Category: 7. Science

Polyploidy—having multiple sets of chromosomes—is a common phenomenon in plants and has long intrigued evolutionary biologists. Polyploids often demonstrate greater adaptability to extreme environments than their diploid relatives, but the underlying genomic mechanisms remain poorly understood, particularly in wild species.

Strawberries (Fragaria spp.) represent a promising model for studying polyploid evolution, with a wide range of species exhibiting diverse ploidy levels. While the ancestry of cultivated octoploid strawberries has been intensively investigated, their tetraploid wild relatives remain relatively unexplored. In particular, the evolutionary origins and environmental adaptations of Chinese endemic tetraploids such as F. corymbosaand F. moupinensis are still unresolved. Due to these gaps, a deeper investigation into their genomic history is needed.

Researchers from Taizhou University and international collaborators published a study in Horticulture Research, 2024, which sheds light on the genomic evolution of two wild tetraploid strawberries. By sequencing and comparing the genomes of F. corymbosa, F. moupinensis, and three diploid species, the team clarified ancestral relationships and identified key gene families involved in adaptation to high-altitude environments. Their findings reveal that the tetraploids are not hybrids but rather autotetraploids, and they possess genetic traits likely selected for life in mountainous regions.

The researchers produced high-quality genome assemblies for the tetraploid species and their diploid relatives. Phylogenomic trees and sequence-based mapping confirmed that F. chinensis is the closest diploid ancestor to F. corymbosa and possibly to F. moupinensis as well. Both tetraploids showed no evidence of subgenome structure, supporting their classification as autotetraploids.

The study found significant expansion in gene families linked to UV-B response and DNA repair in both tetraploids. In contrast, gene families associated with pathogen response—such as those responding to wounding, fungi, and bacteria—were contracted. Transcriptome data revealed that genes involved in cell division and telomere maintenance were upregulated, including those for meiotic cell cycle, DNA-templated DNA replication, and meristem maintenance. Meanwhile, defense-related genes were downregulated, consistent with a shift in resource allocation to abiotic stress adaptation.

These findings reflect adaptations to high-altitude habitats—regions with intense UV radiation and low pathogen pressure. The results link genomic evolution directly to ecological traits, offering a model for how wild polyploids evolve through both structural and regulatory genomic changes.

“This research highlights how genome duplication can empower plants to adapt to challenging environments like high-altitude regions,” said Dr. Junmin Li, co-corresponding author of the study. “By combining genome sequencing, evolutionary analysis, and gene expression profiling, we were able to trace ancestry and link genomic changes to ecological adaptations. Our findings open up new possibilities for exploring how plants evolve under environmental stress.”

This research provides a genomic framework for understanding how wild polyploid plants adapt to extreme habitats. The confirmed ancestor-descendant relationship between F. chinensis and the tetraploids opens new avenues for studying adaptation mechanisms across altitudinal gradients. The gene families involved in UV resistance and reduced biotic stress response may serve as genetic targets for breeding more resilient strawberry varieties.

Moreover, the findings underscore the value of conserving wild Fragaria species as reservoirs of adaptive traits. Future studies using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) or quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping could pinpoint specific adaptation-related genes, enhancing crop improvement and ecological restoration strategies.

(Web Desk) – One of the most enduring stereotypes about domestic cats is that they absolutely despise getting wet.

From frantically scrambling out of the bathtub to recoiling at the mist from a spray bottle, cats and water always seem to be at odds.

And while some felines might not mind a swim — certain breeds, including Turkish Vans and Maine coons tend to adore the water — many cat owners know that this stereotype still rings true for their fur babies.

But why do cats hate water so much?

There isn’t any dedicated scientific research on cats’ relationship with water. But there are some potential clues in cats’ biology and evolutionary history, experts say, as well as in their individual upbringing.

Kristyn Vitale, an animal behaviorist and founder of Maueyes Cat Science and Education, suspects that the ancestor of the domestic cat, the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), may play a big role in why modern domestic cats avoid water.

Some wild cats, such as tigers, fishing cats and jaguars, like to swim in order to escape bugs, cool off and even ambush their prey. But the African wild cat mostly lives in desert environments, where it rarely encounters large bodies of water or swims.

