https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/marine_biology/ Marine Biology News. Read scientific research on marine animals and their aquatic habitats. From plankton to whales, you will find it all here. en-us Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:17:38 EDT Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:17:38 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/marine_biology/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261003234023.htm New research suggests animals could have evolved as early as 800 to 700 million years ago, roughly 200 million years earlier than some previous estimates. If so, the first animals may have lived before or during Snowball Earth, leaving behind little trace because their soft bodies were rarely preserved. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:29:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261003234023.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080023.htm Scientists have discovered that E-cadherin, a protein best known as the “glue” holding cells and tissues together, has a surprising second job: helping epithelial cells swallow nearby dead cells. Using live zebrafish and mouse embryos, researchers found that cells can dramatically reshape their lower surfaces to engulf cellular debris while keeping their upper surfaces stable, allowing protective barriers to remain sealed. Sun, 04 Oct 2026 23:12:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080023.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020329.htm Mysterious 97-million-year-old magnetic fossils may be the oldest evidence of an animal using Earth’s magnetic field like a built-in GPS. Their sophisticated magnetic structure could have helped an unknown ocean creature navigate thousands of kilometers with surprising precision. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:54:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020329.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053536.htm Wild blacktip sharks can detect low-frequency sounds from nearly 250 feet away, according to experiments conducted off the Florida coast. The sharks not only heard the sounds but sharply changed direction away from them, suggesting they could pinpoint where they were coming from. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:58:33 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053536.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053528.htm Enceladus may naturally separate and concentrate chemicals from its hidden ocean as droplets slowly freeze and shatter on their way into space. The process could explain Cassini’s puzzling ice-grain chemistry while giving future spacecraft a powerful advantage in searching for organic compounds and clues to life. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:58:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053528.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225036.htm A 245-million-year-old marine reptile fossil preserves an astonishing amount of detail, including its stomach, liver, and intestines. The discovery reveals that Austronaga minuta was highly adapted for swimming even though its digestive system remained surprisingly simple. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:39:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225036.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225032.htm Yellow-morph green sea turtles in the Galápagos surprised scientists by staying remarkably close to home instead of making the long journeys typically associated with sea turtles. Satellite tracking showed that none left the marine reserve during the study, revealing just how important the islands’ coastal habitats may be to their survival. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:12:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225032.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005447.htm Scientists studying ancient Australian rocks uncovered more than 12,000 fossils from some of the oldest known eukaryotes on Earth. These early complex cells lived in settings ranging from coastal mudflats to the open sea, but only where oxygen was available. Oxygen-free environments contained simpler microbes instead. The findings strengthen the idea that oxygen played a crucial role in the emergence of complex life. Sun, 27 Sep 2026 07:55:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005447.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005412.htm Scientists discovered two strange new sea spider species in the Salish Sea, including a hairy-legged, red-eyed species that can groom itself with comb-like appendages. Another is frequently covered in tiny parasites, and researchers say many more undiscovered sea spiders may still be hiding in the region. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 09:56:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005412.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260923035936.htm Scientists discovered two tiny new snail species in Montenegro, showing that even Europe still holds animals unknown to science. One lives in the threatened Komarnica Canyon, where a proposed hydropower reservoir could destroy habitat before its full biodiversity is understood. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:59:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260923035936.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081050.htm Researchers observed a humpback whale mother staying beside her presumed stillborn calf for hours and possibly days off Australia’s Gold Coast. She maintained eye contact and remained close to the calf in behavior resembling caregiving and nurturing. Scientists say the rare observation may provide new insight into grief, maternal attachment, and emotional complexity in humpback whales. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:05:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081050.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222410.htm Genetic evidence has revealed a previously unknown gentoo penguin species on the remote Kerguelen Islands and shown that gentoos actually consist of four distinct species. The discovery also highlights a growing threat, as warming oceans could leave several island populations with little suitable habitat by 2050. