Call to Earth: Searching for super coral
CNN joins marine biologist Dr. Emma Camp on a mission to find the world's toughest coral as she works to save the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
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CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Drone footage reveals orcas using tools in a stunning first
Editor's Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolex's Perpetual Planet Initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action. CNN — Behavioral ecologist Michael Weiss was browsing through new drone footage of the orca pods he studies in the Salish Sea when he spotted one of the killer whales carrying something green in its mouth and noticed an unusual behavior: Some orcas were rubbing against each other for up to 15 minutes at a time. At first, Weiss didn't think much of it 'because whales do weird things,' he said. But more observations yielded similar sights on his drone camera. 'I zoom in, and sure enough, there's clear as day this piece of kelp that they're using to rub on each other.' Over the course of just two weeks in 2024, Weiss and his team documented 30 examples of these curious interactions. They found that the southern resident orcas — a distinct population of killer whales — were detaching strands of bull kelp from the seafloor to roll between their bodies in a behavior the scientists dubbed 'allokelping.' Allokelping could be a form of grooming for skin hygiene, as well as a way to socially bond with other members of the pod, the researchers reported in a new paper published Monday in the journal Current Biology. The discovery marks the first time cetaceans — marine mammals including whales, dolphins and porpoises — have been observed using an object as a tool to groom. Across the animal kingdom, using tools is rare, according to behavioral ecologists. But when it does happen, it's often for finding food or attracting mates. 'This is a quite different way of using an object,' said Weiss, the study's lead author and research director of the Center for Whale Research in Washington state. Allokelping theories There are two possible reasons behind the allokelping behavior, Weiss and his team hypothesize. Hygiene, such as treating or removing dead skin, could be one explanation. Cetaceans often shed dead skin, which helps keep their bodies smooth and aerodynamic. Skin lesions, particularly gray patches, are becoming more prevalent in southern resident orcas, Weiss added, so allokelping might be a way to treat those lesions. The other hypothesis, Weiss explained, is that allokelping is a way to strengthen social bonds, as the whale pairs seen exhibiting this behavior were usually close relatives or similar in age. 'These guys are incredibly socially bonded,' said Deborah Giles, an orca scientist at the SeaDoc Society who was not involved with the research. This behavior is fascinating but not entirely surprising, she added. Orcas are curious and tactile, with brains that are large compared with their body size, Giles explained, adding that some parts of the killer whale brain are more developed than what's seen in humans. Each orca population even has its own dialect. Cetaceans also have sensitive skin, explained Janet Mann, a behavioral ecologist at Georgetown University who has studied marine mammals for 37 years. Orcas are known to rub on other objects such as smooth-pebble beaches in Canada, or on algal mats. But it's unusual to see two individual killer whales using a tool to seemingly exfoliate each other, she said. 'What (the study) shows is that we know very little about cetacean behavior in the wild,' Mann said. Allokelping likely wouldn't have been discovered without advances in drone and camera technology, which have opened up 'a whole new world' for scientists to better understand cetaceans' complex lifestyles, Mann said. Historically, whales are observed from shore or from boats, offering a limited perspective of what's happening in the water. But drones offer a bird's-eye view of what marine animals are doing just below the surface. It's likely this population has been allokelping for a while, she said — only now we can see it. Cultural phenomenon Orca scientists with drone footage are probably going to be on the lookout for this sort of behavior now, Giles said. Killer whales aren't the only cetaceans known to use tools, though. Some bottlenose dolphins have been observed carefully removing and using sponges to scare up prey on the seabed, a sophisticated behavior that only a small fraction of the population exhibits, said Mann, who has studied the dolphins in Australia's Shark Bay. Some other bottlenose dolphins use their tails to slap the ground in a circle, creating mud-ring plumes that trap fish. And humpback whales have long used bubble nets to catch prey. Whether these examples constitute 'using tools' is a topic of debate in the scientific community, but regardless, they are all behaviors related to foraging for food. What makes allokelping unique is its potential benefits for skin health and relationships — in other words, it appears to be a cultural practice. 