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The rose-veiled fairy wrasse is the first Maldivian fish to be described by a local scientist. Pictured: a male rose-veiled fairy wrasse

New Rainbow-Colored, Deep-Sea Fish Officially Described by Scientists in the Maldives

The new-to-science species was named after roses, the Maldivian national flower

This image of a leopard seal about to chomp down on a Gentoo penguin won gold in the "Behavior—Mammals" category. It is also the grand prize winner of the World Nature Photography Awards.  

A Penguin Faces Death by Leopard Seal in Jaw-Dropping Grand Prize Image

Winners in this year’s World Nature Photography Awards were selected for 14 different categories varying by species and habitat

A flashy jewel bug butt. 

Science Twitter’s ‘InverteButt Week’ Puts Backsides on Display

The behinds of spineless organisms are diverse among species and serve a multitude of purposes beyond expelling waste

David Bennett Sr. with his son

Patient Who Received a Genetically Modified Pig Heart Dies After Two Months

The procedure marks the first time that a genetically-modified, non-human cardiac organ functioned without immediate rejection by the human body

Draughtsboard sharks apparently snooze with their eyes open or closed depending on the amount of surrounding light.

Sharks Apparently Do Sleep, Even With Their Eyes Wide Open

Scientists observed sleep in draughtsboard sharks by analyzing the animals’ metabolism and posture

Even at thresholds of sodium chloride that were considered safe at 230 milligrams of chloride per liter of water in the U.S. to 120 milligrams of chloride per liter in Canada, researchers found a significant loss of zooplankton populations an increase in algae.  

Road Salt Pollution Levels Deemed Safe in U.S. and Canada May Not Protect Freshwater Ecosystems Enough

At current thresholds, salinization can kill off zooplankton, a crucial microorganism at the center of many food webs

Reconstruction of a full-scale megalodon and a set of teeth at the Museo de la Evolución de Puebla in Mexico.

The Biggest Megalodons Likely Lived in Cold Waters

The common idea that the giant sharks could reach over 60 feet in length should be applied mostly to populations that lived in frigid environments

An illustration of S. bideni, which is the oldest known cephalopod to have suckers along all of its arms.

Ancient Ten-Armed Octopus Relative Named for Joe Biden

The discovery of ‘Syllipsimopodi bideni’ pushes back the fossil record of the vampyropods by over 82 million years

Researchers suspect that breeding is a possibility because of how close the narwhal is to the pod of belugas.

Adopted Lone Narwhal Traveling Among Belugas Could Produce Narluga Calves

The mammal, now reaching sexual maturity, could mate soon, giving researchers more insight into the previously elusive hybrid animals

Joro spiders are eye-catching, with bright yellow, blue and red coloration.

Large, Parachuting Spiders Could Soon Invade the East Coast, Study Finds

The authors say the arachnids are harmless to people and pets and may even eat pests like stink bugs

Researchers examined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brains of 785 British participants before and after Covid-19 infection.

Even Mild Covid-19 Infections May Change the Brain, New Study Finds

Scans taken before and after a case of coronavirus reveal tissue damage and accelerated loss of gray matter

In daylight, the experimental silkworms appeared pink, but under ultraviolet light, they had a bright red glow.

Silkworms Fed Quantum Dots Shine Bright Under Ultraviolet Light, Produce Fluorescent Red Silk

Caterpillars that ate carbon dots derived from mulberry leaves glowed a scarlet color that lasted until the second generation of worms

Russia controls aspects of the ISS's propulsion control systems that keep it in place and from falling towards Earth. The space station started out as a partnership between the United States and Russia.

How Sanctions on Russia Affect International Space Programs

Roscosmos is severing ties with global partners in response to restrictions

The second most common species the researchers identified was the silky shark, a vulnerable species that is in decline worldwide. 

Endangered Shark Meat Might Be Hiding in Your Pet’s Food

Researchers found about one third of animal feed samples taken in Singapore contained shark DNA

An adult spongy moth

Invasive Insect Gets a New Name: Spongy Moth

After removing the common name “gypsy moth,” which contained a racial slur, the Entomological Society of America has assigned a new designation

Coronavirus has been found in white-tailed deer in the northeastern United States and central Canada.

First Possible Case of Covid-19 Spreading From Deer to Humans

Experts say the discovery is not reason for panic, but underscores the importance of monitoring wildlife for diseases that could infect humans

Researchers excavated fossils from a site in Turkey that helped them fill in some of the history of a previously unknown continent called Balkanatolia. 

Fossils Help Scientists Identify a ‘Lost’ Continent

Millions of years ago, a giant island called Balkanatolia shifted and connected Asia to Europe, allowing animals to migrate

The artificial skin samples will sit in a custom device with a nutrient-filled liquid medium while they orbit in space aboard the ISS.

Scientists Will Study the Effects of Microgravity on Skin at the International Space Station

The experiment, using engineered skin samples, could lead to better skin care products

Air pockets in a sponge mimic healthy soil, which has various nooks and crannies to host microbial communities. 

Your Kitchen Sponge Is a Better Home for Bacteria Than a Petri Dish

Its porous structure provides the ideal physical environment for different kinds of bacteria to thrive, according to new research

Authors of the new study say SUE the T. rex is actually a T. imperator, or tyrant lizard emperor. 

Why a New T. Rex Study Is Riling Up the Paleontology World

Established scientists are casting serious doubts on new research suggesting that the infamous, ferocious dinosaur is actually three different species

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