Nature News -- ScienceDaily
Nature. Read the latest scientific research on the natural world, ecology and climate change.
No one knows what these strange larvae grow into
Sat, 13 Sep 2025 11:37:08 EDT
Not all barnacles just sit on rocks and ships. Some invade crabs, growing like a parasitic root system that hijacks their bodies. A mysterious group called y-larvae has baffled scientists for over a century, with no known adult stage. Genetic evidence now reveals they??re related to barnacles and may also be parasites ?? lurking unseen inside other creatures.
Great white sharks have a DNA mystery science still can??t explain
Sat, 16 Aug 2025 12:42:34 EDT
Once on the brink during the last ice age, great white sharks made a remarkable recovery globally, but their DNA reveals a baffling story. Classic migration explanations fail, leaving scientists with a mystery that defies reproductive and evolutionary logic.
Who are the Papua New Guineans? New DNA study reveals stunning origins
Mon, 15 Sep 2025 08:38:14 EDT
On remote islands of Papua New Guinea, people carry a story that ties us all back to our deepest roots. Although their striking appearance once puzzled scientists, new genetic evidence shows they share a common ancestry with other Asians, shaped by isolation, adaptation, and even interbreeding with mysterious Denisovans. Yet, their unique history ?? marked by survival bottlenecks and separation from farming-driven booms ?? leaves open questions about the earliest migrations out of Africa and whether their lineage holds traces of a forgotten branch of humanity.
Why tiny bee brains could hold the key to smarter AI
Sun, 24 Aug 2025 03:15:28 EDT
Researchers discovered that bees use flight movements to sharpen brain signals, enabling them to recognize patterns with remarkable accuracy. A digital model of their brain shows that this movement-based perception could revolutionize AI and robotics by emphasizing efficiency over massive computing power.
In the dark for 11 million years: How blind cavefish rewrote evolution
Fri, 29 Aug 2025 22:11:12 EDT
Yale scientists discovered that cavefish species independently evolved blindness and depigmentation as they adapted to dark cave environments, with some lineages dating back over 11 million years. This new genetic method not only reveals ancient cave ages but may also shed light on human eye diseases.
Glowing shark and hidden crab found deep off Australia
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:09:43 EDT
In a stunning glimpse into the mysteries of the deep, scientists have uncovered two new marine species off Western Australia??a glowing lanternshark and a tiny porcelain crab. The discoveries, made from specimens collected during a 2022 CSIRO research voyage, highlight both the dazzling adaptations of life in the deep sea and the vast number of species yet to be described.
Scientists found the missing nutrients bees need ?? Colonies grew 15-fold
Sat, 23 Aug 2025 05:53:35 EDT
Scientists have developed a breakthrough food supplement that could help save honeybees from devastating declines. By engineering yeast to produce six essential sterols found in pollen, researchers provided bees with a nutritionally complete diet that boosted reproduction up to 15-fold. Unlike commercial substitutes that lack key nutrients, this supplement mimics natural pollen??s sterol profile, giving bees the equivalent of a balanced diet.
This tiny butterfly has the most chromosomes of any animal on Earth
Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:31:07 EDT
Scientists have confirmed that the Atlas blue butterfly carries the most chromosomes of any animal, with 229 pairs. Unlike duplication, its chromosomes split apart, reshaping its genome in surprising ways. This discovery sheds light on evolution, conservation, and even cancer research.
Scientists unearth a 112-million-year-old time capsule filled with ancient insects
Sat, 11 Oct 2025 11:33:09 EDT
Researchers have unearthed South America??s first amber deposits containing ancient insects in an Ecuadorian quarry, offering a rare 112-million-year-old glimpse into life on the supercontinent Gondwana. The amber, found in the Hollín Formation, preserved a diverse range of insect species and plant material, revealing a humid, resin-rich forest teeming with life.
Japan??s hot springs hold clues to the origins of life on Earth
Fri, 03 Oct 2025 03:31:11 EDT
Billions of years ago, Earth??s atmosphere was hostile, with barely any oxygen and toxic conditions for life. Researchers from the Earth-Life Science Institute studied Japan??s iron-rich hot springs, which mimic the ancient oceans, to uncover how early microbes survived. They discovered communities of bacteria that thrived on iron and tiny amounts of oxygen, forming ecosystems that recycled elements like carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur.
