Some of the oldest living trees on Earth are in the temperate rainforests of the Chilean Coast Range. Second only to the bristlecone pine in age, these endangered, slow-growing alerce trees (Fitzroya cupressoides) shelter an impressive assortment of hidden fungal life underground.1 In fact, a recent study investigates how these trees and fungi support one another.2
Mycorrhizal fungal communities are f... More...
What if a simple sea sponge could spark a debate about the origin of animal life? A recent study suggests that some of Earth’s earliest animals were sponge-like creatures due to chemical traces found in ancient rocks.1 Researchers discovered unusual sterane molecules in marine sediments. Steranes are chemical traces that form when sterols—lipid molecules that help strengthen cell membranes—break down over time. ... More...
A newly discovered giant virus called ushikuvirus has been described by conventional scientists as a possible clue to how complex cells evolved. But the details reported in the original research reveal intricately organized parts working together, telling a different story. It reveals built-in design limits.
In February 2026, researchers announced the discovery of ushikuvirus.1 This large DNA virus was found in freshwa... More...
Oxygen gives cells energy. But oxygen can also harm cells. Any organism that uses oxygen must both harness the power and protect itself against being damaged. A recent paper in Nature reports that certain Asgard archaea contain genes linked to oxygen use and suggests this helps explain how complex cells evolved over long ages.1 The key issue is not whether these microbes have oxygen-related genes—they do. The real ... More...
Many people are fascinated with dinosaur discoveries—a new fossil, a new species, and the impressive size. But whenever we read a news article, a scientific paper, or even a textbook describing these dino finds, we must be guided by the all-important question: what are the facts and how should the facts be interpreted?
Recently, scientists announced what they describe as a new species of Spinosaurus, naming it Spi... More...
What if mutations that seem helpful today become harmful tomorrow? That question sits at the center of a new genetics study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. The researchers found that many mutations improve protein function only under certain conditions and fail when the environment changes. Rather than showing how evolution creates new traits, the study highlights how living systems adjust to new conditions while staying... More...