Category: 7. Science

A deep sea worm that inhabits hydrothermal vents survives the high levels of toxic arsenic and sulfide in its environment by combining them in its cells to form a less hazardous mineral. Chaolun Li of the Institute of Oceanology, CAS, China, and colleagues report these findings in a new study published August 26^th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.

The worm, named Paralvinella hessleri, is the only animal to inhabit the hottest part of deep sea hydrothermal vents in the west Pacific, where hot, mineral-rich water spews from the seafloor. These fluids can contain high levels of sulfide, as well as arsenic, which builds up in the tissues of P. hessleri, sometimes making up more than 1% of the worm’s body weight.

Li and his team investigated how P. hessleri can tolerate the high levels of arsenic and sulfide in the vent fluids. They used advanced microscopy, and DNA, protein and chemical analyses to identify a previously unknown detoxification process. The worm accumulates particles of arsenic in its skin cells, which then react with sulfide from the hydrothermal vent fluids to form small clumps of a yellow mineral called orpiment.

The study provides new insights into the novel detoxification strategy that P. hessleri uses for “fighting poison with poison,” which enables it to live in an extremely toxic environment. Previous studies have found that related worms living in other parts of the world, as well as some snail species in the west Pacific, also accumulate high levels of arsenic, and may use this same strategy.

Coauthor Dr. Hao Wang adds, “This was my first deep-sea expedition, and I was stunned by what I saw on the ROV monitor—the bright yellow Paralvinella hessleri worms were unlike anything I had ever seen, standing out vividly against the white biofilm and dark hydrothermal vent landscape. It was hard to believe that any animal could survive, let alone thrive, in such an extreme and toxic environment.”

Dr. Wang says, “What makes this finding even more fascinating is that orpiment—the same toxic, golden mineral produced by this worm—was once prized by medieval and Renaissance painters. It’s a curious convergence of biology and art history, unfolding in the depths of the ocean.”

The authors note, “We were puzzled for a long time by the nature of the yellow intracellular granules, which had a vibrant color and nearly perfect spherical shape. It took us a combination of microscopy, spectroscopy, and Raman analysis to identify them as orpiment minerals—a surprising finding.”

The authors conclude, “We hope that this ‘fighting poison with poison’ model will encourage scientists to rethink how marine invertebrates interact with and possibly harness toxic elements in their environment.”

In your coverage, please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper in PLOS Biology: http://plos.io/4ks3PKo

Citation: Wang H, Cao L, Zhang H, Zhong Z, Zhou L, Lian C, et al. (2025) A deep-sea hydrothermal vent worm detoxifies arsenic and sulfur by intracellular biomineralization of orpiment (As₂S₃). PLoS Biol 23(8): e3003291. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003291

Author countries: China

Funding: This work was supported by grants from Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42476133 to H.W.), Science and Technology Innovation Project of Laoshan Laboratory (Project Number No. LSKJ202203104 to H.W.), National Key RandD Program of China (Project Number 2018YFC0310702 to H.W.), Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42030407 to C.Li), and the NSFC Innovative Group Grant (No. 42221005 to M.X.W.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Asteroid Ryugu is proving to be one of the most scientifically valuable time capsules in the solar system.

A recent study of microscopic grains collected from Ryugu by Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft found the tiny space rock harbors minerals that formed long before Earth itself — minerals that have been preserved in pristine condition for billions of years.

The first bodies to form in the Solar System acquired their materials from stars, the presolar molecular cloud and the protoplanetary disk. Asteroids that have not undergone planetary differentiation retain evidence of these primary materials; however, geologic processes such as hydrothermal alteration can dramatically change their compositions and chemistry. In new research, scientists analyzed the elemental and isotopic compositions of samples from asteroid Bennu to uncover the sources and types of material accreted by its parent body.

“We found that Bennu has an elemental composition that very closely matches the Sun,” said LLNL scientist Greg Brennecka.

“That means the material recovered from Bennu is a great reference for the starting composition of the entire Solar System.”

“It is remarkable that Bennu has survived so long without seeing high temperatures that would ‘cook’ some of the ingredients.”

Scientists are still studying how planets form, and learning the initial composition of the Solar System is like obtaining the list of ingredients to bake a cake.

“With that ingredients list, we now have a better idea of how those elements all came together to form the planets in our Solar System, and, eventually, Earth and its living inhabitants,” Dr. Brennecka said.

“If we are to learn about our origins, the starting point is the composition of the Solar System.”

A view of the outside of the OSIRIS-REx sample collector. Sample material from asteroid Bennu can be seen on the middle right. Image credit: NASA / Erika Blumenfeld / Joseph Aebersold.

By returning a pristine sample to Earth and avoiding any contamination from our planet, NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission opened up new opportunities.

“The amount of information you can obtain from returned sample material in the laboratory is incredible,” said LLNL scientist Quinn Shollenberger.

“We simply cannot answer the big ‘origins’ questions without having the sample on Earth.”

“One of our goals is to determine what elements in the periodic table, and in what proportions, the Solar System started with. Bennu allows us to find this out,” said LLNL scientist Jan Render.

