Twenty-five years after first warning that oil spills would wane while invasive species and climate impacts would surge, an international team revisits its coastal forecasts and finds many bull’s-eyes, alongside surprising misses. Plastic pollution, ocean acidification, and sensory pollution have risen faster than imagined, even as strong treaties curbed chemicals like TBT. The scientists argue …

25 years, 1 coastline report card: The shocking wins and misses Read More »

Scientists found that embryonic skin cells “whisper” through faint mechanical tugs, using the same force-sensing proteins that make our ears ultrasensitive. By syncing these micro-movements, the cells choreograph the embryo’s shape, a dance captured with AI-powered imaging and computer models. Blocking the cells’ ability to feel the whispers stalls development, hinting that life’s first instructions …

Whispers in the womb: How cells “hear” to shape the human body Read More »

Danish and Welsh botanists sifted through 400 studies, field-tested seed mixes, and uncovered a lineup of native and exotic blooms that both thrill human eyes and lure bees and hoverflies in droves, offering ready-made recipes for transforming lawns, parks, and patios into vibrant pollinator hotspots. ​Danish and Welsh botanists sifted through 400 studies, field-tested seed …

Scientists’ top 10 bee-magnet blooms—turn any lawn into a pollinator paradise Read More »

Feral honey bees, once celebrated for their agricultural value, are now threatening native ecosystems in Southern California by monopolizing pollen sources and overwhelming native pollinators. A new study reveals they remove up to 80% of pollen in a single day, severely disrupting food sources for over 700 species of native bees. Despite their benefits to …

Honey bees remove 80% of pollen—leaving native bees with nothing Read More »

High heat and heavy metals dampen a bumblebee’s trademark buzz, threatening pollen release and colony chatter. Tiny sensors captured up-to-400-hertz tremors that falter under environmental stress, raising alarms for ecosystems and sparking ideas for pollination robots. ​High heat and heavy metals dampen a bumblebee’s trademark buzz, threatening pollen release and colony chatter. Tiny sensors captured …

What happens when bees can’t buzz right? Nature starts falling apart Read More »

In children with anorexia nervosa or other restrictive eating disorders, changes in the brain’s outer layer don’t seem to be due to lack of nutrition alone – and some mirror those seen in other neurological conditions ​In children with anorexia nervosa or other restrictive eating disorders, changes in the brain’s outer layer don’t seem to …

Brain changes with eating disorders similar to those in OCD and autism Read More »

The origins of plate tectonics on Earth are hotly debated, but evidence from Australia now shows that parts of the crust moved in relation to each other as early as 3.5 billion years ago ​The origins of plate tectonics on Earth are hotly debated, but evidence from Australia now shows that parts of the crust …

Ancient rocks show earliest evidence of tectonic activity on Earth Read More »

Parents may discourage naps out of concern that their child won’t then sleep at night, but research suggests that is not actually the case ​Parents may discourage naps out of concern that their child won’t then sleep at night, but research suggests that is not actually the case Parents may discourage naps out of concern that …

Why you shouldn’t worry a nap will stop your child sleeping at night Read More »