Coral reefs are disappearing at an unprecedented rate as climate change, marine heatwaves, pollution and coastal development threaten one of Earth's richest ecosystems. While scientific research has greatly advanced our understanding of the crisis and ways to restore damaged reefs, a new international paper argues that science alone will not be enough to protect them.

Writing in Science Advances, researchers from Bar-Ilan University and leading institutions around the world call for a fundamental shift in coral conservation by integrating science with art, design, culture and community engagement to inspire public awareness and meaningful action.

An ongoing research project exploring the effects of rising levels of oceanic CO₂ on squid neurology reveals that exposure to future levels of ocean acidification could shrink their brain volume by around 50%. This severe brain shrinkage appears to be most pronounced in the areas that interpret visual information, correlating with significant reductions in normal feeding behaviours and suggesting serious consequences for the future of squid and other cephalopods.

New research suggests that heat stress increases the occurrence of same-sex sexual interactions between male burying beetles – but also that a surprising amount of male-male encounters occur under control conditions. This ongoing project is currently investigating whether a possible trade-off between heat-protection and social communication cuticular hydrocarbons may be involved in possible sex recognition errors, and if these behaviours may result in any costs to reproductive success.

New research is redefining the morphological and functional existence of anatomical “neck” regions to better include previously exempted vertebrates such as fishes and amphibians, changing the status quo of what it means to have a neck.