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 08:16 ET (25-Oct-2026 12:16 GMT/UTC)

19-May-2026

 

Unveiling hidden fungal allies: diversity and distribution of AMF in Nigerian vegetable farms

South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

A pioneering study reveals rich arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in Kano State’s vegetable rhizospheres, highlighting key species for sustainable agriculture and biofertilizer development.

Journal

Biological Diversity

Funder

Tertiary Education Trust Fund

19-May-2026

 

The impact of microplastics on ocean carbon uptake

Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Marine microplastics affect algae’s ability to grow and photosynthesize. Researchers have now calculated what impact this has on the greenhouse effect and the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Journal

Ecosystem Services

19-May-2026

 

Warming accelerates ecological state shift and loss of kelp forest along Maine coast

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

As large swaths of Maine’s kelp forests transition into a new state, a study by Bigelow Laboratory scientists reveals what’s driving the northward progression of turf algae and the loss of kelp forests — and the valuable ecological functions they provide.

Journal

Ecology

19-May-2026

 

How bats suppress background noise for prey detection

Doshisha University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Animals such as bats rely on sound for navigation and locating prey. However, they must distinguish between important signals and surrounding noise. Researchers from Doshisha University, Japan, now report that greater Japanese horseshoe bats actively create a “silent spectral window” through ultrasonic frequency control, which allows them to clearly detect echoes from their prey against the background clutter. This strategy not only stabilizes echoes but also suppresses environmental noise, inspiring future noise cancellation technologies.

Journal

Communications Biology

Funder

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

19-May-2026

 

Whalefalls can feed deep-sea creatures for more than 20 years

Frontiers
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a recent Frontiers in Marine Science article, an international team of researchers published the results of a 15-year-long observation of the skeleton of a blue or fin whale lying at roughly 1,300 meters deep at Clayoquot slope off Vancouver Island. Remotely, they recorded high-definition video during four cruises between 2012 and 2024. They found that species richness has increased from 26 taxa in 2009 to 31 in 2023. They concluded the sulphophilic stage – which starts after soft tissue has mostly been consumed and anaerobic bacteria begin breaking down the remaining lipids in the whale bones – has lasted more than 20 years, with indications that it will last for at least another decade.

Journal

Frontiers in Marine Science

19-May-2026

 

More than a quarter of Guadalupe fur seals may be losing their fur

Frontiers
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Endangered Guadalupe fur seals (GFS) occupy a colony on the San Benito Archipelago, a group of small islands in the Pacific. During the 2024 breeding season, researchers in Mexico and Canada examined causes of neonatal GFS morbidity and mortality and assessed potential threats to species conservation associated with entanglement, alopecia syndrome, and marine pollution. They published their results in Frontiers in Marine Science. For alopecia syndrome – a condition characterized by the loss of guard hair and damage to the underfur – they found high prevalence (21% to 26%), especially among young seals. The cause of alopecia among GFS is currently unknown.

Journal

Frontiers in Marine Science