Selfies, sugar, and death: How tourists are endangering elephants Tourists feeding wild elephants may seem innocent or even compassionate, but a new 18-year study reveals it s a recipe for disaster. Elephants in Sri Lanka and India have learned to beg for snacks sugary treats and human food leading to deadly encounters, injuries, and even the ingestion of plastic. Once wild animals become accustomed to handouts, they lose their natural instincts, grow bolder, and risk both their lives and the safety of humans.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/r....eleases/2025/07/2507

These dogs are trained to sniff out an invasive insect—and they're shockingly good at it Dogs trained by everyday pet owners are proving to be surprisingly powerful allies in the fight against the invasive spotted lanternfly. In a groundbreaking study, citizen scientists taught their dogs to sniff out the pests’ hard-to-spot egg masses with impressive accuracy. The initiative not only taps into the huge community of recreational scent-detection dog enthusiasts, but also opens a promising new front in protecting agriculture. And it doesn’t stop there—these canine teams are now sniffing out vineyard diseases too, hinting at a whole new future of four-legged fieldwork.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/r....eleases/2025/07/2507

Fiji ant plant builds tiny condos that stop ant wars High in Fiji s rainforest, the ant plant Squamellaria grows swollen tubers packed with sealed, single-door apartments. Rival ant species nest in these chambers, fertilizing their host with nutrient-rich waste while never meeting face-to-face. When researchers sliced open the walls, fatal battles erupted, confirming that the plant s compartmentalized architecture prevents war and sustains the partnership. CT scans of the tubers unveiled a meticulously isolated maze, showcasing evolution s clever fix for keeping multiple, unrelated houseguests peacefully productive.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/r....eleases/2025/07/2507

New study cracks the “tissue code” — just five rules shape organs Scientists have uncovered a surprisingly simple “tissue code”: five rules that choreograph when, where, and how cells divide, move, and die, allowing organs like the colon to remain flawlessly organized even as they renew every few days. Mathematical models showed that manipulating just these parameters faithfully recreates real tissue architecture, hinting that the same code may govern skin, brain, and more. The discovery offers a fresh way to understand healing, birth defects, and cancer, and could supercharge initiatives such as the Human Cell Atlas by turning static cell maps into dynamic predictions.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/r....eleases/2025/07/2507

This shark can change color — thanks to hidden nano mirrors in its skin Blue sharks possess a secret hidden in their skin: a sophisticated arrangement of microscopic crystals and pigments that create their brilliant blue appearance — and may allow them to change color. Scientists have discovered that these nanostructures, found inside tooth-like skin scales, act like nature’s version of layered mirrors and light filters. What's more, changes in the spacing of these layers — possibly triggered by environmental factors like water pressure — could enable the sharks to shift their color from blue to green or gold. The discovery not only unravels a biological mystery but hints at a new frontier in bio-inspired materials with applications in sustainable design and camouflage technology.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/r....eleases/2025/07/2507