Scientists trace crop viruses back to the last Ice Age
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Jun-2026 07:15 ET (21-Jun-2026 11:15 GMT/UTC)
Long before humans cultivated crops or sailed between continents, a group of plant viruses was already evolving among wild plants in Eurasia. According to a new international study, the ancestors of modern tymoviruses likely emerged before the last Ice Age, reshaping scientists’ understanding of the vast evolutionary history of plant disease.
Rotator cuff tears often heal with stiff, dysfunctional scar tissue, limiting recovery. A new study reveals why tendon regeneration fails after injury. Using single-cell profiling of tens of thousands of cells from patient tendon samples, the study maps the first atlas of human tendon scarring and identifies pro-fibrotic stem cells, senescent tendon cells, scar-forming macrophages, and transitioning endothelial cells. Targeting key fibrotic signals reduced scarring in animal models, suggesting new therapeutic strategies.
Narrow-ridged finless porpoises were long assumed to be mostly solitary species with little allomaternal interaction. In a new study, researchers from Kindai University found four infant porpoises swimming with non-mother adults. The functions of these interactions are unclear. It is possible that they reduce swimming effort for infants and help young females learn to interact with infants before having their own offspring. These findings are valuable for wildlife conservation and rehabilitation of abandoned infant porpoises.
A “peculiar” ancient relative of the crocodile which experts believe began life on four legs before, in adulthood, it learnt how to walk on just two has been revealed in a new study.
A global review shows women play a critical but often overlooked role in community wildlife conservation efforts.
New modular legged robot comprises multiple smaller autonomous robots. Each athletic module is a complete robot with its own motor, battery and brain. Together, modules form larger machines that can be rapidly assembled, repaired or reshaped on the fly. Study marks first evolved robot to set foot outdoors and first modular robot with agility.