“They are not particularly known for hunting near water or within the water,” Vitale told Live Science in an email. “A large proportion of the African wildcat’s diet is made up of terrestrial animals, like rodents. Given this, it is not surprising that domestic cats don’t really seek out water. It is just not something this species was built to do.”

However, Jonathan Losos, a professor of biology at Washington University in St. Louis and author of “The Cat’s Meow: How Cats Evolved from the Savanna to Your Sofa” (Viking, 2023), told Live Science in an email he isn’t totally convinced by this theory. He pointed out that just because an animal is from a desert doesn’t mean it fears water, and that the range of African wildcats also extends to some less arid habitats — meaning some members of the species do encounter water in their lifetimes.

Jennifer Vonk, an animal cognition expert at Oakland University, brought up another potential reason house cats don’t like water: being wet is physically uncomfortable and can potentially disrupt their sense of smell.

“Their fur does become waterlogged and make movement more cumbersome, which probably leaves them feeling vulnerable,” Vonk told Live Science in an email.

Water can also mask a cat’s natural odor, or bring with it new smells that cats are sensitive to. Cats may be able to detect chemical cues in tap water that they find unpleasant, Vonk said, and Vitale noted that getting wet may obscure a cat’s natural pheromones, which could cause distress.

Ultimately, cats’ hatred of water may not stem from a single source — it’s probably a blend of multiple factors.

“It is likely a combination of being a natural aversion and a learned behavior,” said Vitale.

On that note, a kitten’s early experiences could play a big role in how they feel about water for the rest of their lives. While there’s no direct research about whether exposing kittens to water makes them like it more, cat experts do know that exposing kittens to different sights, sounds, scents, textures and experiences helps them become more confident adults. This process is called socialization, and Vitale said it could apply to water as well.

“It is likely that if a kitten grew up around water, they would be more comfortable around water as an adult,” she explained. “With that said, every cat is an individual. Even with water exposure, some kittens may still show water aversion, while other kittens who have never been exposed to water might enjoy it.” 

Imagine walking to the store for ice cream and running into a free opportunity to view Saturn’s rings. That’s what’s happened for thousands of lucky pedestrians, thanks to #PopScope, the urban astronomy movement.

Now in its 11th year, the volunteer-run group just hit a major milestone: Completing 500 pop-ups that have brought 26,000 people closer to the night sky.

Founded in Ottawa, Ontario in 2014, #popscope (short for pop-up telescope) has expanded to include volunteers in cities across Canada and the U.S. and has hosted pop-ups in Ireland, Malawi, and India.

From the beginning, their urban astronomy model has been simple and powerful: go to a public area, set up an entry-level telescope, point it at an object in the sky, and invite passersby to take a look.

What happens next is magical.

Jaws drop, eyes widen, and whispers are uttered when they encounter our awesome universe.

After initial disbelief that a stranger could be offering something for free, the passerby’s eyes light up when they peer through the eyepiece and see Jupiter’s moons through a light-filled city sky coming into focus.

“The project has been a labor of love—and deep friendships have formed among the group’s volunteers,” co-founder Michael O’Shea told GNN. “We’re motivated by the look of awe on a stranger’s face when they see Saturn’s rings for the first time, or hear cries of delight when someone views the Moon’s bumpy craters in vivid detail.”

What may start as a conversation about the object in the telescope often turns to other topics, like the phases of the Moon, or how the neighborhood is changing, or maybe just the name of their dog.

Often times guests and volunteers become new friends and offer to stay in touch.

“As we celebrate 500 pop-ups, we remember the many snippets of conversation from guests as we huddled around our telescopes. One person even said his uncle was on Apollo 12…

“Here are some of our favorites that made us smile—and think—as we gazed up into the night sky together.

• “I am 55 years old and I’ve never seen anything like this before. Thank you for coming!
• “Saturn rings! They look like an emoji! A Saturn emoji!
• “You made my night…Best thing that happened to me all day.
• “The Moon—It’s like cheese!
• “I might be late for my train, but it was worth it to see the moon!”

CHECK OUT: Man Finds Meteorite After Seeing Green Light in the Sky: It was Warm and Burnt and ‘May Be From Halley’s Comet’

Special donors have supplied funding and equipment over the years, including Celestron, the Awesome Foundation, and the Social Innovation Lab—helping to provide science to communities that are often underserved by academics and institutions.

