Latest news with #Galápagos
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Some Tomatoes Are Evolving Backwards in Real Time
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Evolution is often portrayed as stepping toward ever-greater complexity, but the natural world is filled with examples of organisms actually reverting back to a previous evolutionary state. A new study examines this process in progress with tomato plants in Galápagos, finding that plants on the newer, western islands have developed alkaloids similar to eggplant relatives millions of years ago compared to modern tomato plants. It's possible these plants developed this strategy because the newer islands are barren and less biologically diverse, so the ancient molecule might provide better protection in such a harsh environment. The famous ape-to-man illustration, known as The March of Progress, depicts evolution as a one-way street toward evolutionary perfection—but nature isn't always so simple. Many organisms have displayed what appears to be 'reverse evolution,' or regression, where ancient attributes of past ancestors seem to reappear down the evolutionary line. Cave fish, for example, will lose eyesight and return to a state similar to a previous ancestor that lacked this visual organ, but the argument remains whether this is reverse evolution or simply the ending of an evolutionary pathway that creates a vestigial organ. Of course, complex animals are not the only ones that appear to rewind the evolutionary clock. A new study in Nature Communications, led by scientists at University of California (UC) Riverside, analyzed species of tomato in the Solanaceae family, comparing populations from both eastern and western islands of the Galápagos—that famous Pacific island chain that inspired Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory nearly 200 years ago. The team specifically analyzed the tomato's alkaloids, a bitter molecule that acts as a kind of pesticide to deter would-be predators and fungi. On the eastern islands, the tomatoes exhibited alkaloids similar to modern tomatoes, but on the western islands—which are geologically younger than the eastern ones—the tomatoes exhibited changes in four amino acids in the enzyme that makes these alkaloid molecules. They found this simple change caused the tomatoes to create alkaloids more similar to eggplant relatives from millions of years ago, seemingly reversing evolution. 'It's not something we usually expect, but here it is, happening in real time, on a volcanic island,' UC Riverside's Adam Jozwiak, lead author of the study, said in a press statement. 'Our group has been working hard to characterize the steps involved in alkaloid synthesis, so that we can try and control it.' However, this 'reverse' wasn't a spontaneous event. The researchers theorize that the cause of this evolutionary quirk could be traced to the new, western islands themselves. While the eastern islands are millions of years old, the western ones are only hundreds of thousands of years old and are still forming today. This means these islands contain less biological diversity as well as more barren soil. This more ancient landscape may have pushed the tomato to then adopt a more ancient survival strategy. 'It could be that the ancestral molecule provides better defense in the harsher western conditions,' Jozwiak says. 'Some people don't believe in this, but the genetic and chemical evidence points to a return to an ancestral state. The mechanism is there. It happened.' Whether organisms experience 'reverse' evolution could largely be chalked up to semantics. With both cave fish and Galápagos tomatoes, evolution did its usual work of making life fit for the conditions at hand. Usually that means improving into ever greater complexity, and at other, less often times, it means reverting back to a golden oldie. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Some Tomatoes Are Evolving Backwards in Real Time, Scientists Find
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Evolution is often portrayed as stepping toward ever-greater complexity, but the natural world is filled with examples of organisms actually reverting back to a previous evolutionary state. A new study examines this process in progress with tomato plants in Galápagos, finding that plants on the newer, western islands have developed alkaloids similar to eggplant relatives millions of years ago compared to modern tomato plants. It's possible these plants developed this strategy because the newer islands are barren and less biologically diverse, so the ancient molecule might provide better protection in such a harsh environment. The famous ape-to-man illustration, known as The March of Progress, depicts evolution as a one-way street toward evolutionary perfection—but nature isn't always so simple. Many organisms have displayed what appears to be 'reverse evolution,' or regression, where ancient attributes of past ancestors seem to reappear down the evolutionary line. Cave fish, for example, will lose eyesight and return to a state similar to a previous ancestor that lacked this visual organ, but the argument remains whether this is reverse evolution or simply the ending of an evolutionary pathway