Latest news with #HansLarsson
CBC
18-07-2025
- Science
- CBC
Jul 19: The science of art appreciation, and more...
Working in the protected reefs of Palau, an island country in the western Pacific Ocean, Alison Sweeney — associate professor of physics and of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale University — was intrigued by the iridescence of the giant clams. Her team discovered that the giant clams' tissues are optimized to channel sunlight to photosynthetic algae that live inside them. They work like solar panels, but are far more efficiently than the ones we manufacture, providing inspiration for bio-inspired energy technology. The study was published in the journal PRX Energy. Researchers have found a new biodiversity hotspot. Environmental microbiologist Erica Hartmann and her team sampled shower heads and toothbrushes in ordinary bathrooms, and found a host of bacteria and hundreds of previously unknown viruses. But don't panic: much of this new life are bacteriophages — viruses that infect bacteria — which are harmless to humans and could be potential weapons against the bacteria that can cause human disease. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes. 106 million years ago, in what is now South Korea, a bird-like dinosaur with wings ran across a muddy flat and left behind tiny footprints. By reconstructing its stride from these prints, paleontologists have found that it ran faster than could be explained if it weren't using its wings to push it along. Hans Larsson of McGill university says this discovery gives new insight into the evolution of flight in dinosaurs. This study was published in the journal PNAS. Scientists have long known that humpback whales use bubbles to corral and concentrate krill and small fish to feed on. But new underwater cameras and airborne drones have provided an unprecedented view of how this is done, revealing how the whales use complex patterns of bubbles in different ways depending on the prey. Andy Szabo, a Canadian whale biologist and executive director of the Alaska Whale Foundation, said the humpbacks' bubble-nets result in a sevenfold increase in the amount of krill they gulp up per lunge. The study was published in Royal Society Open Science. Recent studies of two of the world's most famous paintings by Dutch artists have provided surprising insights into the depths of their art. A new analysis of the entire sky in Vincent van Gogh's painting, The Starry Night, which includes 14 swirling eddies shows how the artist intuitively understood the nature of turbulence, an incredibly complex phenomenon of fluid dynamics. Francois Schmitt, an oceanographer and research director at France's National Centre for Scientific Research, said the turbulence depicted in the night sky is completely compatible with the Kolmogorov law of large scale turbulence and the smaller scale Batchelor law with van Gogh's brushstrokes. Their research is in the journal Physics of Fluids. To figure out what it was about Johannes Vermeer's painting, Girl with the Pearl Earring, that viewers find so captivating, the Mauritshuis museum where the artwork hangs in The Hague commissioned a neuroscientific study. Andries van der Leij, the research director of Neurensics — a consumer neuroscience company — and lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, said they found that people's eyes were automatically drawn to the girl's eyes, mouth and pearl earring in a way that captured the observers' attention and drew them in for an emotional experience. Their research has not been published, but is described by the Mauritshuis museum.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Scientists discover new crocodiles on Mexican islands that remained hidden for centuries
Biodiversity is constantly evolving, and as a result, nature surprises us with what is kept hidden in plain sight. While some of the species are becoming extinct and endangered, the discovery of new species not only gives a new ray of hope, but also tells us how much we still have to learn and protect. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Remote and ecologically rich areas like islands and coastal habitats often house unique species, but they're also among the most vulnerable to human development and environmental change. In this delicate balance between discovery and destruction, science plays a crucial role in identifying species before they vanish, possibly unnoticed. Genetic analysis and modern fieldwork are helping scientists revisit long-held assumptions, bringing to light some unexpected biodiversity. The more we discover, the easier it becomes, as each ecosystem holds details that deserve attention, research, and protection. A recent discovery is a perfect example of the same Scientists have identified two new species of crocodiles living in isolated parts of Mexico, one on the island of Cozumel and the other on the coral atoll of Banco Chinchorro, both situated off the Yucatán Peninsula. This is changing the assumptions, what scientists thought they knew about the American crocodile, which was believed to be a single, widespread species. According to Biology Professor Hans Larsson, the lead investigator of the study, the discovery came after the team analyzed genetic samples from these crocodile populations and compared them to others across the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico's Pacific coast. 'We assumed Crocodylus acutus was a single species ranging from Baja California to Venezuela and across the Caribbean. Our study is the first to extensively explore genomic and anatomical variation in these animals'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Small populations at risk despite stability The two newly identified crocodile species remain unnamed but are genetically distinct, with fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals in each isolated population. While both groups appear stable, their limited numbers and confinement to small habitats make them especially vulnerable. 'Now that we recognize these crocodiles as distinct species, it's crucial to protect their habitats. Limiting land development and implementing careful conservation strategies on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro will be key to ensuring their survival,' Larsson added. A wake-up call for conservation The discovery is also a race against time to catalog biodiversity before it's lost. 'Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we're losing,' said Larsson. With coastal development and habitat degradation threatening crocodile populations across the globe, this find serves as both a scientific milestone and a conservation alarm bell.
