Environmental pressures are known as a driving force behind many of the major animal developmental transitions, such as the switch from tadpoles in the pond to a frog's life on land with legs. Yet the mechanisms behind this physical and environmental relationship remain somewhat of a mystery. Published in Science Advances, a new multi-year study sheds light on the mechanistic link between environmental variation and developmental adaptability. Using a common reef fish as a model, the researchers explored how environmental differences impacted thyroid hormone signaling, a process essential for development regulation.

A new study led by an Iowa State University evolutionary biologist suggests an antenna-like cellular sensor that’s a growing focus in human health could play a central role in how turtles become male or female, which in most species is based on incubation temperature.

Diallyl disulfide is an organosulfur compound derived from garlic, and R-carvone is a monoterpenoid derived from spearmint. Researchers processed these compounds into oil-in-water nanoemulsions and applied it to the adzuki bean beetle—a known legume pest. The researchers found that the nanoemulsions were highly toxic against the pest, suggesting that they could be a promising environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pest-control agents.