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:11:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222410.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm Chemical clues preserved inside fossilized T. rex teeth reveal that the dinosaur maintained a body temperature of about 97 degrees Fahrenheit, almost identical to humans. The finding provides direct evidence that the giant predator was warm-blooded, helping explain how it stayed active and survived in chilly environments as far north as Alaska. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:56:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003737.htm Scientists discovered a new frog species in the flooded forests of the western Amazon, distinguishing it from nearly identical relatives through DNA and its unique call. Adenomera varcena highlights how much Amazonian biodiversity remains hidden even as habitat loss and climate change threaten these poorly understood species. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 10:08:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003737.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102436.htm A 125-million-year-old crocodile fossil has revealed preserved skin, possible sensory organs, sophisticated respiratory structures, and an unexpected pattern on its tail. Ultraviolet light exposed alternating bands that may represent ancient camouflage, potentially preserving the oldest known coloration in a crocodylomorph. Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:07:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102436.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081927.htm More than 60 years after surveys suggested a deep coral reef off Benin was probably dead, scientists have found it alive. Cameras revealed healthy-looking coral patches supporting multiple fish species more than 50 meters beneath the surface. The discovery suggests West Africa’s coastal waters may contain other overlooked reefs that have yet to be documented. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:18:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081927.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005145.htm Insects quietly hold much of the natural world together, yet conservation efforts are overlooking the tropical regions where more than 80 percent of insect species live. Monash University researchers have developed a global framework to close this gap by combining scientific studies with museum collections, local expertise, citizen science, social media records, and new technologies. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 02:30:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005145.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm A meter-long scorpion with massive pincers stalked ancient Britain 415 million years ago, long before forests and the better-known age of giant insects. Its surprising size and possible semi-aquatic lifestyle could reshape ideas about how early arthropods became giants. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:23:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035221.htm Ancient footprints in Kenya reveal that eight Paranthropus boisei may have traveled together 1.4 million years ago, with some individuals reaching surprisingly large, human-like body sizes. The tracks offer a rare glimpse of their social behavior and suggest these extinct human relatives may have lived in more complex groups than previously thought. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 11:17:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035221.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010455.htm Ancient fossils suggest insects conquered land through a long amphibious phase rather than making an abrupt jump from water to dry ground. A newly identified 324-million-year-old species still carried paddle-like abdominal limbs, revealing an evolutionary bridge between aquatic ancestors and modern six-legged insects. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:22:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010455.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065519.htm Backyard bird feeders could become unexpected hotspots for H5N1 as Australia’s bird flu outbreak spreads, bringing species together in ways that rarely occur naturally. Experts say stopping feeding is safest, while smaller amounts of food, no hand-feeding, and careful cleaning can reduce the danger. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:49:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065519.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065514.htm A sweeping analysis of thousands of animal genomes suggests that chromosomes do not evolve randomly but instead follow a limited number of irreversible “evolutionary highways.” These one-way genetic changes preserve clues to more than 600 million years of animal history and could even help researchers explore where evolution may head next. Tue, 25 Aug 2026 04:48:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065514.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260822015208.htm An abandoned farm field became a flourishing wildflower meadow within little more than a decade, with plant diversity doubling and thousands of orchids appearing naturally. The discovery suggests that simply giving nature time to recover could be a powerful and inexpensive tool for restoring biodiversity. Sun, 23 Aug 2026 11:01:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260822015208.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002450.htm Scientists have identified exceptionally rare soft tissue preserved in a 450-million-year-old crinoid fossil, more than 200 million years older than the first dinosaurs. Its delicate tube feet offer a remarkable new window into how some of Earth’s earliest reef animals lived, fed, and evolved. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:12:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002450.