that creates a vestigial organ. Of course, complex animals are not the only ones that appear to rewind the evolutionary clock. A new study in Nature Communications, led by scientists at University of California (UC) Riverside, analyzed species of tomato in the Solanaceae family, comparing populations from both eastern and western islands of the Galápagos—that famous Pacific island chain that inspired Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory nearly 200 years ago. The team specifically analyzed the tomato's alkaloids, a bitter molecule that acts as a kind of pesticide to deter would-be predators and fungi. On the eastern islands, the tomatoes exhibited alkaloids similar to modern tomatoes, but on the western islands—which are geologically younger than the eastern ones—the tomatoes exhibited changes in four amino acids in the enzyme that makes these alkaloid molecules. They found this simple change caused the tomatoes to create alkaloids more similar to eggplant relatives from millions of years ago, seemingly reversing evolution. 'It's not something we usually expect, but here it is, happening in real time, on a volcanic island,' UC Riverside's Adam Jozwiak, lead author of the study, said in a press statement. 'Our group has been working hard to characterize the steps involved in alkaloid synthesis, so that we can try and control it.' However, this 'reverse' wasn't a spontaneous event. The researchers theorize that the cause of this evolutionary quirk could be traced to the new, western islands themselves. While the eastern islands are millions of years old, the western ones are only hundreds of thousands of years old and are still forming today. This means these islands contain less biological diversity as well as more barren soil. This more ancient landscape may have pushed the tomato to then adopt a more ancient survival strategy. 'It could be that the ancestral molecule provides better defense in the harsher western conditions,' Jozwiak says. 'Some people don't believe in this, but the genetic and chemical evidence points to a return to an ancestral state. The mechanism is there. It happened.' Whether organisms experience 'reverse' evolution could largely be chalked up to semantics. With both cave fish and Galápagos tomatoes, evolution did its usual work of making life fit for the conditions at hand. Usually that means improving into ever greater complexity, and at other, less often times, it means reverting back to a golden oldie. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Catty' Fans Weigh In On Sydney Sweeney Ditching Blonde Bombshell Look
is shedding her Hollywood glamour for a gritty new role and silencing critics in the process. The "Euphoria" star unveiled a dramatic transformation in the first trailer for Ron Howard's $50 million survival thriller "Eden," which debuted Wednesday. Sydney Sweeney takes on the real-life role of Margret Wittmer, a young pregnant German settler who moved to Floreana Island in the Galápagos archipelago in 1932 with her husband, Heinz (Daniel Brühl), and stepson, Harry (Jonathan Tittel). Fans are used to seeing Sweeney in high-fashion editorials and red carpet glam, but in "Eden," she's nearly unrecognizable, stripped of makeup, dressed in worn, era-appropriate clothes, and portraying a woman battling nature, isolation, and human conflict. The film follows Margret's harrowing journey as she gives birth in the wild, fends off feral animals, and fights to protect her family on the remote island, all while the tight-knit community begins to fracture under growing tension and paranoia. But while Sweeney has been lauded by many for taking on a complex, unglamorous role, the announcement has also reignited a wave of harsh online commentary, some of it deeply personal. "Sure, she has a nice chest, but do you guys really find her THAT attractive? She's a 6 at best," one user wrote. Another commented, "Make your money while you can. Those looks are gonna fade, and you don't have the acting ability to make it without them." Others claimed her casting was purely aesthetic, "A Ron Howard big-budget film? I get that Sydney is extremely easy on the eyes, but her acting skills are middling at best. I wonder if her being cast was RH's idea or used to secure financing for the project." Some critiques were even more blunt and objectifying, reducing her to 'just boobs' or suggesting she's only effective 'with serious makeup.' But fans and peers have rushed to her defense. 'Wow, you are so catty. Sydney is beautiful no matter what her hair color is,' one supporter wrote. Another added, 'Talented and pretty young woman!' Some pointed to her willingness to challenge herself with bold roles and move beyond surface-level characters. 'She's proving she's more than just a pretty face, this role shows real range.' And Sweeney herself? She's not concerned with proving anything. Speaking at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, she gushed about the opportunity to work with legendary director Ron Howard. 'It's every actor's dream to work with Ron. I grew up loving your films, but being able to work with you, I've just learned what an amazing human being you are,' she said during a Q&A. 