The Last of Us zombie fungus has been around since the dinosaurs
Researchers identified two new fungal species, Paleoophiocordyceps gerontoformicae and Paleoophiocordyceps ironomyiae, preserved in 99-million-year-old amber from northern Myanmar.
One of these species, P. gerontoformicae, was found with an infected ant pupa, displaying structural features consistent with modern Ophiocordyceps species.
These fossil discoveries provide some of the oldest direct evidence of parasitic relationships between fungi and insects, predating previous estimates for the fungus's emergence.
The findings suggest the fungal genus may have initially parasitised beetles before shifting to infect ants, offering new insights into the coevolution of fungi and their insect hosts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
29 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Teach boys and girls together about menstruation, UCL study argues
Boys and girls should be taught together in mixed classes about menstruation to help reduce the stigma, secrecy and disinformation which still surrounds periods, according to researchers. A new study by University College London (UCL) claims schoolchildren are being given insufficient information about periods, with many receiving just two lessons during their entire school career: one at primary level and one in secondary school. It argues that lessons focus too narrowly on basic biological facts, with not enough information about how menstruation can affect wellbeing, problems with menstrual bleeding, and its impact on physical and academic performance. While some schools still choose to separate boys and girls to allow for sensitive discussions, the UCL study says mixed lessons are important for developing a broader understanding and helping boys better understand and support their friends and future partners. The study was based on a survey and focus group research among 55 women who were divided into two age groups: 18 to 25 years old and 26 to 40. Most were educated before relationships and sex education became mandatory in schools in England in 2020. Prof Joyce Harper, of the UCL Institute for Women's Health, who led the research, said: 'Educating pupils about periods may now be compulsory in schools in England and Wales, but we know that for many of them that still only amounts to two lessons in their entire school career. Our survey suggests that those lessons are still very much concerned with the basic biological facts around menstruation. 'What we and the women who participated in our study are calling for is that lessons on menstruation need to be much more comprehensive, and cover everything from what effect periods can have on a girl or woman's wellbeing and academic and sporting performance, to what abnormal bleeding looks like.' Although some participants in the research saw value in single-sex classes to allow students to speak more freely, they still felt mixed sessions were essential to improve overall understanding, said Harper. 'They suggested this could help boys understand and support their friends and future partners through menopause.' The latest statutory government guidance on relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), published last month, says pupils should learn the facts about the menstrual cycle, including physical and emotional changes, by the end of primary school. By the end of secondary school, students should learn about period problems including premenstrual syndrome, heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome – as well as menopause. Sarah Hannafin, the head of policy for the National Association of Head Teachers, said teaching about periods was a vital part of health education for all pupils. 'Although many schools may separate classes to create a safe space for discussions on topics like this, mixed-sex groups should also be planned as it is vital that pupils understand others' experiences,' she said. Pepe Di'Iasio, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'We fully support the need for boys and girls to be taught about menstruation in a comprehensive manner which goes beyond biological facts and covers the wider effects on wellbeing. While it is covered in the RSHE curriculum, we would welcome consideration of how teaching of this topic might be strengthened.' A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'Understanding menstruation is an important part of growing up, which is why we have brought in a new RSHE curriculum to take effect next year, with clear guidance that pupils should be taught about both physical and emotional changes, as well as topics from endometriosis to heavy menstrual bleeding.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
How you drink your morning coffee could increase your risk of cancer by up to SIX times
Your daily coffee habit could increase your risk of cancer up to nearly six times, startling research suggests. A study published earlier this year by researchers from the National Cancer Institute found that someone who drank eight or more cups a day of very hot tea or coffee was 5.6 times more likely to develop esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), compared to someone who didn't drink hot drinks. Researchers used data from more than 500,000 participants included in the UK Biobank, who provided information around their consumption of hot drinks. Having up to four cups of 'very hot' liquids a day increased the risk of ESCC by 2.5 times. Four to six cups of very hot liquids carried a 3.7-times higher risk of the cancer, and six to eight cups was associated with 4.8-fold increased risk. For hot beverages, up to four cups a day carried an increased risk of 1.6 times. Four to six cups a day was associated with an increased cancer risk of two times; six to eight cups carried a 2.5-fold higher risk; and more than eight was associated with a three-times higher risk. The researchers said their findings, published in the British Journal of Cancer, build on previous research that suggests beverages at very hot temperatures, more than 149 degrees Fahrenheit, are 'probably carcinogenic to humans'. The ideal brewing temperature for coffee is generally between 195 to 205F. For tea, the optimal brewing temperature varies by type, but is often around 175 to 212F. This places hot beverages in the same risk category as things like emissions from indoor wood smoke or consuming high amounts of red meat. However, people typically drink coffee and tea at slightly cooler temperatures, often between 120 to 155F. It is believed that hot drinks might cause damage to the body by burning cells, which may lead to inflammation that damages genes and makes it more likely that cancer develops. Vincent Ho, associate professor and clinical academic gastroenterologist at Western Sydney University, wrote for The Conversation: 'Drinking a lot of very hot drinks can damage cells in the esophagus lining, and it's believed over time this can lead to cancer developing. Researchers first proposed this link almost 90 years ago. 'What we know about how hot drinks can damage the esophagus mainly comes from animal studies. 'Another theory is that heat damage to the esophagus lining weakens its normal barrier, increasing the risk of further damage from gastric acid reflux (from the stomach). 