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260819041226.htm Miocene South America was packed with giant prey—and the predators hunting them were just as spectacular. Fossil bite marks suggest crocodylians, especially the enormous Purussaurus neivensis, were more important predators than mammals in this ancient tropical ecosystem. At around seven meters long, Purussaurus may even have helped control populations of giant herbivores. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:55:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260819041226.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064811.htm Scientists are searching some of Earth’s oldest rocks for tiny fossils that could reveal how simple microbial life made the extraordinary leap toward plants, animals, and other complex organisms. Solving that ancient mystery may also help determine whether complex life could emerge on worlds beyond Earth. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:40:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064811.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064759.htm Nature invented biodegradable plastic long before humans did—and animals may have been feeding on it for hundreds of millions of years. Researchers discovered that dozens of animal species possess enzymes capable of breaking down microbial bioplastics called PHAs, a talent once thought to belong only to microorganisms. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 01:34:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064759.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035137.htm Dinosaurs conquered the land at enormous sizes, but strangely, they almost never evolved into truly tiny animals. New research suggests that physiology alone can’t explain this missing miniature end of the dinosaur spectrum—and that early mammals may have been partly responsible. While dinosaurs kept mammals from becoming large, small mammals may have returned the favor by occupying ecological niches that could otherwise have supported mouse-sized dinosaurs. Sun, 09 Aug 2026 06:15:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035137.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034644.htm A spectacular fossil site in Canada contains 567-million-year-old creatures that may represent some of the earliest animals to move, reproduce sexually, and develop recognizable body plans. The discovery pushes key evolutionary milestones back by up to 10 million years and suggests complex animal life may have first flourished in the deep ocean. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:33:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034644.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260802223431.htm Taiwan’s steep, remote mountains have sheltered extraordinary forests containing hundreds of giant Taiwania firs. After years of difficult expeditions, LiDAR mapping, and citizen-science detective work, researchers discovered an 84.1-meter (276-foot) tree, the tallest known in East Asia. They also found dense “temples of giants” where dozens of enormous trees grow together. These ancient forests rank among the world’s most carbon-rich ecosystems. Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:18:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260802223431.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260802223424.htm Thawing Arctic permafrost is releasing ancient carbon into the ocean, raising fears that microbes could turn it into greenhouse gases and accelerate climate change. But sediment cores collected near Canada’s Herschel Island reveal a more reassuring twist: most of this land-based carbon becomes buried in the seafloor, while only about 10 percent is converted into gases. Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:23:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260802223424.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801042834.htm An AI analysis of 1.2 million satellite images shows that floating algae blooms are spreading across the global ocean. The rapid growth of massive seaweed mats could reshape marine habitats while bringing foul-smelling decay, ecological damage, and economic losses to coastlines. Sun, 02 Aug 2026 22:54:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801042834.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729051519.htm Ant parenting may have evolved from the same brain systems that once controlled hunger. Researchers found that two chemical signals push clonal raider ants toward either caring for larvae or leaving to forage, with the balance changing as the ants grow older. Similar signals are involved in mammalian caregiving, suggesting that evolution may have followed the same basic blueprint across very different animals. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:01:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729051519.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010732.htm A fossil overlooked for nearly 80 years has revealed a previously unknown crocodile relative that lived 210 million years ago in what is now New Mexico. Named Eosphorosuchus lacrimosa, the jackal-sized predator had a reinforced skull, powerful jaw muscles, and a short snout built for tackling larger prey. Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:34:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010732.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727012134.htm Bumblebees naturally have short lives, but extreme heat and human activity are making survival harder. Pesticides can poison bees or destroy the flowers they depend on, while habitat loss leaves them with fewer safe places to live and feed. Protecting native plants and using fewer chemicals could help these vital pollinators recover. Wed, 29 Jul 2026 08:05:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727012134.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015241.htm Lake fly larvae plunge more than 200 meters into Lake Malawi each day to hide from predators, using tiny air sacs to control their depth. A rubber-like material called resilin lets them expand or shrink the sacs by changing their pH. Their toughness challenges a popular explanation for why insects are absent from the open ocean. Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:37:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015241.