Australia’s platypus, one of the world’s most enigmatic animals, had a more exotic origin story, according to an exciting discovery by Flinders University palaeontologists.

They have described rare 25-million-year-old fossils found east of the Flinders Ranges in remote outback South Australia which show ancient platypus with well-formed teeth munched on a varied diet in huge inland lakes and rivers, probably with other critters such as ancient lungfish, flamingos and freshwater dolphins.

This study investigates the adaptive mechanisms of the rare orchid Paphiopedilum purpuratum under ex situ conservation, uncovering physiological trade-offs such as enhanced seed production accompanied by lowered photosynthetic capacity and elevated oxidative stress. It further demonstrates that host nitrogen metabolism shapes root fungal communities, driving two contrasting adaptive strategies—stable, reorganized mycorrhizal networks and dynamic, pathogen-suppressive non-mycorrhizal shifts—providing a multi-level microbial framework for improving long-term ex situ conservation of rare orchids.

24 April 2026 / Kiel. An international research team led by the CRC 1182 and GEOMAR has discovered for the first time that sea urchins can pass on certain components of eukaryotic plastids across generations to improve their fitness and geographic distribution. The study was published yesterday in the scientific journal PLoS Biology.

This cohort study found that early-pregnancy grip strength was inversely associated with the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Absolute grip strength showed a nonlinear relationship with HDP, whereas relative grip strength demonstrated a consistent linear association across age, parity, and physical activity subgroups. These findings suggest that relative grip strength, which accounts for body size, may serve as a simple and practical indicator for the risk stratification of HDP.

Obesity alters bone health not only through increased body weight but also by reshaping the bone marrow environment. Researchers show that expansion of bone marrow fat promotes immunosuppressive PD-L1 signaling, which enhances osteoclast formation and accelerates bone loss. By reducing bone marrow fat in mice, they reduced immune suppression and improved bone structure. These findings uncover a new mechanism linking metabolism, immunity, and skeletal health, offering potential therapeutic targets for obesity-related bone disorders.