'Over time, this chronic damage can increase the chance of esophageal cancer developing.' It is also thought that tissues damaged by the hot liquids may become more vulnerable to other things that can cause cancer, like alcohol and chemicals in tobacco smoke. The team at the National Cancer Institute stated that 'individuals who like their beverages very hot might benefit from reducing the temperature of their drinks, at least with regards to their risk of esophageal cancer'. This year, experts predict more than 22,000 new esophageal cancer cases will be diagnosed with just over 16,000 deaths from the disease. Esophageal cancer starts at the inside lining of the esophagus and spreads outward through the other layers as it grows. Symptoms often include difficulty swallowing, unintended weight loss, and chest pain or discomfort. These symptoms can be subtle at first but tend to worsen as the cancer progresses. Other possible symptoms include a persistent cough, hoarseness, and heartburn that gets worse. While there aren't routine screening tests for esophageal cancer, various procedures can help diagnose it, including endoscopy with biopsy, imaging scans, and specialized tests like the Cytosponge. Endoscopy allows for direct visualization and tissue sampling, while imaging helps determine the extent of the cancer. The Cytosponge, a newer test, involves swallowing a sponge to collect cells for analysis. Sometimes, healthcare providers can do surgery to remove small tumors. However, because only 25 percent of people with this cancer receive a diagnosis before the cancer spreads, it can make it more difficult to treat. Esophageal cancer poses a challenge for early diagnosis because it often doesn't present with noticeable symptoms until the cancer has reached an advanced stage. Late diagnosis significantly increases the danger of esophageal cancer. Localized esophageal cancer (stage I) has a five-year survival rate of around 46 percent, while stage IV cancers, which have spread to distant organs, have a very low five-year survival rate of only about five percent. A majority of Americans consume hot drinks daily. It is estimated that around two thirds drink coffee daily, making it the most popular hot beverage. According to one study in 2018, the ideal temperature for drinking coffee, taking into account both the risk of esophageal injury and the preservation of flavor, was found to be approximately 136F. Researchers said this temperature allows for a pleasant drinking experience while minimizing potential harm to the esophagus. Offering some other tips to safe drinking, Professor Ho adds: 'Slow down, take your time and enjoy. 'Allowing time for a very hot drink to cool is important and research has shown a hot drink's temperature can drop by 50F to 59F in five minutes. 'Finally, small sips are a good idea to test the temperature, given we know having a large amount has a significant impact on the temperature inside the esophagus and potential damage to its lining.'
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Wildfire smoke far more dangerous to health than thought, say scientists
Choking smoke spewed by wildfires is far more dangerous than previously thought, a new study has found, with death tolls from short-term exposure to fine particulates underestimated by 93%. Researchers found that 535 people in Europe died on average each year between 2004 and 2022 as a result of breathing in the tiny toxic particles known as PM2.5 that are released when wildfires rage. Under standard methods, which assume PM2.5 from wildfires is as deadly as from other sources, such as traffic, they would have expected just 38 deaths a year. The study comes as wildfires ravage southern Europe, and new data from EU fire monitors shows that 895,000 hectares (2.2m acres) have burned so far in 2025, breaking records for this time of year. They have pumped out more than twice the amount of PM2.5 that wildfires have generated on average by this point in the year over the last two decades. 'Previously, people assumed the same toxicity for wildfire particles and all particles,' said Prof Cathryn Tonne, an environmental epidemiologist at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and co-author of the study. 'Our paper shows evidence that – although it happens less often – the health impact for the same amount of particles is stronger for wildfire particles,' she added. Dirty air is one of the biggest threats to human health, and research suggests wildfires are a significant contributor to the vast death toll. In December, a study attributed 1.53 million deaths around the world each year to short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution from wildfires. The ISGlobal researchers, who looked only at the smoke's short-term effects, for which the evidence base is stronger, combined daily mortality records from 32 European countries with estimates of PM2.5 pollution from 2004 to 2022. Using models that account for an expected lag in deaths, they found exposure to wildfire smoke increased the risk of death in the following week. For every extra microgram of PM2.5 fouling 1 cubic metre of air, they found that all-cause mortality rose by 0.7%, respiratory mortality went up by 1% and cardiovascular mortality rose by 0.9%. 'The results are concerning, considering that wildfires and other extreme events are increasing exponentially with climate change,' said Prof Antonio Gasparrini, an environmental epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who was not involved in the study. Devastating blazes compounded by relentless heat have killed several people across southern Europe and the Balkans in recent weeks. But deaths from the toxic fumes released by the fires are likely to go unnoticed. 'Smoke can affect populations far away from the fires,' said Tonne. 'So many more people will be exposed to smoke than the immediate physical threat of the flames.' The researchers said the study was limited by the lack of variability in the data on exposure to fire-related particulate matter, which made it harder to estimate how people's health responded based on age and sex. They were also unable to 'completely disentangle' the health burden of fire-related PM2.5 from ozone, another pollutant released by wildfires, though they said estimates were largely consistent when they adjusted the main model for ozone from all sources. Toxic pollution from wildfires creeps into the homes of more than 1 billion people a year, a study found in May. It concluded that air purifiers were an effective but expensive solution to indoor air pollution, which can be nearly three times higher on wildfire days than normal days, even when all windows and doors are closed. The risk of fire weather has risen as greenhouse gas emissions have heated the planet and dried out vegetation in some regions. The Iberian peninsula has been hit particularly hard this year, with Spain and Portugal accounting for the bulk of Europe's burned area. Associate professor Victor Resco de Dios, a forestry engineer at the University of Lleida, said the fire belt would move north in the coming years and decades. 'What we are witnessing now will sooner or later occur also in central and northern Europe, where we have also seen an aggravation of the fire problem,' he said. 'This is not a Mediterranean problem, but a European one.'