To obtain these results, the researchers crushed the asteroid material into a fine powder and dissolved it in acid.

Then, they fed it into a suite of mass spectrometers, which provided the concentrations of most elements in the periodic table.

From there, the scientists have been separating the sample by element, and, so far, they have been able to analyze isotope ratios of several elements.

“One perk of working at a national laboratory is the amazing analytical capabilities that we have at our disposal and experts in utilizing state-of-the-art machinery,” said LLNL scientist Josh Wimpenny.

“Having these capabilities all in one place is very unique, and we get better use out of these precious materials.”

“We traced the origins of these initial materials accumulated by Bennu’s ancestor,” said Dr. Ann Nguyen, a researcher at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

“We found stardust grains with compositions that predate the Solar System, organic matter that likely formed in interstellar space, and high temperature minerals that formed closer to the Sun.”

“All of these constituents were transported great distances to the region that Bennu’s parent asteroid formed.”

The findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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J.J. Barnes et al. The variety and origin of materials accreted by Bennu’s parent asteroid. Nat Astron, published online August 22, 2025; doi: 10.1038/s41550-025-02631-6

A groundbreaking study led by Vera Korasidis, Lecturer in Environmental Geoscience at the University of Melbourne, has unveiled a remarkable picture of Earth’s ancient polar forests that once supported thriving dinosaur populations.

During the Early Cretaceous period, some 130 to 110 million years ago, what is today southern Victoria lay well within the polar circle, shrouded in months of darkness each winter.

Yet, despite these extreme conditions, the region hosted vibrant, cool-temperate rainforests. “What is now Victoria was located within the polar circle … and was shrouded in darkness for months,” Korasidis explained. Towering conifer trees formed the forest canopy, while the ground below was dominated by primitive ferns, mosses and liverworts.

Drawing on nearly 300 fossil pollen and spore samples from 48 sites across Victoria, researchers have reconstructed these lost ecosystems in extraordinary detail. Their work reveals lush river-crossed forests teeming with life. Small herbivorous ornithopods grazed on foliage, while carnivorous theropods prowled the undergrowth–dinosaurs uniquely adapted to months without sunlight.

A dramatic transformation unfolded around 113 million years ago with the arrival of flowering plants. This botanical revolution altered the structure of the forests, driving many understorey ferns to extinction. By 100 million years ago, the landscape featured open conifer-dominated canopies, with flowering plants flourishing alongside ferns and mosses on the forest floor.

The study not only brings to life the lost world of polar dinosaurs but also carries urgent lessons for today. As Korasidis noted, these ancient ecosystems demonstrate how plant and animal life respond to rapid climate and environmental shifts. For a world now facing accelerating global warming, biodiversity decline, and ecosystem disruption, the story of Earth’s polar forests serves as both a scientific marvel and a sobering warning.

The slender crescent moon will be positioned close to the bright star Spica at sunset on Aug. 27, but you’ll have to be quick to catch a glimpse of the cosmic duo before they follow the sun below the horizon!

Look to the west as the sun sets on Aug. 27 to find the 18%-lit waxing crescent moon a little over 15 degrees above the western horizon, with Spica — the brightest star in the constellation Virgo — positioned less than 6 degrees to the right of the lunar disk. Remember, the width of your middle three fingers held at arm’s length accounts for roughly 5 degrees in the night sky.

Archaeologists routinely uncover pottery, coins, and bones, but the scents of the past are much more elusive. An innovative interdisciplinary study has now traced fragrances that were once at the heart of Phoenician culture. Through the analysis of 51 ceramic oil vessels from the site of Motya, a small island off Sicily’s coast, researchers have uncovered how fragrant oils contributed to identity, memory, and cultural exchange in the Iron Age Mediterranean. The research was published in the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory.

The vessels—plain, narrow bottles between 15 and 18 centimeters high—were used from the 8th to the 6th centuries BCE. They were discovered in domestic locations, cemeteries, and sacred areas, demonstrating that they were used for various purposes over a wide geographic area. Analytical tests of the ceramic material indicate that their production began in southern Phoenicia, in a region stretching from modern Beirut to the Carmel coast.

The organic residue analysis offered further information. Eight of the vessels examined contained traces of plant oils combined with pine and mastic resin, substances long associated with perfume and preservation. This is a strong indication that these vessels carried aromatic unguents. These oils were more than commodities to be traded; they embodied connections to homeland traditions. For Phoenician settlers establishing communities across the Mediterranean, these scented oils would have acted as sensory links to their place of origin, consolidating shared practices among dispersed peoples while also being exchanged with local populations.

The Phoenicians, renowned seafarers and merchants, were also innovators in the migration of cultural practices. Aromatic materials held a central position in both everyday life and ritual practice, and their exchange facilitated the creation of links between migrant and indigenous groups. At Motya, the ongoing appearance of oil bottles over more than two centuries implies a consistent supply of what was perhaps a recognizable product tradition, one that possessed both practical and symbolic value.

These vessels were used not only in Phoenician communities but also appeared in elite contexts among non-Phoenician peoples. Their presence in these contexts indicates that scented oils became part of the strategies for building alliances and projecting influence outside of their own communities. Thus, the use of perfume was instrumental in cross-cultural interactions and helped spread Phoenician practices throughout the western Mediterranean world.