Scientists shocked as birds soaked in ??forever chemicals? still thrive
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:09:36 EDT
Tree swallows in polluted U.S. regions are accumulating high levels of ??forever chemicals.? These durable pollutants, used in firefighting foams and consumer products, are found everywhere from soil to human blood. Surprisingly, researchers observed no significant impact on the birds?? reproduction, suggesting possible resilience in wild populations.
500-million-year-old ??squid? were actually ferocious worms
Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:14:39 EDT
A stunning discovery in North Greenland has reclassified strange squid-like fossils, revealing that nectocaridids were not early cephalopods but ancestors of arrow worms. Preserved nervous systems and unique anatomical features provided the breakthrough, showing these creatures once ruled as stealthy predators of the Cambrian seas. With complex eyes, streamlined bodies, and evidence of prey in their stomachs, they reveal a surprising past where arrow worms were far more fearsome than their modern descendants.
Birds around the world share a mysterious warning cry
Mon, 06 Oct 2025 22:17:22 EDT
Birds across the globe independently evolved a shared warning call against parasites, blending instinct and learning in a remarkable evolutionary pattern. The finding offers a rare glimpse into how cooperation and communication systems evolve across species.
Most of Earth??s species came from explosive bursts of evolution
Sat, 23 Aug 2025 05:33:02 EDT
A new study reveals that the majority of Earth??s species stem from a few evolutionary explosions, where new traits or habitats sparked rapid diversification. From flowers to birds, these bursts explain most of the planet??s biodiversity.
Hungry flathead catfish are changing everything in the Susquehanna
Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:54:21 EDT
Flathead catfish are rapidly reshaping the Susquehanna River??s ecosystem. Once introduced, these voracious predators climbed to the top of the food chain, forcing native fish like channel catfish and bass to shift diets and habitats. Using stable isotope analysis, researchers uncovered how the invaders disrupt food webs, broaden dietary overlaps, and destabilize energy flow across the river system. The findings show how a single invasive species can spark cascading ecological consequences.
Ancient fossils in Ethiopia rewrite the first chapter of human evolution
Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:56:24 EDT
Newly discovered fossils in Ethiopia show that Homo coexisted with Australopithecus 2.6 million years ago, rewriting the timeline of human evolution. Far from a straight line, early human history was a tangled web of competing species.
Tiny protein pairs may hold the secret to life??s origin
Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:29:18 EDT
A team from the University of Illinois has uncovered surprising evolutionary links between the genetic code and tiny protein fragments called dipeptides. By analyzing billions of dipeptide sequences across thousands of species, the researchers revealed that these molecular pairs trace the earliest steps in the origin of life.
Scientists just found rare spores inside a fossil older than dinosaurs
Sat, 27 Sep 2025 02:58:01 EDT
Scientists reclassified a long-misunderstood fossil from Brazil as a new genus, Franscinella riograndensis. Using advanced microscopy, they discovered spores preserved in situ??a rare find that links fossil plants to microfossil records. The breakthrough reshapes knowledge of Permian ecosystems and highlights the power of revisiting classic fossils with new tools.
A volcano erased an island??s plants. Their DNA revealed how life starts over
Mon, 15 Sep 2025 23:33:10 EDT
Volcanic eruptions on the remote island of Nishinoshima repeatedly wipe the land clean, giving scientists a rare chance to study life??s earliest stages. Researchers traced the genetic origins of an extinct purslane population to nearby Chichijima but found striking quirks??evidence of a founder??s effect and genetic drift. These discoveries shed light on how plants recolonize harsh environments and how ecosystems evolve from scratch.
They??re smaller than dust, but crucial for Earth??s climate
Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:54:52 EDT
Coccolithophores, tiny planktonic architects of Earth??s climate, capture carbon, produce oxygen, and leave behind geological records that chronicle our planet??s history. European scientists are uniting to honor them with International Coccolithophore Day on October 10. Their global collaboration highlights groundbreaking research into how these microscopic organisms link ocean chemistry, climate regulation, and carbon storage. The initiative aims to raise awareness that even the smallest ocean dwellers have planetary impact.
