When extreme drought strikes, drier grasslands receive the greatest productivity benefit from biodiversity. By contrast, forests did not show the same context-dependent pattern under drought, according to a new global synthesis of 75 biodiversity experiments. Researchers from YOKOHAMA National University published their results in Nature Ecology & Evolution on July 15.

Large seabird colonies have a surrounding boundary known as Ashmole’s halo, where food sources are depleted, forcing the birds to travel farther to gather the food they need. The reason seems obvious — the more birds, the more they eat, which reduces the available prey. But that might not be the only factor at play, according to a new study of penguins and krill published on July 15 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Researchers review the latest results and understanding of mechanisms behind this new field of research where seeds show higher yields and resilience following flash treatment in low-temperature plasma. 

The growing presence of nanoplastics in the environment has highlighted the need for simpler detection methods, leading researchers at Science Tokyo to develop a rapid biosensor for detecting polystyrene nanoparticles in water. Tested in both model water samples and real water samples spiked with polystyrene nanoparticles, the device detected 50 nm particles within 20 minutes without labeling or extensive sample preparation. The technology could support efforts to understand and address nanoplastic accumulation in the environment.

Blocking the activity of ZFP384 can prolong the brain’s endogenous repair functions after stroke, report researchers in a collaborative study. They developed an antisense oligonucleotide-based therapy that sustained the reparative activity of microglia by promoting remyelination and neural plasticity, thereby improving functional recovery in mice. Surprisingly, these results were observed even when the treatment began weeks after injury. The findings reveal a promising strategy to extend the brain’s recovery window after stroke, improving long-term outcomes.

Reactive Black 5 is a widely used textile dye that is difficult to degrade and commonly found in industrial wastewater. Researchers investigated the treatment potential of a constructed wetland-derived Clostridium sp. strain T4 by combining metabolite identification with ecotoxicological assessment. Although the bacterium removed up to 97% of the dye, toxic aromatic amines accumulated during treatment, increasing aquatic toxicity and demonstrating that decolorization does not necessarily mean detoxification.