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Scientists Discover Clicking Sounds in Rig Sharks for the First Time
Sharks were long thought to be silent, but a surprising new study reveals that rig sharks can make clicking sounds when handled. Evolutionary biologist Carolin Nieder first discovered the clicks by accident during lab tests. These sounds—likely produced by snapping their flat teeth—occurred most often during initial handling, suggesting a stres...
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Faces You Hear? Dolphin 'Signature Whistles' Might Be What Facial Expressions Are To Us
Bottlenose dolphins live in complex societies where each animal has a small number of closely connected individuals and a larger number of looser associates (not dissimilar to our own social networks).
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New Analysis Weakens Claims of Life on Distant Exoplanet K2-18b
A new study led by University of Chicago researchers has reanalyzed James Webb Space Telescope data and found weaker evidence for potential biosignatures on exoplanet K2-18b. Earlier reports had suggested the presence of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a chemical associated with marine life on Earth. However, the latest analysis reveals that the signals ar...
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Strange New Worm Found Off Spain’s Coast Can Shrinks to One-Fifth Its Size
Scientists have discovered Pararosa vigarae, a new genus and species of ribbon worm, off the Northwest coast of Spain. Nicknamed the accordion worm for its ability to shrink to one-fifth its normal size, it was found 30 meters deep in RÃa de Arosa. Traditional taxonomy methods failed to classify the species due to limited external features, so res...
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Cuttlefish May Communicate Using Tentacle Waves, Study Finds
Cuttlefish are known to use more than color-changing and posture to communicate — new research suggests they wave their tentacles to send signals. Scientists at École Normale Supérieure observed four distinct wave patterns and found cuttlefish respond both visually and through water vibrations. With plans to use AI and robotics to decode these ...
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Study Finds Grey Seals Can Track Blood Oxygen to Prevent Drowning
A study has revealed that grey seals can monitor their blood oxygen levels to determine when they need to surface for air. Researchers tested seals in controlled environments, exposing them to different oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The findings confirmed that higher oxygen led to longer dives, while reduced oxygen shortened them. Surprisingly,...
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Antarctic Ice Melt Weakens Strongest Ocean Current, Disrupting Global Circulation
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the planet’s most powerful ocean circulation system, could slow by 20 percent by 2050 due to melting Antarctic ice. Researchers suggest that the influx of fresh, cold water is disrupting convection, altering global ocean density. A weaker current may allow warm water to reach Antarctica, accelerating ice loss an...
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Fossil Evidence Shows Plants Survived the End-Permian Mass Extinction in China
Fossils discovered in China indicate that the End-Permian mass extinction, which wiped out 80% of life on Earth, may not have been as devastating for plants as previously thought. Researchers found evidence of gymnosperm forests and ferns in rock layers from this period, suggesting that some ecosystems remained intact. This discovery challenges ass...
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World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Grounds Near South Georgia, Raising Wildlife and Environmental Concerns
The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has run aground near South Georgia, a key wildlife haven. Scientists are monitoring its impact on marine life, particularly on penguins and seals, as it could disrupt feeding routes. Some experts suggest the iceberg may also enhance ocean productivity by releasing nutrients. If it fragments, it may pose risks to...
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3 Billion-Year-Old Beach Buried On Mars Discovered By Scientists
Data from Zhurong provide an unprecedented look into rocks buried near a proposed shoreline billions of years old. The researchers claim to have found beach deposits from an ancient Martian ocean.
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Mysterious Brain Disease Found in Dead Great White Sharks Along Atlantic Coast
A series of unexplained great white shark deaths along the North American Atlantic Coast has sparked scientific investigations. The first case, recorded in August 2023, revealed brain inflammation in a shark found in Prince Edward Island. Further cases showed similar patterns, with experts struggling to determine the cause. Some scientists suggest ...
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Human Outer Ears May Have Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills, Study Finds
Human outer ears may have evolved from the cartilage in ancient fish gills, according to recent research. Gene-editing experiments demonstrated a genetic link between fish gills and mammalian ears, with findings suggesting this transformation dates back millions of years. Researchers tested genetic enhancers in zebrafish, mice, and lizards, uncover...
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Oxygen Production Discovered in Deep-Sea Metal Nodules, Researchers Investigate
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the deep ocean, where oxygen is being produced by metal nodules found on the seafloor. This surprising process, which occurs in total darkness, challenges the long-held belief that oxygen is only generated through sunlight and photosynthesis. The research team, led by Prof Andrew Sweetman from the ...
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Researchers Question Authenticity of Mosasaur Fossil in Morocco Mine
The discovery of a mosasaur fossil in a phosphate mine in Morocco has raised concerns over its authenticity. Initially described in 2021 as a new species, Xenodens calminechari, the fossil included a jawbone and sharp teeth, leading researchers to claim its uniqueness. However, new findings have prompted skepticism, particularly regarding the struc...
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"Very Tragic": Bereaved Orca Seen Carrying Dead Calf Again In US Waters
A bereaved female killer whale who carried her dead calf for more than two weeks in 2018 has again lost a newborn and is bearing its body, US marine researchers said.