A tiny mineral may hold the secret to feeding billions sustainably
Wed, 24 Sep 2025 01:22:30 EDT
Rice, a staple for billions, is one of the most resource-hungry crops on the planet??but scientists may have found a way to change that. By applying nanoscale selenium directly to rice plants, researchers dramatically improved nitrogen efficiency, boosted yields, and made grains more nutritious while reducing fertilizer use and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Protected seas help kelp forests bounce back from heatwaves
Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:07:15 EDT
Kelp forests bounce back faster from marine heatwaves when shielded inside Marine Protected Areas. UCLA researchers found that fishing restrictions and predator protection strengthen ecosystem resilience, though results vary by location.
Why some plants are taking over the world
Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:41:32 EDT
Plants are spreading across the globe faster than ever, largely due to human activity, and new research shows that the very same traits that make plants thrive in their native lands also drive their success abroad. A study of nearly 4,000 European species reveals that tall, adaptable, nutrient-loving generalists dominate both at home and in foreign ecosystems.
This flower smells like dying ants, and flies can??t resist it
Thu, 25 Sep 2025 04:07:22 EDT
Vincetoxicum nakaianum tricks flies into pollinating it by imitating the smell of ants attacked by spiders. Ko Mochizuki stumbled upon this finding when he noticed flies clustering around the flowers and later confirmed their unusual preference. The study reveals the first known case of ant odor mimicry in plants, expanding our understanding of how diverse floral deception can be.
The Red Sea that vanished and the catastrophic flood that brought it back
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 04:27:10 EDT
Researchers at KAUST have confirmed that the Red Sea once vanished entirely, turning into a barren salt desert before being suddenly flooded by waters from the Indian Ocean. The flood carved deep channels and restored marine life in less than 100,000 years. This finding redefines the Red Sea??s role as a key site for studying how oceans form and evolve through extreme geological events.
Scientists discover armored ??goblin monster? in prehistoric Utah
Fri, 29 Aug 2025 10:44:02 EDT
Scientists have identified a new giant lizard, Bolg amondol, from Utah??s Kaiparowits Formation, named after Tolkien??s goblin prince. Part of the monstersaur lineage, Bolg reveals that multiple large lizards coexisted with dinosaurs, suggesting a thriving ecosystem. Its discovery in long-stored fossils underscores how museums hold hidden scientific gems.
How orangutans thrive in feast and famine without gaining weight
Tue, 09 Sep 2025 01:47:10 EDT
Orangutans, humans?? close evolutionary relatives, have developed remarkable strategies to survive in the unpredictable rainforests of Borneo. A Rutgers-led study reveals that these apes balance protein intake and adjust their activity to match food availability, avoiding obesity and metabolic disease. Unlike humans, who often overeat processed foods without adjusting energy use, orangutans switch between fruits, leaves, and even stored body fat depending on the season. Their ability to maintain protein levels and conserve energy during scarcity offers insights not only into their survival but also into healthier dietary habits for people.
Ancient predators and giant amphibians found in African fossil treasure trove
Wed, 13 Aug 2025 08:36:14 EDT
Over 15 years of fossil excavations in Tanzania and Zambia have revealed a vivid portrait of life before Earth s most devastating mass extinction 252 million years ago. Led by the University of Washington and the Field Museum, scientists uncovered saber-toothed predators, burrowing herbivores, and giant amphibians, offering rare insight into southern Pangea s ecosystems just before the Great Dying.
Bumble bees balance their diets with surprising precision
Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:07:24 EDT
Bumble bees aren??t random foragers ?? they??re master nutritionists. Over an eight-year field study in the Colorado Rockies, scientists uncovered that different bee species strategically balance their intake of protein, fats, and carbs by choosing pollen from specific flowers. Larger, long-tongued bees seek protein-rich pollen, while smaller, short-tongued species prefer carb- and fat-heavy sources. These dietary preferences shift with the seasons and colony life cycles, helping bees reduce competition, thrive together, and maintain strong colonies.