The study places these findings in the larger framework of Iron Age history. The disappearance of the bottles has often been linked to the rise of Carthage, but researchers now suggest that instability in the Levant, particularly during the Neo-Babylonian period, could have disrupted both production and exchange. These changes in political and economic conditions might explain the reduction in the circulation of these bottles by the end of the 6th century BCE.

Beyond the immediate findings, the study illustrates the value of exploring the sensory aspects of the past. Migration and cultural exchange were not just matters of people and goods moving but also of the spread of more intangible factors, such as smell, memory, and sensory experience. Scents—elusive to preserve but potent in identity-shaping—were part of how communities brought their heritage to new lands.

By applying advanced scientific methods, archaeologists have shed light on a previously overlooked aspect of ancient life. The Motya artifacts provide an evocative reminder that the past was not only seen and heard, but also smelled, with perfumes acting as an invisible thread binding distant places and peoples across the Mediterranean.

Scientists have developed a better model to understand “steam worlds,” which are planets smaller than Neptune and larger than Earth that are too hot to have liquid water at their surface and thus have atmospheres filled with water vapor. Though steam worlds are unlikely to harbor life, modeling them more precisely could help scientists better comprehend ocean planets better, which in turn would aid in directing our search for life beyond the solar system.

Though absent from the solar system, the most common extrasolar planets, or “exoplanets,” are so-called sub-Neptune planets. The size and mass of these planets suggest they have interiors rich with water. Many of these planets are closer to their stars than Earth is to the sun, meaning many sub-Neptunes are too hot to have liquid water at their surfaces. This also means water on these planets exists in atmospheric layers, and in exotic states, that don’t act like liquids or gases; they tend to have atmospheres made of steam.

Engineer Emmanuel Decrossas of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California makes an adjustment to an antenna’s connector, part of a NASA telecommunications payload called User Terminal, at Firefly Aerospace’s facility in Cedar Park, Texas, in August 2025.

Figure A shows members of the team from JPL and NASA (dark blue) and Firefly (white) with the User Terminal antenna, radio, and other components on the bench behind them.

Managed by JPL, the User Terminal will test a new, low-cost lunar communications system that future missions to the Moon’s far side could use to transfer data to and from Earth via lunar relay satellite. The User Terminal payload will be installed atop Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 2 lunar lander, which is slated to launch to the Moon’s far side in 2026 under NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative.

NASA’s Apollo missions brought large and powerful telecommunications systems to the lunar near-side surface to communicate directly with Earth. But spacecraft on the far side will not have that option because only the near side of the Moon is visible to Earth. Sending messages between the Moon and Earth via a relay orbiter enables communication with the lunar far side and improves it at the Moon’s poles.

The User Terminal will for the first time test such a setup for NASA by using a compact, lightweight software defined radio, antenna, and related hardware to communicate with a satellite that Blue Ghost Mission 2 is delivering to lunar orbit: ESA’s (the European Space Agency’s) Lunar Pathfinder. The User Terminal radio and antenna installed on the Blue Ghost lander will be used to commission Lunar Pathfinder, sending test data back and forth.

After the lander ceases operations as planned at the end of a single lunar day (about 14 Earth days), a separate User Terminal radio and antenna installed on LuSEE-Night – another payload on the lander – will send LuSEE-Night’s data to Lunar Pathfinder, which will relay the information to a commercial network of ground stations on Earth. LuSEE-Night is a radio telescope that expected to operate for at least 1½ years; it is a joint effort by NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and University of California, Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory.

Additionally, User Terminal will be able to communicate with another satellite that’s being delivered to lunar orbit by Blue Ghost Mission 2: Firefly’s own Elytra Dark orbital vehicle.

The hardware on the lander is only part of the User Terminal project, which was also designed to implement a new S-band two-way protocol, or standard, for short-range space communications between entities on the lunar surface (such as rovers and landers) and lunar orbiters, enabling reliable data transfer between them. The standard is a new version of a space communications protocol called Proximity-1 that was initially developed more than two decades ago for use at Mars by an international standard body called the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), of which NASA is a member agency. The User Terminal team made recommendations to CCSDS on the development of the new lunar S-band standard, which was specified in 2024. The new standard will enable lunar orbiters and surface spacecraft from various entities – NASA and other civil space agencies as well as industry and academia – to communicate with each other, a concept known as interoperability.

At Mars, NASA rovers communicate with various Red Planet orbiters using the Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) radio band version of the Proximity-1 standard. On the Moon’s far side, use of UHF is reserved for radio astronomy science; so a new lunar standard was needed using a different frequency range, S-band, as were more efficient modulation and coding schemes to better fit the available frequency spectrum specified by the new standard.

User Terminal is funded by NASA’s Exploration Science Strategy and Integration Office, part of the agency’s Science Mission Directorate, which manages the CLPS initiative. JPL manages the project and supported development of the new S-band radio standard and the payload in coordination with Vulcan Wireless in Carlsbad, California, which built the radio. Caltech in Pasadena manages JPL for NASA.