New research from the University of St Andrews and Dartmouth College examines the crucial, but until now, overlooked, role of ‘scrumped’ fruit in the lives of great apes and the origins of human feasting. This pioneering study is the first to tackle the mystery of why humans are so astoundingly good at metabolising alcohol. The findings show that feeding on fermented fruits gathered from the forest floor is an important behaviour in the lives of African apes, and one that explains why they, and we, evolved the ability to digest alcohol efficiently. 

Four new species of tarantulas have been discovered in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, and they have been placed in a newly established genus named Satyrex. They are highly unusual due to their male sexual organs, which are the longest known among all tarantulas. In the largest species, these appendages are almost four times longer than the front part of the body. These tarantulas are also highly aggressive and produce a loud hissing sound when threatened. The study was published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.

Microclimates – as opposed to large-scale regional or even global scale macroclimate models – may hold the key to offsetting the negative impacts of extreme weather events on already vulnerable insect populations.

EMBL’s AI Strategy aims to fundamentally transform life sciences research by comprehensively integrating artificial intelligence (AI). AI applications in life sciences include large-scale data analysis, protein prediction, biomarker discovery, image processing, and drug development. Funding from the German Hector Foundation will support key initiatives at EMBL, such as recruiting interdisciplinary talent, expanding AI infrastructure, and advancing training programmes. 

After six years of intensive research and testing, the Rhisotope Project has officially reached operational status – where rhinos will effectively be protected through nuclear technology.

The project aims to disrupt the illegal rhino horn trade by embedding low-level radioactive isotopes into the horn. These radioisotopes can be detected by radiation detection equipment at countries borders around the world, allowing for the effective interception of trafficked horns.