Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.
This August, we're exploring the science behind the animals that share our planet. From the behaviors and adaptations that help species thrive to the conservation efforts protecting wildlife around the world, animal awareness days like World Lion Day, World Elephant Day, International Cat Day, and International Wolf Day are an opportunity to celebrate biodiversity and discover the research helping us better understand and protect the species that call our planet home.
Latest News Releases
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 25-Oct-2026 20:16 ET (26-Oct-2026 00:16 GMT/UTC)
Study in flies reveals how some tumours eliminate healthy neighbouring cells to grow
Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)Peer-Reviewed Publication
The study, led by IRB Barcelona, shows that tumours with chromosomal instability can promote their own growth by damaging the surrounding healthy tissues.
Senescent tumour cells release signals that block the proliferation of neighbouring cells, ultimately inducing their death.
Published in EMBO Reports, the study identifies a new interaction mechanism between the tumour and its environment, which could open new avenues for researching targeted therapies against senescent cells.
- Journal
- EMBO Reports
Nutritional stress and warming seas threaten Hawaiʻi’s last false killer whales
University of Hawaii at ManoaPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Endangered Species Research
- Funder
- Pacific Whale Foundation, Office of Naval Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Rare wild goats in Northumberland, UK found to be genetically unique
Newcastle UniversityPeer-Reviewed Publication
New research shows Cheviot goats are one of the UK’s most genetically distinct goat populations.
- Journal
- Journal of Heredity
New species of dinosaur, a cousin of Velociraptor, probably glided on four “wings” and hunted early birds
Field MuseumPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Annals of Carnegie Museum
“Supporting Florida Farms” emerges as most persuasive message for pollinator-friendly roadside advocacy
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesA University of Florida-led study of 1,051 Floridians finds strategic environmental communication significantly boosts public support for roadside pollinator habitat, with agricultural benefit frames driving the strongest attitudinal shifts.
- Journal
- Biological Diversity
- Funder
- Disney Conservation Fund
Two new aquatic insect species discovered from the Middle East and Caucasus
Pensoft PublishersPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Biodiversity Data Journal
Commonwealth Fusion Systems builds on learnings from SPARC to publish five peer-reviewed papers validating the physics of the ARC fusion power plant
Cambridge University PressPeer-Reviewed Publication
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), the global leader in fusion energy, today announced the publishing of five peer-reviewed physics basis papers on the company’s ARC fusion power plant in a special edition of Journal of Plasma Physics, published by Cambridge University Press.
- Journal
- Journal of Plasma Physics
- Funder
- Commonwealth Fusion Systems