Unless you’ve owned reptiles, you might not know that many of them “pee” crystals. Researchers publishing in the Journal of the American Chemical Society investigated the solid urine of more than 20 reptile species and found spheres of uric acid in all of them. This work reveals how reptiles uniquely package up and eliminate crystalline waste, which could inform future treatments for human conditions that also involve uric acid crystals: kidney stones and gout.

Carpenter ants are not squeamish when it comes to caring for the wounded. To minimise the risk of infection, the insects immediately amputate injured legs – thereby more than doubling their survival rate.

A study published in the International Journal of Oral Science reveals that the PLAGL1-IGF2 axis plays a vital role in postnatal jaw development. Using a mouse model, researchers showed that PLAGL1 regulates osteoblast differentiation in cranial neural crest cell-derived condyles. Deficiency in PLAGL1 disrupts bone formation, but treatment with IGF2 can rescue this effect. These findings provide new insights into craniofacial development and potential therapeutic targets for mandibular disorders.

A team of researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute (IOLR) has conducted the first comprehensive ecological–biotechnological seaweed survey in Israel.

The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) has released the fourth edition of its HFSP Science Digest, a 60-page compendium highlighting the creativity and global reach of HFSP-supported frontier research. Featuring the work of 89 scientists, including 19 HFSP Fellows and 70 members of HFSP Research Grant teams, research in this year's edition looks at life across many scales, from the smallest molecular assemblies to the vast complexity of ocean ecosystems.

Programmed cell death (PCD) plays a central role in the development of multiple systemic diseases. In a recent review, researchers from China examined how Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) regulates PCD and influences disease progression. They summarized the molecular mechanisms controlling ZBP1-mediated cell death, discussed interacting molecules and signaling pathways, and highlighted the potential of targeting ZBP1 as a therapeutic strategy for treating related pathological conditions.