EurekAlert! In the Spotlight

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: 24-Oct-2026 17:15 ET (24-Oct-2026 21:15 GMT/UTC)

5-May-2026

Timor green pigeon ‘likely to go extinct’ without urgent action

Cambridge University Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The Timor green pigeon, which is under pressure from hunting and habitat loss, is at serious risk of extinction and should be uplisted to Critically Endangered, according to a new study from researchers at Charles Darwin University and BirdLife International.

Journal: Oryx

5-May-2026

Most birds have not evolved optimal wing-shapes for flight, study finds 

University of Bristol
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Even the giant wings of the albatross are not ‘optimally’ shaped for their extraordinary long-distance migrations, according to new University of Bristol research.

The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals that many bird species possess wing shapes surprisingly ill-suited to their flight performance. In contrast, penguins and hummingbirds stand out as exceptions, having evolved wing shapes closely matched to their specialised style of movement.

Journal: Nature Communications

5-May-2026

Saudi Arabia’s water problem has a surprising solution: its own wastewater

European Geosciences Union
Reports and Proceedings

In one of the most water-stressed regions on Earth, Saudi Arabia is facing a critical paradox: its ancient aquifers are being depleted faster than they can recharge, yet a massive strategic asset is being flushed away. Every year, the country produces 1.6 billion cubic meters of treated wastewater that remains underutilized, an amount equivalent to roughly 60% of Saudi Arabia’s annual urban drinking water demand.

5-May-2026

Nutrient imbalance may drive coral disease more than heat stress, new study suggests

University of Southampton
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists led by the University of Southampton have revealed that an imbalance of nutrients in seawater can cause coral disease – possibly to a greater extent than that from heat stress of warming oceans.

Journal: Nature Communications

5-May-2026

New ‘Ecclesiastical’ Moth named after Pope Leo XIV

Pensoft Publishers
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A newly discovered moth species from the Mediterranean has been named in honour of Pope Leo XIV. Described as Pyralis papaleonei, the finding is more than a scientific milestone - it also serves as a powerful call for biodiversity conservation, inspired by a biblical reference.

Journal: Nota Lepidopterologica

4-May-2026

Giant squid among rare and elusive marine life detected off Western Australia’s coast

Curtin University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A Curtin University-led study has revealed the extraordinary biodiversity hidden in deep underwater canyons off Western Australia’s Nyinggulu (Ningaloo) coast, ranging from species previously undetected in the area, such as the elusive giant squid, to others thought to be new to science.

Using environmental DNA (eDNA) - genetic material naturally shed by animals into seawater - scientists were able to document what species live in these deep habitats without needing to see or capture them.

Journal: Environmental DNA

4-May-2026

Why are mountain forests in Mexico and Central America hotspots for oak trees? New study led by The Morton Arboretum shows most definitive answer yet

The Morton Arboretum
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The mountains of Mexico and Central America harbor some of the greatest biodiversity of oak trees worldwide, and a landmark study conducted by The Morton Arboretum with U.S. and Mexican collaborators provides the most definitive answer to date as to why.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

4-May-2026

Sharks may help improve climate forecasts, study finds

University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study published in the journal npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, shows that electronically tagged sharks can serve as mobile sensors, collecting ocean climate data in regions that are difficult to observe using conventional methods.

Journal: npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Funder: Cisco Systems