A 151-million-year-old fly just changed what we know about evolution
Wed, 15 Oct 2025 04:06:53 EDT
Scientists have uncovered a 151-million-year-old midge fossil in Australia that challenges long-held views about insect evolution. Named Telmatomyia talbragarica, the fossil shows freshwater adaptations previously thought to exist only in marine species. This discovery suggests that Chironomidae may have originated in Gondwana, offering new insight into ancient biogeographical patterns.
Scientists uncover the secret to orangutan survival in the trees
Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:11:57 EDT
Young orangutans master the art of building intricate treetop nests not by instinct alone, but by closely watching their mothers and peers. Researchers tracking wild Sumatran orangutans over 17 years discovered that ??peering???the deliberate act of observing nest construction??is the key to learning.
Bizarre ancient creatures unearthed in the Grand Canyon
Thu, 14 Aug 2025 08:14:30 EDT
A groundbreaking fossil discovery in the Grand Canyon has unveiled exquisitely preserved soft-bodied animals from the Cambrian period, offering an unprecedented glimpse into early life more than 500 million years ago. Researchers uncovered molluscs, crustaceans, and exotic worms with remarkable feeding adaptations, preserved in a nutrient-rich ??Goldilocks zone? that fueled evolutionary experimentation. The find not only reveals the complexity of Cambrian ecosystems but also draws intriguing parallels between ancient biological innovation and modern economic risk-taking.
Insects are disappearing from the last places we thought were safe
Tue, 23 Sep 2025 01:51:44 EDT
A long-term study in Colorado reveals that insect populations are plummeting even in remote, undisturbed areas. Over two decades, flying insect abundance dropped by more than 70%, closely linked to rising summer temperatures. The results suggest that climate change, not just human land use, is driving massive losses. Scientists warn that biodiversity hotspots, especially mountain ecosystems, are now at serious risk.
Salmon??s secret superfood is smaller than a grain of salt
Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:26:15 EDT
Tiny diatoms and their bacterial partners act as nature??s nutrient factories, fueling insects and salmon in California??s Eel River. Their pollution-free process could inspire breakthroughs in sustainable farming and energy.
Closest alien civilization could be 33,000 light years away
Sun, 12 Oct 2025 04:51:44 EDT
Complex, intelligent life in the galaxy appears vanishingly rare, with the nearest possible civilization perhaps 33,000 light-years distant. Yet despite the odds, scientists insist that continuing the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is essential ?? for either outcome reshapes our understanding of life itself.
Scientists just found hidden parasitic wasps spreading across the U. S.
Mon, 15 Sep 2025 03:08:30 EDT
Researchers discovered two new parasitic wasp species living in the U.S., tracing their origins back to Europe and uncovering clues about how they spread. Their arrival raises fresh questions about biodiversity, ecological risks, and the role of citizen science in tracking hidden species.
Greenland??s glacial runoff is powering explosions of ocean life
Mon, 18 Aug 2025 03:27:17 EDT
NASA-backed simulations reveal that meltwater from Greenland??s Jakobshavn Glacier lifts deep-ocean nutrients to the surface, sparking large summer blooms of phytoplankton that feed the Arctic food web.
This is where tree planting has the biggest climate impact
Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:34:57 EDT
Planting more trees can help cool the planet and reduce fire risk??but where they are planted matters. According to UC Riverside researchers, tropical regions provide the most powerful climate benefits because trees there grow year-round, absorb more carbon dioxide, and cool the air through processes like evapotranspiration, or ??tree sweating.?
A tiny embryo fold changed the course of evolution
Thu, 04 Sep 2025 02:22:48 EDT
A small tissue fold in fly embryos, once thought purposeless, plays a vital role in stabilizing tissues. Researchers show that it absorbs stress during early development, and its position and timing likely shaped its evolutionary emergence.
Hidden bacterial molecules in the brain reveal new secrets of sleep
Thu, 25 Sep 2025 03:48:24 EDT
New studies show that a bacterial molecule, peptidoglycan, is present in the brain and fluctuates with sleep patterns. This challenges the idea that sleep is solely brain-driven, instead suggesting it??s a collaborative process between our bodies and microbiomes. The theory links microbes not only to sleep but also to cognition, appetite, and behavior, pointing to a profound evolutionary relationship.
