Understanding how species survive environmental upheavals is central to evolutionary and conservation science. Southeast Asia, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, has repeatedly swung between forests and grasslands over the last 150,000 years. Until now, however, little was known about how ancient mammals in these tropical landscapes adapted—or failed to adapt—to these dramatic shifts.

MIT researchers developed a way to make cells detach from surfaces on demand, using electrochemically generated bubbles. The system could keep bioreactors and other cell-growing systems clean, accelerating the growth of carbon-absorbing algae and lifesaving cell therapies.

A team of scientists led by Rutgers researchers has uncovered evidence that modern sea level rise is happening faster than at any time in the past 4,000 years, with China’s coastal cities especially at risk.