Chapters have been set up in Montreal, Baltimore, New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia and Jacksonville, Florida.

Who knows whether these encounters will inspire kids to start thinking about becoming astronauts. #Popscope just hopes the kids—and adults—keep looking up.

Visit the group’s website, popscope.org, for updates or to volunteer.

Check out the photos and videos from their 500 events on Flicker—and learn more about the goals and history of the club in this recent article.

SPREAD THE IDEA to Science-Lovers, By Posting on Social Media…

Researchers have created a new tsunami detection system that could save a lot of lives. 

Scientists at Cardiff University in Wales, United Kingdom, have developed a technology that utilizes underwater sound waves to provide real-time warnings of a tsunami.

The new system, Global Real-time Early Assessment of Tsunamis (GREAT), detects sound waves using underwater microphones called hydrophones. 

GREAT can also capture the properties of tsunamis from non-seismic sources because they also generate acoustic gravity waves.

This will be important when a tsunami, or something resembling a tsunami, is caused by extreme weather, which is becoming more common due to the overheating of the planet.

“The technology runs in real-time, without relying on pre-set templates or assumptions, and has been tested successfully using real hydrophone data,” said project lead Dr. Usama Kadri.

Current forms of detection, like DART, are based on sea-level sensors and only detect tsunamis after they’ve already arrived. They’re slow to warn and leave little time to respond, especially if an area is close to the source. 

The deadly 2004 tsunami in Thailand, in which the waves arrived just 14 minutes after an earthquake and killed nearly 230,000 people, is an example of this.

Traditional forms of detection can also create false alarms, which can lead to mistrust in the warning system and potentially unnecessary deaths. On top of that, they’re incapable of assessing the size of a tsunami or if one is generated from non-seismic sources.

The GREAT project has been underway for years, beginning in 2013, and it’s scheduled to be completed in 2030.

The biggest issue the GREAT system is facing is a lack of hydroacoustic stations. There are only 11 stations globally, and only four of those provide real-time data. Only tsunamis within a certain range of those four stations will be picked up.

“Provided an event is within a thousand kilometers (about 621 miles) from a hydrophone station, it will take on average, six minutes for an end-to-end assessment,” Dr. Kadri said. “The analysis itself takes only a few seconds on a standard PC station.”

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

A new kind of onboard AI gives satellites the power to think for themselves – deciding in under 90 seconds whether a target on Earth is worth capturing. The system is called Dynamic Targeting, and it’s designed to make space-based observations sharper, quicker, and more useful.

This innovation was recently tested by scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, and the results show real promise.

For the first time, a satellite orbiting Earth was able to look ahead along its flight path, analyze imagery using artificial intelligence, and then redirect its instruments without any input from people on the ground.

AI helps satellites think fast

Dynamic Targeting has been in development for over ten years. The core idea is simple: make spacecraft act less like passive cameras and more like quick-thinking observers.

During a test in July, the system ran on a commercial satellite, with a clear goal – prove that spacecraft can pick better targets on their own.

Instead of just snapping photos of whatever is below, Dynamic Targeting helps satellites avoid common issues like clouds and focus on what matters.

In the future, the system could even track fast-changing events like wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and intense storms.

“The idea is to make the spacecraft act more like a human: Instead of just seeing data, it’s thinking about what the data shows and how to respond,” said Steve Chien, principal investigator for the Dynamic Targeting project.

“When a human sees a picture of trees burning, they understand it may indicate a forest fire, not just a collection of red and orange pixels. We’re trying to make the spacecraft have the ability to say, ‘That’s a fire,’ and then focus its sensors on the fire.”

Teaching satellites to skip the clouds

In its first real-world test, Dynamic Targeting wasn’t looking for fires or storms just yet. Its mission was to dodge something far more ordinary: clouds.

For Earth-observing satellites, clouds are a major obstacle. They block the view up to two-thirds of the time. Most sensors simply collect whatever’s in front of them – even if it’s just cloud cover. That wastes valuable storage and processing time.

Dynamic Targeting changes that. The system allows the satellite to scan 300 miles ahead to check for clear skies. If it sees clouds, the shot is canceled. If the coast is clear, it captures the image as it passes overhead.