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260725105554.htm Researchers say a tiny one-eyed ancestor that lived nearly 600 million years ago may have shaped the evolution of every vertebrate eye, including our own. They also found that its ancient median eye lives on today as the pineal gland, which helps synchronize our sleep with daylight. Sun, 26 Jul 2026 01:10:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260725105554.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260723084040.htm Researchers in the Gulf of California have documented a dramatic orca behavior never described before. In two separate encounters, one orca gripped a dead sunfish by the fin while another charged into it at high speed, blasting the carcass into thousands of pieces. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:55:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260723084040.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260721000847.htm Scientists studying decades of pygmy sperm whale strandings have uncovered three previously unknown types of Helicobacter bacteria hiding in the animals’ stomachs. All four infected whales showed serious digestive damage, including inflammation, ulcers, scarring, and parasite infestations, although the bacteria were not confirmed as the cause of death. Tue, 21 Jul 2026 01:10:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260721000847.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260714225540.htm Humans are often described as the planet's ultimate "super-predator," but wild animals do not fear every human the same way. After analyzing three decades of research, scientists found that animals become much more alert and spend less time feeding when people pose a real threat, such as hunters or fishers. In contrast, tourists, researchers, and other non-lethal humans trigger far weaker and less predictable reactions. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:04:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260714225540.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260714225525.htm An unusual leopard gecko that naturally develops aggressive tumors may become an important new model for cancer research. Scientists found its tumors share key genetic changes with human cancers, offering a rare opportunity to study the disease as it develops naturally. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:55:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260714225525.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260711010127.htm Scientists discovered that extreme deep-sea pressure squeezes valuable nutrients out of sinking organic particles, providing an unexpected food source for ocean microbes. The finding could rewrite our understanding of both deep-ocean ecosystems and how carbon is stored on Earth. Sun, 12 Jul 2026 08:14:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260711010127.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260711010122.htm Why do beaches today have seashells from clams and snails instead of brachiopods? A new study suggests the answer lies in Earth's greatest mass extinction, when warming oceans and falling oxygen levels wiped out animals that couldn't adapt. Species with body plans and metabolisms better suited to the changing conditions survived and went on to dominate the seas, offering a glimpse of how modern marine life could respond to climate change. Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:02:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260711010122.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260708022208.htm For the first time, researchers have filmed the elusive goblin shark alive in the deep ocean where it naturally lives. The remarkable sightings greatly expand the shark's known range and depth, showing that this 125-million-year-old "living fossil" still has plenty of secrets left to reveal. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:00:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260708022208.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260630020534.htm Researchers have uncovered an unexpected antiviral defense system in sea anemones that works very differently from the one humans use. The discovery suggests evolution developed multiple ways to combat viruses, challenging long-held ideas about how animal immune systems evolved. Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:18:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260630020534.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060216.htm A stunning fossil discovery shows that ancient bees used the empty tooth sockets of mammal bones as tiny nests after owls scattered the bones across a cave floor 20,000 years ago. It's the first known evidence of bees nesting inside animal bones, revealing an astonishingly creative survival strategy. Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:23:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060216.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623014018.htm A giant black coral estimated to be 300–400 years old has been discovered deep in Fiordland, New Zealand, astonishing researchers with its enormous size—about 4 meters tall and 4.5 meters wide. Scientists say it may be one of the largest black corals ever recorded in New Zealand waters and an important stronghold for the slow-growing species. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 06:14:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623014018.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260622091524.htm A new study reveals that goldfish can do far more than survive in the wild—they can fundamentally reshape freshwater ecosystems. Researchers found they cloud water, damage food webs, and hurt native fish populations, sometimes triggering major ecological shifts. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:45:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260622091524.