'This idea of allogrooming (with tools) is largely limited to primates, which is what makes it remarkable,' said Philippa Brakes, a behavioral ecologist with the nonprofit Whale and Dolphin Conservation who was not involved with the research. 'This kind of feels like a moment in time for cetaceans, because it does prove that you don't necessarily need a thumb to be able to manipulate a tool.' Brakes, who studies social learning and culture in cetaceans, added that this new research 'tells us quite a lot about how important culture is for these species.' Each population — in this case, southern resident orcas — has a distinct dialect for communication, specific foraging strategies and now a unique type of tool use. In a rapidly changing environment, Brakes said, 'culture provides a phenomenal way for animals to be able to adapt,' as it has for humans. 'It's more reason to ensure that we protect their habitat as well as their behavior,' she noted. A 'completely novel' find Indeed, southern resident killer whales are critically endangered and federally protected both in the United States and Canada, with a total population of just 74 whales. And as bull kelp is in decline due to human activities that disrupt the seabed and more frequent heat waves caused by climate change, the overall ecosystem is degrading. Kelp forests are also critical nursery habitat for juvenile chinook salmon — a key part of killer whales' diet, Giles said. Southern residents have been spending less and less time in the Salish Sea over the years, possibly because of dwindling prey, said Monika Wieland Shields, cofounder and director of the nonprofit Orca Behavior Institute. 'This study makes me wonder if one of the reasons the Southern Residents continue to visit the Salish Sea periodically even during times of low salmon abundance is to engage in allokelping,' Shields wrote in an email to CNN. The research is now leading to new areas of study. 'This cetacean data point is a really important one because it's completely novel,' said Dora Biro, an animal cognition researcher at the University of Rochester who was not involved with the study. Biro, who has mostly studied tool use in wild chimpanzees, added that examples of terrestrial tool use are much more widespread than in aquatic environments. She is now working on a grant proposal with Weiss' team to better understand the purpose of the behavior. But for Brakes, there doesn't necessarily need to be a purpose: 'The objective may just be social bonding, and that would still make it a tool.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Protein Crystallization Market Report 2025: Projected $2.8 Billion Growth by 2029
The protein crystallization market is projected to grow to $2.8 billion by 2029, driven by demand for personalized medicine and biopharmaceuticals. Key trends include AI integration, automation, and next-gen X-ray tech. North America leads, with Asia-Pacific as the fastest-growing region. Protein Crystallization Market Dublin, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Protein Crystallization Market Report 2025" has been added to offering. The protein crystallization market is poised for significant growth, with its size expected to increase from $1.62 billion in 2024 to $2.8 billion by 2029, reflecting a robust 11.5% CAGR. This trajectory is driven by rising demand for protein-based drug development, a surge in chronic diseases, and advancements in protein-ligand interaction research. The expanding focus on high-throughput screening and specialized crystallography software further bolster this growth. The growing biopharmaceutical sector significantly contributes to this expansion. Biopharmaceuticals offer targeted treatments for chronic conditions, leveraging protein crystallization for precise protein structure determination, yielding effective and stable therapeutics. Investments in R&D, such as Australia's $4.34 billion allocation in 2022-23, underline the sector's influence on market acceleration. Companies are innovating with cell-free protein crystallization to enhance efficiency and stability. The Tokyo Institute of Technology's 2022 development of this groundbreaking method exemplifies advancements, offering improved crystallization processes crucial for structural biology and drug discovery. This approach is set to refine techniques for studying complex proteins, advancing therapeutic strategies. Key players include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Corning Incorporated, and Charles River Laboratories, among others. Their innovations and strategic expansions are shaping the market, with North America leading in market size as of 2024, while Asia-Pacific emerges as the fastest-growing region, indicating a shift towards new geographical domains. This