“If you can be smart about what you’re taking pictures of, then you only image the ground and skip the clouds. That way, you’re not storing, processing, and downloading all this imagery researchers really can’t use,” said Ben Smith, an associate with NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office.

Smith noted that the technology will help scientists get a much higher proportion of usable data.

How it works in orbit

The latest test flew aboard CogniSAT-6, a compact CubeSat launched in March 2024. It’s built and operated by Open Cosmos and carries a payload from Ubotica featuring an off-the-shelf AI processor.

The processor was tested earlier on the International Space Station, using similar algorithms.

Because CogniSAT-6 doesn’t have a dedicated forward-facing imager, it tilts forward by 40 to 50 degrees to take a peek ahead. The satellite uses a camera that sees in both visible and near-infrared light.

The onboard AI then analyzes that imagery to find clouds. If the view looks clear, the spacecraft turns back to look straight down and captures the scene below.

The whole cycle – scan, analyze, aim, and shoot – happens while the satellite hurtles through space at 17,000 miles per hour. And it all wraps up in under 90 seconds.

Avoiding clouds and targeting trouble

With the cloud-avoidance test complete, the team is already looking at what’s next. Upcoming trials will flip the goal: instead of dodging clouds, the satellite will target them – particularly severe storm systems.

Other tests will focus on heat anomalies like volcanic eruptions or active wildfires. Each task will use its own set of tailored algorithms.

“This initial deployment of Dynamic Targeting is a hugely important step,” Chien said. “The end goal is operational use on a science mission, making for a very agile instrument taking novel measurements.”

Ultimately, the technology could be used beyond Earth. The team actually drew inspiration from past work with ESA’s Rosetta orbiter, which proved it was possible to track gas plumes from a comet without waiting for human commands. That same thinking now informs the Dynamic Targeting system.

AI can catch what we usually miss

Back on Earth, the team is thinking about new applications. One possibility is using radar instead of optical sensors.

Radar-equipped satellites with Dynamic Targeting could lock onto short-lived weather events like deep convective ice storms – rare and dangerous winter storms that are hard to catch with current systems.

There’s also a bigger vision: satellite teamwork. In one idea, a lead satellite would process images and spot interesting targets. Then it would alert a trailing satellite to zoom in for closer study.

Eventually, a whole fleet of autonomous satellites could work together, sharing data in real time.

Chien and the team at JPL are already preparing a test of that concept, called Federated Autonomous MEasurement, that is scheduled to begin later this year.

—–

Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates. 

Check us out on EarthSnap, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

—–

Discovered on July 1, 3I/ATLAS is the third known interstellar visitor to enter our solar system, following 2017’s Oumuamua and 2019’s Borisov. It measures about 15 miles wide, making it larger than Manhattan.

While some astronomers suggest it’s a comet made of water ice and organic compounds like silicates—similar to asteroids found in the outer regions of the solar system’s main belt—others aren’t convinced it’s natural at all.

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, known for his bold theories about extraterrestrial intelligence, has again stirred debate. Along with researchers Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl from the Initiative for Interstellar Studies, Loeb has proposed that 3I/ATLAS may be an alien probe, pointing to its unusual trajectory and exceptionally high speed, even greater than ?Oumuamua’s.

The team speculates that such characteristics could offer “advantages to extraterrestrial intelligence,” suggesting the object’s path might be optimized for reconnaissance.

A Fresh Look at an Old Challenge

Seeing Reconnection in X-rays

Related Stories

Bridging the Gap Between Local and Global

Why This Matters for Earth and Beyond

Eyes on the Future

Ancient marine fossils from North Greenland have shed light on a major misidentification. A creature once thought to be an early squid relative is not a cephalopod at all. New research shows it is actually linked to arrow worms, or chaetognaths. These creatures swam in Earth’s seas more than 500 million years ago.

The study was led by researchers from the University of Bristol, the Korean Polar Research Institute, and the University of Copenhagen.

The team examined 25 fossils of a mysterious creature called a nectocaridid. Once believed to be an ancient cephalopod, it had a squid-like shape that puzzled scientists for years.