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621111234.htm Scientists exploring ancient seafloor rocks in Morocco discovered mysterious wrinkle patterns where they were never expected to occur. These structures are normally linked to microbial mats in shallow, sunlit waters, yet the rocks formed hundreds of feet below the surface in darkness. Evidence indicates that chemosynthetic microbes created the wrinkles, revealing that deep-ocean microbial ecosystems may have been more widespread than previously thought. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:45:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621111234.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621060322.htm Freshwater lakes across North America and Europe are becoming noticeably browner, reducing underwater visibility and reshaping fish populations. Research found that several popular sport fish, including trout, bass, perch, and whitefish, tend to decline in darker waters. Meanwhile, walleye and northern pike often become more abundant because they are better adapted to low-visibility conditions. The shift could change both lake ecosystems and the fishing experience for millions of anglers. Sun, 21 Jun 2026 09:40:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621060322.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621031409.htm A team of researchers recreated a life-size oviraptor nest to investigate how these bird-like dinosaurs incubated their eggs millions of years ago. By combining physical experiments with heat transfer simulations, they discovered that oviraptors likely relied on both their own body heat and warmth from the sun. Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:13:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621031409.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260620100426.htm Trees planted to protect farmland from wind may not be the biodiversity boost many assume. In Japan’s wetland farming landscapes, shelterbelts benefited some birds but sharply reduced grassland and wetland species that need open space. Researchers found grassland bird abundance dropped by more than 70% near shelterbelts. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:14:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260620100426.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260619101328.htm Animals from different species often rely on surprisingly sophisticated communication to work together, whether finding food, cleaning parasites, or gaining protection. New research suggests these interspecies “conversations” are flexible, evolved, and far more important to life in nature than scientists once realized. Sat, 20 Jun 2026 01:23:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260619101328.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260616102223.htm Scientists have digitally preserved the world’s most endangered marine mammal by creating highly detailed 3D models of a vaquita skeleton using advanced imaging technology. The virtual archive provides an unprecedented look at the species and could help inspire conservation efforts before the tiny porpoise disappears forever. Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:01:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260616102223.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034213.htm Millipedes may have been crawling across Earth's landscapes nearly 460 million years ago, long before vertebrates ventured onto land. A new study finally completes their evolutionary family tree, revealing surprising clues about these ancient ecosystem engineers and their early chemical defenses. Sun, 14 Jun 2026 03:33:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034213.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260612021000.htm Researchers in South Korea have recreated the legendary “sea silk” once prized by emperors, using fibers from a clam cultivated in Korean coastal waters. They discovered that its famous golden shine comes from tiny protein structures that reflect light rather than from pigments or dyes. Because the color is built into the fiber’s structure, it can remain vibrant for centuries. Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:02:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260612021000.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260604044258.htm New studies suggest consciousness can't be judged solely by behavior, whether it's a chatbot discussing philosophy or a bee searching for nectar. Researchers are increasingly focusing on the internal mechanisms of brains and computers, concluding that today's AI is likely not conscious while leaving open the possibility for both conscious insects and future machines. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 01:27:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260604044258.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260603023921.htm Hidden beneath Arctic waters, beluga whales have long kept their family lives a mystery. By analyzing DNA from more than 600 belugas in Alaska’s Bristol Bay over 13 years, researchers uncovered a surprisingly flexible mating system: both males and females regularly have offspring with different partners over their lifetimes. Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:51:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260603023921.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260530053414.htm A surprising new discovery suggests that tiny microbes living inside fish may be helping shape the chemistry of the world’s oceans. Scientists found evidence that bacteria in the guts of marine fish work alongside their hosts to produce calcium carbonate, a mineral that plays an important role in ocean health and carbon storage. For years, researchers believed fish handled this process on their own, but the new findings point to a hidden partnership between fish and microbes. Sun, 31 May 2026 07:52:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260530053414.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260529043636.htm A newly discovered raptor-like dinosaur from Patagonia is changing how scientists think about ancient predators. Named Kank australis, the 70-million-year-old dinosaur appears to have hunted fish much like modern herons, using a long, flexible neck and specialized vertebrae adapted for swift, precise movements. Fri, 29 May 2026 08:26:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260529043636.htm