Ancient sea sponge discovery fills 160-million-year gap in evolution
Researchers have uncovered a 550-million-year-old sea sponge fossil, solving a long-standing mystery in the history of one of the earliest animals.
Sea sponges might seem...
Giant viruses on Greenland’s ice could help reduce melting
Every spring, when the sun returns to the Arctic after months of darkness, life comes back in full force.
Polar bears emerge from their dens,...
Cracking the 2,000-year-old mystery: How shipworms destroy wood
For centuries, shipworms have been a menace to sailors and structures alike.
These marine mollusks damaged ancient Greek ships, contributed to the sinking of the...
Scientists discover the key to leaf longevity
A recent study has revealed how a special enzyme helps keep leaves on apple plants healthy and long-lasting.
This enzyme, known as MdPUB23, interacts with...
How sharks survived a major temperature spike in Earth’s history
Millions of years ago, the sharks we know today as top ocean predators evolved from small bottom-dwelling species during a period of intense global...
Scientists discover fungus that can break down ocean plastic
Researchers have discovered a marine fungus that can break down the plastic polyethylene (PE), the most common plastic in the ocean, but only after...
Natural solution for termite troubles: A greener, cheaper way to protect homes
Scientists at UC Riverside have discovered a new, nontoxic, and cost-effective method to lure and kill termites using a pleasant-smelling chemical called pinene.
This groundbreaking...
Mountain building linked to major extinction half a billion years ago, shows study
Over 500 million years ago, life on Earth was booming during the Cambrian explosion.
However, at the same time, tectonic plates were colliding, forming mountains,...
Tiny fern breaks record for largest genome on Earth
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have identified a tiny fern with the largest genome of any living organism.
This species, known as Tmesipteris oblanceolata, has...
Scientists discover ancient life forms in Saudi Arabia, offering clues to early Earth
Scientists have discovered new traces of some of the earliest life forms on Earth in Saudi Arabia.
These ancient structures, known as stromatolites, are made...