Arrow worm fossil found in Greenland

The fossils came from Sirius Passet, a site known for exceptional preservation. Located in North Greenland, this fossil bed holds delicate remains from the Early Cambrian period, around 518 million years ago.

“Sirius Passet is a treasure trove of fossils from the Cambrian Explosion. We not only find delicate soft-bodied fossils but also their digestive systems, musculature and sometimes even their nervous system,” noted Dr. Jakob Vinther from the University of Bristol.

Fifteen years ago, a paper based on Burgess Shale fossils proposed that nectocaridids were cephalopods related to octopuses and squids. That claim confused many in the field.

“It never really made sense to me, as the hypothesis would upend everything we otherwise know about cephalopods, and their anatomy didn’t closely match cephalopods when you looked carefully,” said Dr. Vinther.

Nervous system holds the answer

As more fossils emerged, researchers noticed something unique. Many specimens had their nervous systems preserved in mineral form. This was a key breakthrough.

“We discovered our nectocaridids preserve parts of their nervous system as paired mineralised structures, and that was a giveaway as to where these animals sit in the tree of life,” said Dr. Vinther.

Soon after, the team found fossils of arrow worms, which helped solve the mystery. One clear feature made the connection possible: the ventral ganglion.

Ganglion links to arrow worm fossil

This ventral ganglion is a nerve mass found on the underside of living arrow worms. It is unique to their group and sometimes gets replaced with phosphate minerals during decay, making it fossilize well.

“These fossils all preserve a unique feature, distinct for arrow worms, called the ventral ganglion,” noted Dr. Tae-Yoon Park from the Korean Polar Institute.

That discovery gave the team the final clue they needed. “We now had a smoking gun to resolve the nectocaridid controversy. Nectocaridids share a number of features with some of the other fossils that also belong to the arrow worm stem lineage,” said Park.

Arrow worm fossil only looked like squid

Despite their similarity to squids, nectocaridids were not related. Their streamlined shape was simply an adaptation to swimming.

“Many of these features are superficially squid-like and reflect simple adaptations to an active swimming mode of life in invertebrates, just like whales and ancient marine reptiles end up looking like fish when they evolve such a mode of life,” Park explained.

This means evolution shaped their bodies for speed and stealth, and similarities with squids were not due to a shared ancestor or genetic heritage.

Eyes, antennae, and stealth

One of their most remarkable features is their eyes. These ancient creatures had complex eyes whereas today’s arrow worms can barely detect light direction.

“Nectocaridids have complex camera eyes just like ours. Living arrow worms can hardly form an image beyond working out roughly where the sun shines,” said Dr. Vinther.

“Our fossils can be much bigger than a typical living arrow worm and, combined with their swimming apparatus, eyes and long antennae, they must have been formidable and stealthy predators.”

Evidence of carnivorous diet

The team found direct proof of their predatory nature. Some fossils had remains of Isoxys, a type of swimming arthropod, in their digestive tracts. This shows they hunted and consumed other marine animals.

The new species has been named Nektognathus evasmithae. It honors Professor Eva Smith, Denmark’s first female law professor and a defender of human rights.

“My decision to name our fossil after Eva, is that this animal was a smart and stealthy fighter just like she is,” Dr. Vinther concluded.

Ultimately, this discovery changes our view of early marine food webs and the evolution of modern sea predators.

The study is published in the journal Science Advances.

Image Credit: Bob Nicholls

—–

Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates. 

Check us out on EarthSnap, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

—–

Shown here is an annotated composite image of the interiors of the 33 tubes NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has used to collect samples as of July 24, 2025, the 1,574th Martian day (or sol) of the mission.

At this point, Perseverance has collected 27 rock cores, two samples of regolith (broken Mars rock and dust), and one atmospheric sample. The composite also includes images of the three witness tube interiors.

Atop each image in white text is the name given to the sample by the rover science team.

Ten of the samples depicted here – including one atmospheric sample and one witness tube – were deposited in January 2023 at the rover’s sample depot at a location dubbed “Three Forks” within Jezero Crater. The other 23 samples collected thus far remain aboard the rover. Visit this page for details on each sample.

The images of the sample tube interiors were collected by the rover’s Sampling and Caching System Camera (known as CacheCam). Larger image NASA ID: PIA26643

https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA26643
Date Created:2025-07-24

Astrobiology,