'When Margret came to me, I was absolutely amazed. She had no idea what she was getting herself into — she was a child at that! It was just such a crazy character journey, and I absolutely wanted to dive into it.' The real Margret Wittmer would go on to raise her family on Floreana Island and later document her experience in the 1959 book "Floreana: A Woman's Pilgrimage to the Galápagos." She passed away in 2000 at age 95, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and survival qualities that Sweeney brings to life in "Eden." This isn't the first time Sweeney has shaken up her signature style for a role. While filming the upcoming biopic about legendary boxer Christy Martin, Sweeney ditched her iconic blonde locks for a deep, rich brunette shade, styled with curls, a major departure from her usual Hollywood look. The change didn't go unnoticed. After paparazzi snapped photos of her on set last week, Sweeney decided to share a behind-the-scenes peek herself. 'Well, the cat's out of the bag thanks to some paps in bushes,' she joked in her Instagram caption. 'So here's a little BTS from my film I'm working on right now.' In the post, Sweeney is seen sporting gray sweatpants and a red tank top, flexing her toned arms and showing off the results of months of intense physical training for the role. 'Over the past few months, I've been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman, a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring,' she wrote. 'Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I'm honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. More to come soon,' Sweeney added. The post quickly went viral, with fans stunned by her physical transformation and commitment to the role. 'This transformation truly threw me off,' one follower commented. Another simply wrote, 'Wow!!' while one fan dubbed her 'Jacked Sweeney.' With her dedication to both physical and emotional transformation, Sweeney is proving she's more than ready to take on Hollywood's toughest roles.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sydney Sweeney's dramatic makeover revealed in new trailer for Eden
Sydney Sweeney unveiled quite a dramatic make-under for her role as the real-life German settler Margret Wittmer in the first trailer for Ron Howard's $50M-budget survival thriller Eden, which debuted Wednesday. Audiences are used to seeing the 27-year-old Euphoria stunner looking every bit the Hollywood blonde bombshell. Sydney's character was four months pregnant when she moved the Galápagos archipelago's Southern most island Floreana in 1932 with her husband Heinz (Daniel Brühl) and stepson Harry (Jonathan Tittel). Sweeney reportedly has a wild birth scene in Eden where she fends off feral animals just as her water breaks, and Margret eventually welcomes a son and daughter on the remote South American isle. The tight-knit community soon discover 'their greatest threat isn't the brutal climate or deadly wildlife, but each other' as Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas) and Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) begin wielding guns. 'Trust me by this time next year, one of us will be gone,' Eloise warned Friedrich. 'I personally hope it's not you.' The Cuban 37-year-old's wealthy 'baroness' character is also seen engaging in a wet and wild threesome with her two devoted male companions in the ocean. In one ominous shot, a mystery person is seen throwing another person off a massive seaside cliff. 'They're trying their best to ruin us,' Margret told Heinz. 'They won't, because we are a family.' The real Margret Wittmer was buried on Floreana Island in 2000 when she died, at age 95, after expanding the settlement and writing about her experiences in the 1959 book Floreana: A Woman's Pilgrimage to the Galápagos. The Echo Valley actress replaced Daisy Edgar-Jones in the role back in 2023 due to her commitment to Twisters amid the SAG-AFTRA strikes. German-born Diane Kruger previously voiced Margret in Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine's 2013 documentary The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden. 'It's every actor's dream to work with Ron. I grew up loving your films, but being able to work with you, I have just learned what an amazing human being you are,' Sydney gushed during the Q&A at the TIFF premiere on September 7. 'And when Margret came to me, I was absolutely amazed by [it being] a true story and it wasn't her choice. And she had to follow her husband's footsteps and she had no idea what she was getting herself into. She was a child at that! 