In a new study published in Nature, researchers describe the extraordinary preservation of the oldest known costal breathing system in a mummified fossil from the early Permian period. The mummified fossil, which is only a few inches long, preserves not only bones, but also three-dimensional skin, calcified cartilage, and — most astonishingly —protein remnants that predate the previous oldest-known example by nearly 100 million years.

A 289-million-year-old mummified reptile is providing scientists with a window into how bodies have evolved when it comes to breathing and movement. Published in Nature on April 8, 2026, the study introduces the oldest known mummified remains of a terrestrial vertebrate — a small early Permian reptile called Captorhinus — preserved with its skin, native proteins, and the cartilage framework of its entire respiratory system still intact. The finding predates previous evidence of preserved biological proteins in fossils by nearly 100 million years.

Each winter, thousands of blacktip sharks crowd South Florida’s clear, shallow shoreline—just as beach nourishment projects churn the water into murky plumes. In one of the most detailed studies to date, FAU researchers used aerial surveys and underwater cameras to track sediment clouds and shark activity. They found sharks cluster close to shore, where turbidity can stretch for miles, clouding visibility, disrupting feeding, and potentially shifting behavior—raising new concerns for marine ecosystems and human safety.

A recent study investigates the intermuscular bones (IBs) of a novel hybrid fish (BTB), derived from female Megalobrama amblycephala (BSB) and male Culter alburnus (TC), and its parents. The research reveals that BTB exhibits a reduced number of IBs per sarcomere compared to its parents, showcasing the potential of distant hybridization in developing fish varieties with fewer IBs, which is advantageous for both consumer preference and industrial processing.

A study led by Qun-Ying Lei shows that PGG inhibits the MAT2A enzyme activity while simultaneously promoting its degradation. This unique dual-action induces pyroptosis and enhances antitumor immunity, presenting a promising new strategy for cancer immunotherapy.