.

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Scientists create a type of catalog, the 'colocatome,' of non-cancerous cells' influence on cancer

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311190748.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 19:07

Scientists are using artificial intelligence to better capture how healthy cells surrounding tumors influence cancer cell behavior and how those interactions can inform treatments.

Medical infusion bags can release microplastics

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311154128.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 15:41

Microplastics have been found almost everywhere that scientists have looked for them. Now these bits of plastic -- from 1 to 62 micrometers long -- have been found in the filtered solutions used for medical intravenous (IV) infusions. The researchers…

technique to manipulate water waves to precisely control floating objects

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311122823.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:28

Where there's water, there are waves. But what if you could bend water waves to your will to move floating objects? Scientists have now developed a technique to merge waves in a water tank to produce complex patterns, such as twisting loops and swirling…

Arctic sea ice loss drives drier weather over California and wetter over Spain and Portugal

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311121657.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:16

On decadal timescales, the loss of Arctic ice favors the climate of the south-west of the United States -- and California in particular -- becoming drier on average, especially in winter. This phenomenon would also affect the climate of Spain and Portugal,…

A 62-million-year-old skeleton sheds light on an enigmatic mammal

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311121514.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:15

For more than 140 years, Mixodectes pungens, a species of small mammal that inhabited western North America in the early Paleocene, was a mystery. What little was known about them had been mostly gleaned from analyzing fossilized teeth and jawbone…

Microplastics could be fueling antibiotic resistance

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311121511.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:15

Researchers were shocked to see that bacteria's antimicrobial resistance is strengthened when exposed to plastic particles and point to a potential outsized impact on refugees.

Clothes dryers and the bottom line: Switching to air drying can save hundreds

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310201758.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 20:17

By replacing clothes dyers with line drying, households in the U.S. could save upwards of $2,100 and avoid 3 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of a dryer. The exact impacts, however, depend on what kind of dryer you have and where you…

Death by feral cat: DNA shows cats to be culprits in killing of native animals

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310201752.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 20:17

Feral cats have long been suspects in killing native species reintroduced into Australian conservation areas. DNA testing of the carcasses puts felines firmly in the frame.

Genetic mutations linked to toxin exposure found in firefighters' brain tumors

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310164014.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 16:40

In a study comparing the glioma tumors of firefighters and non-fighters, researchers found a mutational signature tied to exposure to haloalkanes, which are used in flame retardants, fire extinguishers, and pesticides.

Discovery: The great whale pee funnel moves vital nutrients

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310134206.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 13:42

Scientists have discovered that whales move nutrients thousands of miles -- in their urine -- from as far as Alaska to Hawaii. These tons of nitrogen support the health of tropical ecosystems and fish, where nitrogen can be limited. They call this movement…

Are volcanoes behind the oxygen we breathe?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310134201.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 13:42

It is widely believed that Earth's atmosphere has been rich in oxygen for about 2.5 billion years due to a relatively rapid increase in microorganisms capable of performing photosynthesis. Researchers provide a mechanism to explain precursor oxygenation…

Is red wine a healthier choice than white wine? Uncorking the cancer risks

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310131644.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 13:16

Researchers have conducted a study that scours 'the vast and often contradictory literature on the carcinogenicity of red and white wine' to assess whether this assumption holds up, and to compare the cancer risks associated with wine type.

A longer, sleeker super predator: Megalodon's true form

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250309203156.htm

Published: March 9, 2025 20:31

The megalodon has long been imagined as an enormous great white shark, but new research suggests that perception is all wrong. The study finds the prehistoric hunter had a much longer body -- closer in shape to a lemon shark or even a large whale.