'And it was just such a crazy character journey for her and for all the other characters. And I absolutely wanted to dive into it. And with such an amazing cast, I mean, this is like a dream to be able to be a part of, but I'm just really lucky.' Sweeney reportedly has a wild birth scene in Eden where she fends off feral animals just as her water breaks, and Margret eventually welcomes a son and daughter on the remote South American isle The tight-knit community soon discover 'their greatest threat isn't the brutal climate or deadly wildlife, but each other' as Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas) and Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) begin wielding guns Thus far, Eden has earned a dismal 57% critic approval rating (out of 30 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie formerly known as Origin of Species - hitting US theaters August 22 - also stars Vanessa Kirby, Felix Kammerer, Toby Wallace, and Richard Roxburgh. But first, audiences can catch Sweeney as South Dakota waitress Penny Jo Poplin in Tony Tost's modern-day western Americana, which finally hits US theaters August 15. Lionsgate's long-delayed crime thriller - formerly known as National Anthem - also stars Halsey, Paul Walter Hauser, Eric Dane, and Simon Rex. The Spokane-born, LA-raised beauty recently reprised her breakout role as Cassie Howard in the eight-episode third season of HBO hit show Euphoria, which is produced by and starring Zendaya as Ruby 'Rue' Bennett. Sam Levinson's drug-fueled drama will welcome newcomers Sharon Stone, Rosalía, Marshawn Lynch, and Kadeem Hardison in season three. In January, Sydney was hard at work executive producing and starring in Paul Feig's big-screen adaptation of Freida McFadden's 2022 novel The Housemaid, which Lionsgate plans to release in time for Christmas. The Echo Valley actress replaced Daisy Edgar-Jones in the role back in 2023 due to her commitment to Twisters amid the SAG-AFTRA strikes Sydney gushed during the Q&A at the TIFF premiere on September 7: 'It's every actor's dream to work with Ron (R). I grew up loving your films, but being able to work with you, I have just learned what an amazing human being you are' Thus far, Eden has earned a dismal 57% critic approval rating (out of 30 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes On November 25, Sweeney wrapped her role as professional boxer Christy Martin in David Michôd's untitled biopic, which she called 'one of the most emotional, transformative experiences of my life.' This summer, the Fifty-Fifty Films co-founder will begin producing and starring in her Euphoria castmate Colman Domingo's feature directorial debut Scandalous! about the love affair between Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr. (David Jonsson). Sydney is very much in demand with several projects in the works including the Reddit-based thriller I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl for Warner Bros, Jon M. Chu's sci-fi flick Split Fiction for Amazon MGM Studios, and she's producing Michael Bay's video game adaptation OutRun for Universal. Aside from her movie career, Sweeney is every bit the influencer with lucrative paid partnerships for brands like Samsung Mobile USA, Dr. Squatch, LANEIGE US, Bai, and HEYDUDE.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trail cameras capture unusual footage of elusive pack of animals in one-of-a-kind encounter: 'To film them this intimately is extraordinarily rare'
A YouTuber received massive praise online after sharing extremely rare footage of a pack of wolves that he captured using trail cameras. "Not exaggerating, this may be the single best wildlife video I've ever seen," raved one commenter. "To be able to document this behavior of an animal as elusive as the wolf is just astounding." Professional wildlife cinematographer Jake Davis (@jakedavistv) captured the footage by leaving what he said was $100,000 worth of camera equipment in the vicinity of a bull elk carcass for a month. "When I came back to check the cameras, I was shocked," said Davis, per PetaPixel. "Wolves are incredibly intelligent and cautious. To film them this intimately is extraordinarily rare." The video highlighted the important role that trail cameras play in educating the public about the incredible interconnectedness of our natural world while allowing researchers to gather key data about wildlife populations. "This is some of the most special footage I've ever captured, and it beautifully illustrates the critical role wolves play in the ecosystem," said Davis, per PetaPixel. Researchers around the world use trail cameras as a nonintrusive way to study endangered species and track rehabilitation efforts. For example, the Galápagos Conservancy uses a network of trail cameras to unobtrusively observe the rare wildlife of that delicate environment. "The images collected help us understand species distribution and behavior, allowing us to develop informed measures for protecting and conserving these unique ecosystems," the Galápagos Conservancy explained on its website. "The cameras provide valuable insights into both endemic species and invasive threats, greatly enhancing our understanding of Galápagos wildlife." Davis' stunning video captured much more than just wolves. After the bull elk was brought down by the wolf pack, the carcass was visited by a range of animals that included a fox and a golden eagle. "In a time when people are far removed from the rhythm and balance of the natural world, my hope is that my work serves to rekindle a connection to the wild," said Davis, per PetaPixel. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Judging by the comments, Davis succeeded in his mission. "I've never seen any wolf video like that ever!" exclaimed one commenter. "That was amazing." "Not only that but it also shows the value of the wolf in the ecosystem," added another. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
