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.

Aquaculture provides vital protein and omega‑3 fatty acids for people worldwide, but it faces safety risks from marine toxins, heavy metals, microplastics and pathogens. Traditional detection and removal methods are often slow and costly. A new review in Engineering shows that nanostructures, with unique physical and chemical properties, can effectively detect and eliminate these hazards. This technology brings more sensitive, rapid and sustainable solutions to improve aquaculture safety and support global food security.

Kyoto, Japan -- When locals of two coastal communities along the Sea of Japan reported observations of dolphins in nearby waters, it caught the attention of some scientists. The marine environment has been changing rapidly in the Sea of Japan, which is partially enclosed by the Japanese archipelago and the Eurasian continent and connected to the ocean through shallow straits. Though sightings and bycatch records of dolphins have been reported along the coast, basic ecological information on small odontocetes, such as dolphins and porpoises, has remained limited.

Once they heard about dolphin sightings in both Obama City on Wakasa Bay and Tsushima City on Aso Bay, a team of researchers at Kyoto University headed there to investigate. They wanted to know how these upper-level predators use areas like Wakasa Bay and Aso Bay, and what kinds of sounds they produce.

"This study began through local connections: we heard from acquaintances and local fishers that dolphins might be visiting nearby waters," says first author Satoko S Kimura.

Detecting microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR) in freshwater is increasingly important as harmful algal blooms intensify, but biosensor readings are affected by changing water conditions. Researchers at Hanbat National University and the University of Central Florida developed a machine learning-based calibration framework for biosensors using water quality data. The model accurately predicted MC-LR levels while reducing the need for repeated recalibration, enabling more reliable on-site monitoring.

Filter-feeding fin whales expel colossal volumes of water through baleen strainers in their mouths when dining on krill, but new research published in Journal of Experimental Biology shows that krill clogging the baleen could be a problem for the massive mammals, slowing water leaving their mouths to a 0.02m/s dribble unless they can keep the baleen clear. Then the whales can expel the water in just 31s to keep diving for dinner.