Stretching spider silk makes it stronger

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250307144702.htm

Published: March 7, 2025 14:47

When they weave their webs, spiders pull their silk threads. New simulations show stretching during spinning causes the protein chains within the fibers to align and the number of hydrogen bonds between those chains to increase. Both factors increase the…

The unforseen effects of melting glaciers on Arctic coastal ecosystems

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250307125731.htm

Published: March 7, 2025 12:57

Researchers found that climate change induced glacial melt increases the heavy metal content and changes the microbiome of habitat-forming brown algae in Arctic fjords. As algae are at the basis of the food web, this will likely have cascading ecological…

Bacterial 'jumping genes' can target and control chromosome ends

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250306152929.htm

Published: March 6, 2025 15:29

Transposons, or 'jumping genes' -- DNA segments that can move from one part of the genome to another -- are key to bacterial evolution and the development of antibiotic resistance. Researchers have discovered a new mechanism these genes use to survive and…

Scientists identify genes that make humans and Labradors more likely to become obese

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250306152926.htm

Published: March 6, 2025 15:29

Researchers have discovered genes linked to obesity in both Labradors and humans. They say the effects can be over-ridden with a strict diet and exercise regime.

Study raises the possibility of a country without butterflies

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250306152922.htm

Published: March 6, 2025 15:29

A sweeping study for the first time tallies butterfly data from more than 76,000 surveys across the continental United States. The results: Butterflies -- all of them -- are disappearing.

World's oldest impact crater found, rewriting Earth's ancient history

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250306122924.htm

Published: March 6, 2025 12:29

Researchers have discovered the world's oldest known meteorite impact crater, which could significantly redefine our understanding of the origins of life and how our planet was shaped. The team found evidence of a major meteorite impact 3.5 billion years…

The chances of anything coming from Mars

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250305224007.htm

Published: March 5, 2025 22:40

Within the next decade, space agencies plan to bring samples of rock from Mars to Earth for study. Of concern is the possibility these samples contain life, which could have unforeseen consequences. Therefore, researchers in this field strive to create…

Insect populations are declining -- and that is not a good thing

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250305164747.htm

Published: March 5, 2025 16:47

Using two species of flies from different climates -- one from the cool, high-altitude forests of Northern California, the other hailing from the hot, dry deserts of the Southwest -- scientists discovered remarkable differences in the way each processes…

Damaged but not defeated: Bacteria use nano-spearguns to retaliate against attacks

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250305164444.htm

Published: March 5, 2025 16:44

Some bacteria deploy tiny spearguns to retaliate against rival attacks. Researchers mimicked attacks by poking bacteria with an ultra-sharp tip. Using this approach, they have uncovered that bacteria assemble their nanoweapons in response to cell envelope…

New antibodies show potential to defeat all SARS-CoV-2 variants

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250305164351.htm

Published: March 5, 2025 16:43

A team has found two antibodies that can work together to neutralize the virus that causes COVID-19 in all its current known variations in a laboratory environment. More research is needed, but the approach shows promise in developing treatments to keep…

Study reveals how rising temperatures could lead to population crashes

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304203829.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 20:38

Researchers have uncovered a critical link between rising temperatures and declines in a species' population, shedding new light on how global warming threatens natural ecosystems. The study revealed that rising temperatures exacerbate competition within…

Iron oxides act as natural catalysts to unlock phosphorus to fuel plant growth

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304164422.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 16:44

Plants and microbes are known to secrete enzymes to transform organic phosphorus into bioavailable inorganic phosphorus. Now, researchers report iron oxides can drive the same conversion at comparable rates as enzymes. The study adds yet another missing…

Bad bitterness made better for everyone: Global taste differences in the flavor of medicines

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304164408.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 16:44

Scientists examined the bitterness intensity of five medicines and two bitter modifiers in 338 adults of European descent and recent US and Canadian immigrants from Asia, South Asia, and Africa. Bitterness ratings differed by ancestry for two of the five…

Using computer science to save the bees

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304143401.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 14:34

Researchers have created a system to help beekeepers monitor and analyze the health of their beehives and take corrective actions to prevent colony collapse -- when a majority of the worker bees abandon the colony and its queen. Beehives use…

Breakthrough with biofuel: How alcohol damages microbes that produce it

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304143358.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 14:33

Researchers achieved a breakthrough in understanding the vulnerability of microbes to the alcohols they produce during fermentation of plant biomass.