Scientists just found a hidden factor behind Earth??s methane surge
Sun, 17 Aug 2025 23:27:32 EDT
Roughly two-thirds of all atmospheric methane, a potent greenhouse gas, comes from methanogens. Tracking down which methanogens in which environment produce methane with a specific isotope signature is difficult, however. UC Berkeley researchers have for the first time CRISPRed the key enzyme involved in microbial methane production to understand the unique isotopic fingerprints of different environments to better understand Earth's methane budget.
150-million-year-old teeth expose dinosaurs?? secret diets
Sun, 14 Sep 2025 11:20:39 EDT
By analyzing tooth enamel chemistry, scientists uncovered proof that Jurassic dinosaurs divided up their meals in surprising ways??some choosing buds and leaves, others woody bark, and still others a mixed menu. This dietary diversity helped massive plant-eaters coexist, while predators carved out their own niches.
Scientists just discovered how octopuses really use their arms
Sat, 13 Sep 2025 11:09:35 EDT
Octopuses aren??t just flexible??they??re astonishingly strategic. A new study reveals how their eight arms coordinate with surprising precision: front arms for exploring, back arms for locomotion, and every arm capable of twisting, bending, shortening, and elongating in unique ways. Researchers observed nearly 7,000 deformations across multiple habitats, capturing behaviors from camouflage tricks to elaborate hunting techniques. This insight doesn??t just unlock secrets of octopus biology, it could also inspire new innovations in robotics and neuroscience.
The ocean??s most abundant microbe is near its breaking point
Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:07:08 EDT
Tiny ocean microbes called Prochlorococcus, once thought to be climate survivors, may struggle as seas warm. These cyanobacteria drive 5% of Earth??s photosynthesis and underpin much of the marine food web. A decade of research shows they thrive only within a narrow temperature range, and warming oceans could slash their populations by up to 50% in tropical waters.
A pink bumpy snailfish was just discovered miles beneath the ocean
Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:31:52 EDT
Scientists have identified three new species of deep-sea snailfish, including the strikingly pink ??bumpy snailfish,? thanks to MBARI??s advanced technology and global collaborations. Found thousands of meters below the surface off California, these elusive fish demonstrate remarkable adaptations for life under crushing pressure and darkness.
Living night lights: Succulents that store sunlight and shine for hours
Fri, 29 Aug 2025 06:00:52 EDT
Scientists have created glow-in-the-dark succulents that can recharge with sunlight and shine for hours, rivaling small night lights. Unlike costly and complex genetic engineering methods, this breakthrough relies on phosphor particles??similar to those in glow-in-the-dark toys??carefully sized to flow through plant tissues. Surprisingly, succulents turned out to be the best glow carriers, with researchers even building a wall of 56 glowing plants bright enough to read by.
Why most whale sharks in Indonesia are scarred by humans
Thu, 28 Aug 2025 04:01:37 EDT
Whale sharks in Indonesia are suffering widespread injuries, with a majority scarred by human activity. Researchers found bagans and boats to be the biggest threats, especially as shark tourism grows. Protecting these gentle giants may be as simple as redesigning fishing gear and boat equipment.
Tiny ancient whale with a killer bite found in Australia
Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:33:06 EDT
An extraordinary fossil find along Victoria??s Surf Coast has revealed Janjucetus dullardi, a sharp-toothed, dolphin-sized predator that lived 26 million years ago. With large eyes, slicing teeth, and exceptional ear bone preservation, this early cousin of modern baleen whales offers unprecedented insight into their evolution.
Strange new hybrid bird spotted in Texas backyard
Sat, 20 Sep 2025 23:45:10 EDT
In Texas, biologists have documented an extraordinary bird ?? the natural hybrid offspring of a green jay and a blue jay. Once separated by millions of years of evolution and distinct ranges, the two species were brought together as climate change expanded their territories. A backyard birder??s photo led to the discovery, and after years of elusiveness, scientists confirmed the bird??s identity through genetic testing.
Flamingos reveal their secret to staying young
Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:02:51 EDT
Some animals don??t age at the same pace, and flamingos may hold the key to why. A decades-long study in France reveals that resident flamingos, which stay put, enjoy early-life advantages but pay later with accelerated aging, while migratory flamingos endure early hardships yet age more slowly. This surprising link between movement and longevity challenges old assumptions and offers new insights into the science of aging.
