Scientists from China, Europe, and the USA, including Dr. Stephan Spiekman, a paleontologist at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart and the University of Hohenheim, have described a remarkable fossil of the long-necked marine reptile Austronaga minuta from China. Although this reptile descended from land-dwelling reptiles, it was already superbly adapted to life in the water around 245 million years ago. This almost completely preserved fossil provides the first detailed view of this prehistoric animal's entire skeleton and large parts of its digestive system. Various internal organs, such as the stomach, liver and intestines, have been clearly identified using modern analytical methods. This is the oldest known example of a largely complete digestive system in a reptile to date. The research results on this extraordinary find have now been published in the journal “Science Advances”.

Hot fluids rising from Earth's interior have been driving mineral formation on the ocean floor for millions of years. In a new study, an international team of scientists led by first author Dr. Joely Maak (MARUM) now shows that microorganisms can also play a central role. At a hydrothermal system discovered off the Greek island of Milos at intermediate water depths in 2023, the team demonstrated how different intensities of hydrothermal fluid flow favor distinct microbial metabolisms and, in turn, control the formation of different minerals.

What gives sharks their extraordinary speed, agility and endurance? It’s not just their muscles or powerful tails – it’s the hidden architecture inside their spines. Using high-resolution micro-CT imaging, researchers found that great white, shortfin mako and porbeagle sharks have rigid, mineral-rich spines built for speed, while sand tiger sharks evolved more flexible vertebrae for maneuverability. Common thresher sharks have reinforced spinal structures for powerful tail strikes, and basking sharks possess lightly mineralized spines adapted for slow, energy-efficient cruising.

More than 120 fish species have already migrated from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean since the opening of the Suez Canal over 150 years ago. Now, researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a statistical model capable of predicting which species are likely to be next.