White blood cells use brute force to dislodge bacteria

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304143355.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 14:33

A vivid new image is taking shape in the world of cell biology: Imagine bacteria adhering to the surface of a cell, perhaps at the site of an injury or wound. In response, a white blood cell arrives at the scene. This cell encircles the pathogen with its…

Motion capture: M. mobile's motility apparatus clarified

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304114327.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 11:43

The molecular structure of the motor component that powers the gliding apparatus of Mycoplasma mobile, one of the few mycoplasma bacteria that can move, has been revealed using cryo-electron microscopy.

Giant clone of seaweed in the Baltic Sea

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304114321.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 11:43

Researchers have discovered that what was previously thought to be a unique seaweed species of bladderwrack for the Baltic Sea is in fact a giant clone of common bladderwrack, perhaps the world's largest clone overall. The discovery has implications for…

Breakthrough in clean energy: Palladium nanosheets pave way for affordable hydrogen

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304114048.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 11:40

Hydrogen energy is widely recognized as a sustainable source for the future, but its large-scale production still relies on expensive and scarce platinum-based catalysts. In order to address this challenge, researchers have developed Bis(diimino)palladium…

Study establishes 'ball and chain' mechanism inactivates key mammalian ion channel

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304114037.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 11:40

A new study has unveiled a precise picture of how an ion channel found in most mammalian cells regulates its own function with a 'ball-and-chain' channel-plugging mechanism. The findings boost the understanding of ion channel biology and could lead to new…

Heat from the sun affects seismic activity on Earth

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250304113817.htm

Published: March 4, 2025 11:38

Researchers explore the likelihood that Earth's climate, as affected by solar heat, plays a role in seismic activity. Using mathematical and computational methods, they analyzed earthquake data alongside solar activity records and surface temperatures on…

Who gets the lion's share? Ecologists highlight disparities in global biodiversity conservation funding

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303215428.htm

Published: March 3, 2025 21:54

The extensive loss of biodiversity represents one of the major crises of our time, threatening not only entire ecosystems but also our current and future livelihoods. As scientists realize the magnitude and scale of ongoing extinctions, it is vital to…

Quantum properties in atom-thick semiconductors offer new way to detect electrical signals in cells

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303191511.htm

Published: March 3, 2025 19:15

For decades, scientists have relied on electrodes and dyes to track the electrical activity of living cells. Now, engineers have discovered that quantum materials just a single atom thick can do the job with high speed and resolution -- using only light.

A third of children worldwide forecast to be obese or overweight by 2050

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303191253.htm

Published: March 3, 2025 19:12

Obesity rates are set to skyrocket, with one in six children and adolescents worldwide forecast to be obese by 2050, according to a new study. But with significant increases predicted within the next five years, the researchers stress urgent action now…

Melting Antarctic ice sheets will slow Earth's strongest ocean current

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141900.htm

Published: March 3, 2025 14:19

Melting ice sheets are slowing the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the world's strongest ocean current, researchers have found. This melting has implications for global climate indicators, including sea level rise, ocean warming and viability of…

We feed gut microbes sugar, they make a compound we need

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141711.htm

Published: March 3, 2025 14:17

Gut microbes that were thought to feed exclusively on dietary fiber also get fed sugar from our guts, from which they produce short-chain fatty acids that are crucial to many body functions. The discovery of this symbiotic relationship also points the way…

How a low-carb diet can drive colorectal cancer development

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141308.htm

Published: March 3, 2025 14:13

Researchers have shown how a low carbohydrate diet can worsen the DNA-damaging effects of some gut microbes to cause colorectal cancer. The study compared the effects of three different diets in combination with specific gut bacteria on colorectal cancer…

Engineers create more effective burner to reduce methane emissions

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141232.htm

Published: March 3, 2025 14:12

Researchers have published a new study showing an advanced new methane flare burner, created with additive manufacturing and machine learning, eliminates 98% of methane vented during oil production.

Caribou case study offers a new model to manage species at risk

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141100.htm

Published: March 3, 2025 14:11

Researchers are suggesting a more comprehensive approach for identifying at-risk wildlife populations -- such as caribou -- based on individual movement patterns. The article uses a long-term dataset of caribou wearing GPS collars across Western Canada. It…