https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. It may sound too bizarre to be true, but the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), a fish that inhabits rivers, lakes, and swamps in Mexico and Texas, exists over much of its range in populations that are 100% female. In 1932, the Amazon molly became the first known vertebrate to reproduce by cloning itself, producing all-female populations. A new genetic study published in Nature has given scientists insights into the longstanding mystery about how and why this happens. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-asexual-lizards-virgin-births-clones.html Plants & Animals Fri, 22 May 2026 09:40:02 EDT news698661362 Vibrant, tiny, and sporting a bright red grin on its back, the Happy-Face spider is one of the most famous and recognizable arachnids in the world. For over a century, this cheerful-looking creature was thought to be a unique resident of the Hawaiian Islands, a biological curiosity found nowhere else on Earth. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-happy-spider-species-indian-himalayas.html Plants & Animals Tue, 19 May 2026 09:20:06 EDT news698400543 Kenyan ant expert Dino Martins gushes over the red and black insects that have become the center of an international smuggling trade. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-kenya-poaching-problem-smuggling-giant.html Ecology Mon, 18 May 2026 04:51:32 EDT news698298661 In addition to serving as biochemical weapons for offense and defense, the venoms produced by ants in the subfamily Formicinae also fulfill additional roles. For example, the ants use it to protect their nests from pathogens. It has long been assumed that the primary constituent of these venoms, formic acid, was responsible for these functions. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-discovery-antimicrobial-peptides-ant-venom.html Biochemistry Thu, 14 May 2026 12:53:32 EDT news697981981 New research finds that higher temperatures can actually benefit some bumble bee species—particularly those that make subterranean nests. However, periods of extreme heat appear to offset those benefits, and may contribute to declining bumble bee populations in the southeastern United States. The paper, "Nesting biology shapes climate vulnerability of social bees (Bombus spp.)," is published in the Journal of Animal Ecology. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-higher-temperatures-benefit-devastate-bumble.html Plants & Animals Wed, 06 May 2026 18:20:07 EDT news697292916 Increases in global trade and travel are causing animal and plant species to be more frequently introduced to regions of the world where they do not naturally occur. In these new regions, these species are often referred to as "alien species." The process through which they are introduced is known as a "biological invasion." Much research has been carried out to identify the biodiversity impacts of biological invasions—these are impacts that affect the survival of native species. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-negative-impacts-biological-invasions-animal.html Ecology Tue, 05 May 2026 10:40:03 EDT news697193401 The ability to detect viruses and other harmful pathogens is highly advantageous for animals, as it can guide their behavior and prevent them from illness, and—in severe cases—death. When it comes to species that live in organized groups, such as bees, ants and some other insects, it can be even more crucial, as it can prevent the spread of pathogens across entire colonies. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-bees-viruses-food-sources-dont.html Plants & Animals Sat, 02 May 2026 08:00:08 EDT news696781511 Researchers at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and the University of the Ryukyus have developed a new imaging method that makes it possible to see, in real time, how food is distributed and exchanged inside groups of ants. The work sheds light on how social insects organize themselves, and it could eventually help scientists detect early signs of disruption in insect communities that play essential roles in pollination, agriculture, and biodiversity. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-radioactive-imaging-reveals-ants-secret.html Plants & Animals Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:02 EDT news696646429 Scorpions wield some of the natural world's most formidable built-in weapons, from crushing pincers to venomous stingers. Scientists have long known that these structures contain trace metals that strengthen them, but only a small fraction of the roughly 3,000 scorpions have ever been examined for this trait. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-scorpions-weapons-fortified-metal.html Plants & Animals Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:10:01 EDT news696586562 Sticking with the same people might feel safe and comfortable. But a new Northwestern University study suggests it can actually trap new ideas and behaviors inside tight echo chambers. By contrast, the research, published in Communications Physics, shows that when interactions shift away from familiar contacts—and toward new ones—activity can spread more widely. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-ideas-physics-based.html General Physics Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:30:01 EDT news696522781 In his time spent in the lush canopies of Costa Rica's cloud forest, UConn Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. student Jeremy Quirós-Navarro has worked as an arborist, helped place camera traps, collected plant samples, and trained others how to climb, all while observing the amazing wildlife of this towering and unstudied ecosystem. Over time, Quirós-Navarro noticed an interesting pattern in the habits of the canopy animals involving their choice of locations to take care of their latrine needs. These findings are published in Ecology and Evolution. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-favorite-pit-communication-hub-cloud.html Plants & Animals Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00:07 EDT news696072828 In the spring, ants are once again hard at work. Beyond their everyday presence, ants are also key model organisms in cutting-edge evolutionary genetics research, helping scientists understand how social behavior and cooperation evolve. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-ant-supergene-reveals-evolution-social.html Evolution Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:40:03 EDT news695906343 Poison frogs are small and brightly colored amphibians that originate from Central and South America. As suggested by their name, these frogs can release highly toxic chemicals from their skin, which deter and neutralize predators. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-poison-frogs-built-chemical-weapons.html Plants & Animals Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:50:01 EDT news695467298 This week in science news: Researchers are calling to exploit sewage waste and manure to break U.S. synthetic fertilizer dependence. Wasps have begun disrupting the 10-million-year mutualism of ants and plants. And scientists have taken a step toward using CRISPR to silence the extra chromosome in Down syndrome. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-saturday-citations-neuroinflammaging-treatment-stuns.html Other Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:10:01 EDT news695642585 Quantum technologies like quantum computers are built from quantum materials. These types of materials exhibit quantum properties when exposed to the right conditions. Curiously, engineers can also trigger quantum behavior by manipulating a material's structure; for example, by stacking layers of graphene on top of each other and twisting them to create a moiré pattern, which suddenly turns them into a superconductor. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-quantum-algorithm-million-site-quasicrystal.html Quantum Physics Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:50:01 EDT news695491622 Naked mole rats keep kingdoms underground. One queen bears all the children, while others maintain complex subterranean tunnels, forage for food, take care of newborns, and perform other necessary upkeep. This society hinges on the central pillar of a singular queen. What happens when her fertility declines or is impaired? https://phys.org/news/2026-04-naked-mole-rats-peacefully-power.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:10 EDT news695463721 An international team of scientists from Queen Mary University of London, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and other institutions has uncovered surprising new behavior in the tropical forests of Malaysian Borneo. In a study published in PeerJ, the researchers report that predatory wasps are increasingly taking over the hollow stems of the tropical plant Macaranga pearsonii—structures the tree has evolved specifically to house protective ant colonies. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-wasps-ant-partnership-disrupting-10millionyear.html Evolution Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:20:04 EDT news695466841 A team of researchers from institutions across South America have expanded scholarly knowledge of the Pikelinia spider genus, with their recent discovery of a new crevice weaver species: Pikelinia floydmuraria. The new species name is a creative tribute to the legendary rock band Pink Floyd, while simultaneously referencing the spider's specific habitat. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-tiny-wall-spider-pink-floyd.html Plants & Animals Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:20:03 EDT news695377322 Ants are known for many things. They fight, bite and sometimes compete for every crumb. We can now possibly add cleaning services to that list, according to a study published in the journal Ecology and Evolution. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-arizona-tiny-ants-hygienists-climbing.html Plants & Animals Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:20:04 EDT news695296823 In the clonal raider ant (Ooceraea biroi), workers in a colony alternate between caring for larvae and laying eggs in a coordinated cycle. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena have discovered a brood pheromone released by larvae of clonal raider ants that temporarily suppresses egg-laying in adult ants. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-ant-larvae-parental-odor.html Plants & Animals Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:40:04 EDT news694953121 The rainforests of northern Australia are home to extraordinary ant colonies. Instead of dwelling in underground burrows, these ants inhabit canopies of trees, dozens of meters above the ground, inside hollow spheres they construct from tree leaves. During the building process, the ants link their bodies together to form living tools, eventually weaving the leaves into nests using silk threads produced by their larvae—hence their name: weaver ants. