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sea life

Life

Neuron-like machinery helps anemones decide when to sting

Anemones have special cells that shoot stinging barbs for protection or to hunt prey – decisions about when to release them and where to aim is based on the activity of calcium ion channels similar to those in human neurons

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Chemistry

Chemical reaction used in cooking may have helped complex life evolve

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The centre of the galaxy

Space

Essential molecule for life spotted floating in space for first time

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Why do so many people believe aliens have visited Earth?

Space

Why do so many people believe aliens have visited Earth?

Comment

ANTARCTICA - FEBRUARY 15: Melting icebergs are seen on Horseshoe Island as Turkish scientists conduct fieldwork on Horseshoe Island within 7th National Antarctic Science Expedition under the coordination of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK) MAM Polar Research Institute with the joint responsibilities of the Turkish Presidency and Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology in Antarctica, on February 15, 2023. Turkish scientists sailed with the 80-meter Chilean-flagged research ship 'Betanzos' for nearly a month as part of the 7th National Antarctic Science Expedition. During the voyage, Turkish scientists arrived at Horseshoe Island via a new transit channel developed in the Gullet and Barlas Channel, which was previously covered in ice due to melting sea ice caused by global climate change. The minimum width of sea ice in Antarctica for 2023 fell to 1.79 million square kilometers, the lowest level on record, on February 21. While this data is 1.05 million square kilometers below the 1981-2010 average, it also points out that a new record decrease is experienced every year. (Photo by Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Earth

Sea level may have been higher than it is now just 6000 years ago

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Life

Shortage of male turtles could be solved by splash of cold seawater

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Environment

Much of Greenland's ice could melt even if world doesn't get warmer

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Greg Rouse, Scripps Oceanography The Osedax body is visible inside the root of the tooth on the left and the piece emerging from the lower left is the gelatinous tube of the Osedax worm. The worm can retract inside when disturbed so we can see it properly in the picture.

Life

Zombie worms devour shark teeth that fall to the ocean floor

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Why have orcas been damaging and sinking so many boats?

Life

Why have orcas been damaging and sinking so many boats?

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How a radical redefinition of life could help us find aliens

Life

How a radical redefinition of life could help us find aliens

Sara Imari Walker, who developed Assembly Theory with chemist Lee Cronin, explains how the theory's definition of life might help us find it on other planets

Features

Environment

UK and Ireland suffer one of the most severe marine heatwaves on Earth

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Space

Space germs: How can we avoid contaminating other worlds?

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Environment

'Doomsday' glacier in Antarctica isn't as vulnerable as feared

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Life

1.6-billion-year-old steroids may be traces of earliest complex life

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