Researchers have shown that a 2022-2023 mass mortality event has driven previously abundant populations of Diadema africanum sea urchins throughout the Canary Islands to near-extinction. This outbreak was more impactful than previous ones in 2008 and 2018 in the same islands, because this time the production of larvae and the recruitment of juveniles has nearly ceased. The pathogens that caused the disease aren’t yet definitely known, but similar die-offs of sea urchins have been reported nearly simultaneously from the Caribbean to the western Indian Ocean.

Scientists from the City University of Hong Kong have found that nanoplastics can enter zebrafish via two pathways: waterborne exposure and dietary exposure. These tiny particles can cross biological barriers to enter the circulatory system, and then translocate to and accumulate in various organs, including the blood, brain, gills, liver, intestines, gonads, and muscles. The gills and intestines are the most important absorption organs, while the intestines serve as the primary excretion organ.

Honey analysis is a non-invasive method of pathogen surveillance in honey bees (Apis mellifera), and provides insight into hive health, according to study of 679 honey samples across Italy

New species of tiny pumpkin toadlet discovered in Brazil highlights need for conservation in the mountain forests of Serra do Quiriri

In a study published recently in Nature Methods, scientists at The Ohio State University report on a new approach to immobilize extracellular vesicles in a way that mimics their interactions with tissues, a tricky environment compared to bodily fluids because these particles have a specific characteristic: They’re sticking to a surface. The new technique enables label-free immobilization of extracellular vesicles and particles without damaging them, allowing researchers to study them individually or in clumps and observe how they interact with cells.

 

Drone footage revealed constant violations of Mexico’s whale shark tourism rules, even when far fewer boats were on the water than regulations allow. The findings raise broader questions about whether popular wildlife encounters — from manta rays and sea turtles to whales and even elephants — are truly “ecotourism” and highlight the need for stronger monitoring and community-led stewardship.

Kyushu University researchers have created a novel “ACTG” naming system for human gene types, and launched the Joint Open Genome and Omics Platform 1.0 (JoGo 1.0), a global database cataloging 4.7 million gene types from more than 19,000 genes. Integrated with other public resources, the platform establishes a universal language for human gene types, empowering applications in fields such as disease research, drug development, and evolutionary biology.