The pygmy ( Kogia breviceps ) and dwarf ( Kogia sima ) sperm whales are cryptic cetaceans characterized by inconspicuous surfacing behavior, small group sizes, and deep‐diving habits, making visual detection particularly challenging. Here, we present the first broad‐scale passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) assessment of Kogia spp. occurrence along the Brazilian coast, spanning both the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean (EAO) and Southw...

Keymessage Standardized microhaplotype databases for eight diverse crops enable multiallelic analyses, comparative genetics, and breeding decisions. Abstract Microhaplotypes are short genomic segments that contain multiple tightly linked variants, providing multi-allelic data that can enhance genetic resolution compared to traditional biallelic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Here, we present the creation and uti...

Coastal water exchange with the open ocean plays a key role in regulating the transport and distribution of nutrients, heat, pollutants, suspended sediments and organisms in semi-enclosed systems. In this study, we quantify coastal water exchange for Exmouth Gulf (Australian North West Shelf), a globally significant water body adjacent to the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area. We use a high-resolution (200 m) hydrodynamic mod...

Aquaculture intensification has increased the susceptibility of farmed fish to infectious diseases, which are traditionally managed with antibiotics. Growing environmental concerns and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, however, have driven the search for more sustainable approaches to disease management. White grape marc, a polyphenol-rich by-product of the wine-making industry with known antimicrobial and antioxidant...

Features of possible regional ionospheric memory manifested themselves at low-latitudes under solar eclipse conditions.

Despite extensive research on the western Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS; Acanthaster cf. solaris ), especially from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR), there are persistent knowledge gaps that constrain understanding and management. Given renewed population irruptions of CoTS on the GBR, alongside escalating climate impacts and direct anthropogenic pressures, a quantitative assessment of knowledge gaps was undertake...

Key message Rapid genetic gain was achieved for cooking time in common bean based on multivariate genomic analysis, but forward predictive ability was low and phenotyping remains essential to secure genetic gain. Abstract Common beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are a major source of protein and energy in sub-Saharan Africa, but their long cooking time (CKT) imposes social, economic, environmental and health burdens. This study a...

There is a growing recognition that effective climate adaptation requires organizations that can translate science into policy-relevant, place-based implementation. The Stone Living Lab (SLL) was established as a climate services organization to help bridge the gap between climate adaptation research and real-world application. In this paper, we present the Lab as a model for how universities and NGOs can partner with governme...

Aim We investigate the distribution of dispersal modes — endozoochory (via animal ingestion), synzoochory (via animal seed accumulation) and anemochory (via wind)—and seed mass of woody plants across Brazilian ecosystems, testing whether their relative abundance in local plant communities could be predicted by climate, edaphic factors and dispersal agents (e.g., the main vectors moving seeds). We expected climate to be the mai...

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of long‐term changes in dry‐spell dynamics across Spain for the period 1961–2024, using both classical non‐parametric methods and a novel non‐stationary probabilistic framework applied to exceedance series of dry‐spell durations. Using daily precipitation data from a dense network of quality‐controlled stations, dry‐spells were identified based on four thresholds (0.1, 1, 5, and 1...

Benthic diatom and phytoplankton communities are key indicators of freshwater ecosystem health and change but remain understudied. A better understanding of their distribution and abundance drivers is crucial for effective biodiversity assessment and conservation. This study adopts a novel, multi-ecosystem approach to examine the seasonal (2019–2020) diversity of benthic diatom assemblages in urban streams and phytoplankton as...

WHO ranked chronic inflammatory diseases as the most significant cause of death. The current therapeutic approach is the constant administration of clinically available anti-inflammatory drugs; however, this strategy presents severe side effects. New entities derived from plants have shown their potential for developing safe and effective therapies. Particularly, Echinacea purpurea extracts have demonstrated strong anti-inflam...

Main conclusion Virus-like particles (VLP) from hepatitis C virus were successfully produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants for the first time, by co-expressing three viral proteins (Core, E1 and E2) in a polycistron-like arrangement. Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a global health challenge, underscoring the need for a preventive vaccine. Virus-like particles (VLP) offer a safe alternative, as they resemble native v...