A tropical butterfly has evolved an ingenious anti-ageing strategy by delaying the aging process enabling it to live far longer than its closest relatives, according to a new University of Bristol-led study published in Nature Communications today [16 June].

This study develops a replicable Transformative Service Ecosystem for Sustainable Operations Management (TSESOM) model to address research gaps and empower botanic gardens to deliver integrated sustainability, conservation and visitor economy outcomes.

Biomass chemical looping is emerging as a promising route for producing renewable energy and chemicals while enabling efficient carbon management. A comprehensive review highlights advances in hydrogen, methanol, syngas, and power generation pathways, alongside the growing role of machine learning in oxygen carrier design and process optimization. The study also evaluates lifecycle and economic performance, identifying biomass chemical looping as a sustainable platform for future low-carbon energy systems.

A new study published in Nature Conservation reveals that threatened amphibian species are being sold under incorrect names in online marketplaces. Using DNA barcoding, researchers discovered that frogs advertised as the commonly farmed species Chinese edible frogs (Hoplobatrachus chinensis) were actually Chinese spiny frogs (Quasipaa spinosa), species classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Because these frogs look visually similar, this misidentification allows protected wild populations to be inadvertently or illegally exploited without being recorded.