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Scientists Discover Clicking Sounds in Rig Sharks for the First Time
Sharks were long thought to be silent, but a surprising new study reveals that rig sharks can make clicking sounds when handled. Evolutionary biologist Carolin Nieder first discovered the clicks by accident during lab tests. These sounds—likely produced by snapping their flat teeth—occurred most often during initial handling, suggesting a stres...
-
Faces You Hear? Dolphin 'Signature Whistles' Might Be What Facial Expressions Are To Us
Bottlenose dolphins live in complex societies where each animal has a small number of closely connected individuals and a larger number of looser associates (not dissimilar to our own social networks).
-
New Analysis Weakens Claims of Life on Distant Exoplanet K2-18b
A new study led by University of Chicago researchers has reanalyzed James Webb Space Telescope data and found weaker evidence for potential biosignatures on exoplanet K2-18b. Earlier reports had suggested the presence of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a chemical associated with marine life on Earth. However, the latest analysis reveals that the signals ar...
-
Strange New Worm Found Off Spain’s Coast Can Shrinks to One-Fifth Its Size
Scientists have discovered Pararosa vigarae, a new genus and species of ribbon worm, off the Northwest coast of Spain. Nicknamed the accordion worm for its ability to shrink to one-fifth its normal size, it was found 30 meters deep in RÃa de Arosa. Traditional taxonomy methods failed to classify the species due to limited external features, so res...
-
Cuttlefish May Communicate Using Tentacle Waves, Study Finds
Cuttlefish are known to use more than color-changing and posture to communicate — new research suggests they wave their tentacles to send signals. Scientists at École Normale Supérieure observed four distinct wave patterns and found cuttlefish respond both visually and through water vibrations. With plans to use AI and robotics to decode these ...
-
Study Finds Grey Seals Can Track Blood Oxygen to Prevent Drowning
A study has revealed that grey seals can monitor their blood oxygen levels to determine when they need to surface for air. Researchers tested seals in controlled environments, exposing them to different oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The findings confirmed that higher oxygen led to longer dives, while reduced oxygen shortened them. Surprisingly,...
-
Antarctic Ice Melt Weakens Strongest Ocean Current, Disrupting Global Circulation
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the planet’s most powerful ocean circulation system, could slow by 20 percent by 2050 due to melting Antarctic ice. Researchers suggest that the influx of fresh, cold water is disrupting convection, altering global ocean density. A weaker current may allow warm water to reach Antarctica, accelerating ice loss an...
-
Fossil Evidence Shows Plants Survived the End-Permian Mass Extinction in China
Fossils discovered in China indicate that the End-Permian mass extinction, which wiped out 80% of life on Earth, may not have been as devastating for plants as previously thought. Researchers found evidence of gymnosperm forests and ferns in rock layers from this period, suggesting that some ecosystems remained intact. This discovery challenges ass...
-
World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Grounds Near South Georgia, Raising Wildlife and Environmental Concerns
The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has run aground near South Georgia, a key wildlife haven. Scientists are monitoring its impact on marine life, particularly on penguins and seals, as it could disrupt feeding routes. Some experts suggest the iceberg may also enhance ocean productivity by releasing nutrients. If it fragments, it may pose risks to...
-
3 Billion-Year-Old Beach Buried On Mars Discovered By Scientists
Data from Zhurong provide an unprecedented look into rocks buried near a proposed shoreline billions of years old. The researchers claim to have found beach deposits from an ancient Martian ocean.
-
Mysterious Brain Disease Found in Dead Great White Sharks Along Atlantic Coast
A series of unexplained great white shark deaths along the North American Atlantic Coast has sparked scientific investigations. The first case, recorded in August 2023, revealed brain inflammation in a shark found in Prince Edward Island. Further cases showed similar patterns, with experts struggling to determine the cause. Some scientists suggest ...
-
Human Outer Ears May Have Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills, Study Finds
Human outer ears may have evolved from the cartilage in ancient fish gills, according to recent research. Gene-editing experiments demonstrated a genetic link between fish gills and mammalian ears, with findings suggesting this transformation dates back millions of years. Researchers tested genetic enhancers in zebrafish, mice, and lizards, uncover...
-
Oxygen Production Discovered in Deep-Sea Metal Nodules, Researchers Investigate
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the deep ocean, where oxygen is being produced by metal nodules found on the seafloor. This surprising process, which occurs in total darkness, challenges the long-held belief that oxygen is only generated through sunlight and photosynthesis. The research team, led by Prof Andrew Sweetman from the ...
-
Researchers Question Authenticity of Mosasaur Fossil in Morocco Mine
The discovery of a mosasaur fossil in a phosphate mine in Morocco has raised concerns over its authenticity. Initially described in 2021 as a new species, Xenodens calminechari, the fossil included a jawbone and sharp teeth, leading researchers to claim its uniqueness. However, new findings have prompted skepticism, particularly regarding the struc...
-
"Very Tragic": Bereaved Orca Seen Carrying Dead Calf Again In US Waters
A bereaved female killer whale who carried her dead calf for more than two weeks in 2018 has again lost a newborn and is bearing its body, US marine researchers said.
