North American river otters eat, play and defecate in the same place. But their terrible food hygiene make them ideal for detecting future health threats in the environment, according to scientists. In a new study published Aug. 14, Smithsonian scientists analyzed the otters’ diets and “latrine” habitats in the Chesapeake Bay for the first time. They discovered river otters often eat food riddled with parasites—and that may not be a bad thing for the larger ecosystem.

When a North American river otter left behind some weird looking poo on a dock in Maryland and got caught by a wildlife camera, scientists started to investigate. They found river otters living in the Chesapeake Bay eat a variety of fish, crabs, and the occasional duck – and that their food is infested with parasites which sometimes infect otters. As river otters hunt infected prey, they might play a vital role within local food webs through the culling of sick individuals, the researchers said. 

A group of researchers from Northeastern University of China developed a novel FeCrVNiAl eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEA) that exhibits a remarkable combination of mechanical strength and high corrosion resistance for marine environments. The alloy integrates hierarchical nanoscale precipitates of B2 (NiAl) and L2₁ (Fe₂CrV) phases within its matrix, which are precisely controlled through solid solution and aging treatments. These precipitates induce multistage strengthening mechanisms, including dislocation interactions, strain hardening, and the formation of misfit dislocations at coherent interfaces. The result is an alloy capable of bearing compressive stresses up to ~3.05 GPa, while simultaneously maintaining outstanding ductility and strain-hardening capabilities. Additionally, the microstructure promotes the formation of a stable passive film comprising chromium oxide, which reduces corrosion current density and enhances resistance in saline, marine-like environments. This dual achievement addresses a key challenge faced by traditional marine materials, which often fail in harsh conditions either by lacking sufficient strength or corrosion resistance. The study offers a new microstructural design that not only achieves these demanding properties but also provides insights into the underlying mechanisms contributing to this synergy.

Specially adapted drones successfully use a "tap and go" approach to apply monitoring tags to whales, speeding up the process and avoiding human interference

In Nature, 21 leading scientists today prescribe ways to use food systems to halt and reverse land degradation, underlining that doing so must become a top global priority to mitigate climate change and stop biodiversity loss. 

The article breaks new ground by quantifying the impact by 2050 of reducing food waste by 75% and maximising sustainable ocean-based food production, measures that alone could spare an area larger than Africa. 

A team led by researchers from the University of Washington used a fiber-optic cable to capture calving dynamics across the fjord of the Eqalorutsit Kangilliit Sermiat glacier in South Greenland. Data collected from the cable allowed them to document — without getting too close — one of the key processes that is accelerating the rate of glacial mass loss and in turn, threatening the stability of ice sheets, with consequences for global ocean currents and local ecosystems.  

An international study has revealed that tiny planktonic crustaceans carry a unique microbial signature that better reflects ocean currents and environmental gradients than microbes found freely in seawater. As surface oceans become warmer and more nutrient-depleted, these host-associated microbes, especially those adapted to oligotrophic conditions as in the Mediterranean Sea, may offer early warning signs about the health of marine ecosystems.

Electric and hybrid propulsion systems are developing rapidly, but they do not yet offer a practical alternative for the high-power engines used in marine and off-road applications. Therefore, more climate-friendly solutions must be developed within the constraints of the current engine fleet. A new doctoral dissertation from the University of Vaasa, Finland, investigates how renewable naphtha, derived from crude tall oil, and marine gas oil refined from recycled lubricants, can serve as alternative fuels.