comprehensive market report provides insights into market statistics, regional shares, competitor landscapes, trends, and opportunities, offering a detailed outlook on the current and future industry scenarios. It includes services such as custom assay development, cryogenic storage, and automated crystallization platforms. End-users range from pharmaceutical companies to academic institutes, utilizing technologies like X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. The market landscape is defined by revenues from products and services, emphasizing the tangible value of advancements in protein crystallization for structural and therapeutic applications. The Protein Crystallization Global Market Report 2025 provides crucial insights for strategists, marketers, and senior management to evaluate the rapidly expanding market. Focusing on vital trends set to dominate the next decade and beyond, the report offers a detailed guide to navigating these shifts. Scope Markets Covered: By Product: Instruments; Consumables; Software and Services By Technology: X-Ray Crystallography; Cryo-electron Microscopy; NMR Spectroscopy; Other Technologies By End-User: Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies; Academic and Research Institutes Sub Segments: By Instruments Type: X-ray Diffractometers; Liquid Handling Systems; Crystallization Imaging Systems; Microfluidic Systems; Incubators & Temperature Control Devices By Consumables Type: Crystallization Reagents; Microplates & Crystallization Plates; Screens & Buffers; Cryoprotectants; Protein Purification Kits By Software and Services Type: Crystallography Data Analysis Software; Molecular Modeling Software; AI-Based Structure Prediction Tools; Custom Crystallization Services; Training & Consulting Services Companies Featured The companies featured in this Protein Crystallization market report include: Thermo Fisher Scientific Corning Incorporated Charles River Laboratories Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Douglas Instruments Limited Bruker Corporation Tecan Group Greiner Bio-One International GmbH Rigaku Corporation Viva Biotech Formulatrix Inc. Creative Biostructure Calibre Scientific Inc. Creative Biolabs Molecular Dimensions Creative Proteomics Jena Bioscience GmbH Saromics Biostructures Art Robbins Instruments Mitegen Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 175 Forecast Period 2025 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $1.82 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $2.8 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 11.5% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Protein Crystallization Market Characteristics Protein Crystallization Market Trends and Strategies Protein Crystallization Market - Macro Economic Scenario Global Protein Crystallization Growth Analysis and Strategic Analysis Framework Protein Crystallization Market Segmentation Global Protein Crystallization Market, Segmentation by Product Instruments Consumables Software and Services Global Protein Crystallization Market, Segmentation by Technology X-Ray Crystallography Cryo-electron Microscopy NMR Spectroscopy Other Technologies Global Protein Crystallization Market, Segmentation by End-User Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies Academic and Research Institutes Protein Crystallization Market Regional and Country Analysis Asia-Pacific Protein Crystallization Market China Protein Crystallization Market India Protein Crystallization Market Japan Protein Crystallization Market Australia Protein Crystallization Market Indonesia Protein Crystallization Market South Korea Protein Crystallization Market Western Europe Protein Crystallization Market UK Protein Crystallization Market Germany Protein Crystallization Market France Protein Crystallization Market Italy Protein Crystallization Market Spain Protein Crystallization Market Eastern Europe Protein Crystallization Market Russia Protein Crystallization Market North America Protein Crystallization Market USA Protein Crystallization Market Canada Protein Crystallization Market South America Protein Crystallization Market Brazil Protein Crystallization Market Middle East Protein Crystallization Market Africa Protein Crystallization Market Protein Crystallization Market Competitive Landscape and Company Profiles Protein Crystallization Market Other Major and Innovative Companies Global Protein Crystallization Market Competitive Benchmarking and Dashboard Key Mergers and Acquisitions in the Protein Crystallization Market Recent Developments in the Protein Crystallization Market Protein Crystallization Market High Potential Countries, Segments, and Strategies Protein Crystallization Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNN
5 hours ago
- CNN
Call to Earth: Searching for super coral
CNN joins marine biologist Dr. Emma Camp on a mission to find the world's toughest coral as she works to save the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