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-high-weaver-ants-leaf-zippers.html Plants & Animals Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:40:01 EDT news694080722 Materials inspired by nature, or biomimetic materials, are nothing new. Scientists have designed water-resistant materials inspired by lotus leaves and rose petals, unsinkable metals based on the air-trapping, buoyant abilities of fire ants and diving bell spiders, and even Velcro was inspired by the sticky burrs from burdock plants. Now, a new study published in ACS Omega has taken a closer look at the biofilm-resistant abilities of python skin, which may have valuable applications in medical devices and industrial surfaces. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-python-scales-host-microstructures-block.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:20:06 EDT news693482214 Several insect species, including ants, honeybees and termites, live in highly organized societies, also known as social insect colonies. Insects living in these colonies can take on different roles, such as reproducing, maintaining the nest, gathering food or caring for other insects. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-colony-chemistry-reveals-destroys-termite.html Ecology Sun, 22 Mar 2026 08:20:01 EDT news693132973 Like the males of many animal species, male Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies, a commonly studied lab animal, are aggressive toward one another and even fight when competing for resources such as food and females. Researchers in the lab of David Anderson have been studying aggression in these insects for decades, elucidating the neural basis for heightened aggression in males, among other discoveries. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-courting-competition-male-fruit-flies.html Plants & Animals Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:20:01 EDT news693226321 For ants, the ability to instantly distinguish nestmates from outsiders who might hijack the colony is crucial. Now, a new study shows that the system that ants use to determine who belongs in the colony is far more flexible than once thought. The findings, published in Current Biology, demonstrate how clonal raider ants update their sense of nestmate identity throughout adulthood through repeated exposure, while still retaining an intrinsic recognition of their kin. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-clonal-raider-ants-friend-foe.html Plants & Animals Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:00:01 EDT news693216061 A colony of leafcutter ants is home to more than just one species. Each year, studies reveal new layers of complexity in these ecosystems, where various fungi and bacteria thrive alongside the ants, resulting in countless interactions and the production of unknown compounds. In their latest study, researchers affiliated with São Paulo State University (UNESP) and the University of São Paulo (USP), demonstrate how bacteria in the colonies respond to different diets provided by ants to the fungi they cultivate. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-leafcutter-ants-food-reshapes-microbial.html Ecology Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:20:01 EDT news693139562 It's well known that many animals, including migratory birds, butterflies, and even fish, use the sun for navigational purposes. Nocturnal animals are dealt a more difficult hand, however, as the moon's path is far more variable. But a new study, published in Current Biology, has shown that nocturnal bull ants (Myrmecia midas) not only use the moon as a compass, but are also capable of accounting for speed variations in its movement. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-nocturnal-ants-lunar-compass-sophisticated.html Plants & Animals Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:42:12 EDT news692448071 For more than a decade, Evan Economo's lab has been using micro-CT machines to scan insect specimens. The resulting X-ray images help researchers study the form and structure of insects—a subfield of entomology known as morphology—but the process is costly and time-consuming. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-3d-imagery-world-ant-diversity.html Ecology Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:08 EST news691841822 Tiny insects trapped in amber could tell us a great deal about their roles in past ecosystems: pollinators, parasites, predators, and prey. But how many of the insects preserved alongside each other reflect interactions during life, and how many are just unlucky coincidences? https://phys.org/news/2026-02-fossil-amber-reveals-secret-cretaceous.html Ecology Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:01 EST news691318321 A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology has revealed the toxic "forever chemical," PFOS, can accumulate in exposed honeybee colonies and transfer to their honey, threatening pollinator viability, food security, and potentially human health. Conducted by researchers at the University of New England (UNE), the study monitored the effects of chronic sublethal exposure of PFOS on European honeybee colonies, showing prolonged exposure to environmental levels of PFOS changed the expression of some key proteins responsible for cell function in the honeybee. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-pfos-chemical-accumulate-bees-honey.html Environment Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:00:10 EST news691321682