Salamanders and chameleons, despite evolving in different habitats, use the same “slingshot” tongue mechanism powered by ordinary tissues, tendons and bone. This biological design could be scaled for human applications, from biomedical devices that clear blood clots to large-scale tools for disaster recovery or space exploration. The findings underscore how nature’s solutions can guide technological innovation.

Steve Canty has been appointed new director of the Smithsonian’s Marine Global Earth Observatory (MarineGEO) network, effective Sept. 8. A marine biologist, Canty has worked alongside scientists and communities in Latin America and the Caribbean to study vital resources like mangroves, seagrasses and small-scale fisheries. As MarineGEO director, Canty will lead a global network with partners on six continents, dedicated to understanding and protecting coastal ecosystems for the billions of people who rely on them.

Prochlorococcus, the most abundant photosynthesizing organism in the ocean, might be more vulnerable to climate change than researchers thought. Population decline could weaken the foundation of subtropical and tropical ecosystems as ocean temperatures continue to rise.

Women’s fertility is influenced not only by the quality of their eggs but also by the interactions between somatic cells in the ovary. A recent study by TalTech researchers, conducted in international collaboration, provides a better understanding of how different ovarian cells exchange information. This knowledge is crucial for advancing fertility treatments.

While we know obstacles on the beach can slow down hatchlings and put them at risk, little research has focused on the impact of sargassum. A new study of loggerhead, leatherback and green hatchlings finds that all three species took significantly longer to complete their crawl when sargassum was present. The time it took to climb up and over the seaweed piles was the primary reason. Even small piles delayed their crawl, with many flipping over and failing to climb the seaweed in time.