Archaeologists uncover lost land bridge that may rewrite human history
Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:04:36 EDT
New research along Turkey??s Ayvalık coast reveals a once-submerged land bridge that may have helped early humans cross from Anatolia into Europe. Archaeologists uncovered 138 Paleolithic tools across 10 sites, indicating the region was a crucial migration corridor during the Ice Age. The findings challenge traditional migration theories centered on the Balkans and Levant, suggesting instead that humans used now-vanished pathways across the Aegean.
Sharks?? teeth are crumbling in acid seas
Wed, 27 Aug 2025 03:28:46 EDT
Even sharks?? famous tooth-regrowing ability may not save them from ocean acidification. Researchers found that future acidic waters cause shark teeth to corrode, crack, and weaken, threatening their effectiveness as hunting weapons and highlighting hidden dangers for ocean ecosystems.
Soil warming experiments challenge assumptions about climate change
Wed, 17 Sep 2025 02:08:51 EDT
Heating alone won??t drive soil microbes to release more carbon dioxide ?? they need added carbon and nutrients to thrive. This finding challenges assumptions about how climate warming influences soil emissions.
From gentle giants to ghostly hunters, sharks face an unseen peril
Sun, 05 Oct 2025 01:35:56 EDT
New research reveals that deep-sea mining could dramatically threaten 30 species of sharks, rays, and ghost sharks whose habitats overlap with proposed mining zones. Many of these species, already at risk of extinction, could face increased dangers from seafloor disruptions and sediment plumes caused by mining activity.
The billion-year reign of fungi that predated plants and made Earth livable
Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:53:40 EDT
Fungi may have shaped Earth??s landscapes long before plants appeared. By combining rare gene transfers with fossil evidence, researchers have traced fungal origins back nearly a billion years earlier than expected. These ancient fungi may have partnered with algae, recycling nutrients, breaking down rock, and creating primitive soils. Far from being silent background players, fungi were ecosystem engineers that prepared Earth??s surface for plants, fundamentally altering the course of life??s history.
DNA from old ants reveals a hidden insect apocalypse in Fiji
Sat, 20 Sep 2025 20:45:02 EDT
Insects are essential for ecosystems, but mounting evidence suggests many populations are collapsing under modern pressures. A new study used cutting-edge genomic techniques on museum specimens to track centuries of ant biodiversity across Fiji. The results reveal that nearly 80% of native ants are in decline, with losses intensifying in the past few hundred years as human activities expanded.
Scientists unlock the gene that lets bearded dragons switch sex
Wed, 20 Aug 2025 04:07:36 EDT
Two independent research teams have unveiled near-complete reference genomes of the central bearded dragon, a reptile with the rare ability to change sex depending on both chromosomes and nest temperature. Using next-generation sequencing technologies from China and Australia, the projects uncovered the long-sought genetic basis of sex determination in this lizard.
Scientists discover orchids sprouting from decaying wood
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:09:34 EDT
Kobe University researchers found that orchids rely on wood-decaying fungi to germinate, feeding on the carbon from rotting logs. Their seedlings only grow near deadwood, forming precise fungal partnerships that mirror those seen in adult orchids with coral-like roots. This discovery highlights a hidden carbon pathway in forest ecosystems and explains the evolution of fully fungus-dependent orchid species.
Baby pterosaurs died in ancient storms??and their fossils reveal the truth
Fri, 05 Sep 2025 22:56:23 EDT
Two tiny pterosaurs, preserved for 150 million years, have revealed a surprising cause of death: violent storms. Researchers at the University of Leicester discovered both hatchlings, nicknamed Lucky and Lucky II, with broken wings??injuries consistent with being tossed through the air by powerful gusts. These storms not only claimed their lives but also created the rare conditions that preserved them so perfectly in the Solnhofen limestones.
A 16-million-year-old amber fossil just revealed the smallest predator ant ever found
Sat, 09 Aug 2025 10:09:22 EDT
A fossilized Caribbean dirt ant, Basiceros enana, preserved in Dominican amber, reveals the species ancient range and overturns assumptions about its size evolution. Advanced imaging shows it already had the camouflage adaptations of modern relatives, offering new insights into extinction and survival strategies.