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Biologists Reveal Two New Crocodile Species: 'Totally Unexpected'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The "totally unexpected" discovery of two new crocodile species off Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is forcing scientists to reconsider long-held assumptions about the American crocodile—and raising alarms about the fragility of these newly identified populations. "Most species of crocodiles are already endangered, and rapid shoreline development threatens nearly every population," paper author and biologist Hans Larsson of McGill University said in a statement. "Our research aimed to uncover the true diversity of crocodiles on these isolated islands." Working in collaboration with Mexican researchers, Larsson and his team at McGill, identified the new species on the island of Cozumel and the Banco Chinchorro atoll. These isolated groups were long believed to be local populations of the widespread American crocodile, which ranges from Baja California to Venezuela and throughout the Caribbean. A close up image of an American crocodile swimming underwater in an unknown location. A close up image of an American crocodile swimming underwater in an unknown location. Getty Images After sequencing their DNA and comparing their physical features, the researchers concluded that the Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro crocodiles were not simply geographic variants, but genetically distinct species. "These results were totally unexpected," said José Avila-Cervantes, the study's lead author and a former graduate student in Larsson's lab, in a statement. "We assumed [the American crocodile] was a single species ranging from Baja California to Venezuela and across the Caribbean. Our study is the first to extensively explore genomic and anatomical variation in these animals." The findings, based on DNA sequencing and anatomical analysis, challenge previous taxonomies and highlight how little is still known about the biodiversity of remote tropical ecosystems. The study was made possible by a field effort involving the capture and safe release of crocodiles, during which blood and scale samples were collected for genetic analysis. At McGill, Avila-Cervantes performed the genomic sequencing that ultimately revealed big differences between the island populations and mainland counterparts. Additional research on skull morphology was conducted by fellow graduate student Hoai-Nam Bui, further cementing the conclusion that the reptiles represent distinct evolutionary lineages. Although both newly discovered species appear to be stable, their populations are small, with each consisting of fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals. Their restricted habitats and low numbers make them especially vulnerable to environmental disturbances, habitat loss, and the effects of climate change. The discovery underscores the importance of localized conservation efforts, especially in areas that are often overlooked. The scientists are now calling for the crocodiles to be formally recognized as distinct species—a move that could unlock targeted protection in Mexico and internationally. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about crocodiles? Let us know via science@ Reference Avila-Cervantes, J., Charruau, P., Cedeño-Vázquez, J. R., Bui, H.-N., Venegas-Anaya, M., Vargas, M., López-Luna, M. A., González-Cortés, H., Macías-Díaz, D. A., Pérez-Flores, J. S., Barrios-Quiroz, G., Salazar, J. M., McMillan, W. O., & Larsson, H. C. E. (2025). Novel island species elucidate a species complex of Neotropical crocodiles. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 207.
India Today
08-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Two new crocodile species discovered. They are different from others
Scientists are stunned to discover two previously unknown species of crocodiles living on the island of Cozumel and the other on the atoll of Banco Chinchorro, both off the Yucatan two new species are yet to be officially discovery challenges previous assumptions about the American crocodile and highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts, the researchers say that even as the population of the species is stable, it's still just a The team analysed the genetic sequences of crocodile populations from Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro and compared them to sequences of crocodiles across the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico's Pacific coast. The newly identified species live in small, isolated populations. (Photo: Getty) They discovered striking levels of genetic differentiation that led the researchers to conclude that these populations were not simply variants of Crocodylus acutus. "Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we're losing. Most species of crocodiles are already endangered, and rapid shoreline development threatens nearly every population. Our research aimed to uncover the true diversity of crocodiles on these isolated islands," Biology Professor Hans Larsson, the principal investigator added that these results were unexpected. "We assumed Crocodylus acutus was a single species ranging from Baja California to Venezuela and across the Caribbean. Our study is the first to extensively explore genomic and anatomical variation in these animals," Larsson said. The newly identified species live in small, isolated populations, each numbering fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals. While both populations appear stable, their limited numbers and habitat restrictions make them vulnerable."Now that we recognize these crocodiles as distinct species, it's crucial to protect their habitats. Limiting land development and implementing careful conservation strategies on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro will be key to ensuring their survival," Larsson said.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Found 2 New Crocodile Species Hiding in Plain Sight
Scientists know of four New World crocodile species, but a new study highlights potential fifth and sixth additions to the reptilian family. The two new crocodile species are each endemic to an island off the coast of the Yucatán—the tourist hotspot Cozumel and the atoll Banco Chinchorro. Although stable, the populations are small and are immensely vulnerable to habitat destruction. Of the estimated 8.7 million animal species on Earth, only 1.2 million of them have been officially described, with around 18,000 new species being discovered every year. Many of those are new kinds of jumping spiders, worms, insects, and other wriggling arthropods—the most abundant phylum in the animal kingdom. Huge reptiles don't typically make the list. However, a team of scientists from Canada, Mexico, and Panama claims they've discovered two previously unknown crocodile species off the Yucatán coast in a new study. With the four known species of New World crocodiles—the American, Morelet's, Cuban, and Orinoco—the addition of these two crocodile species discovered on Cozumel and the atoll Banco Chinchorro brings that number up to six. The details of these new species can be found in a new article published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 'Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we're losing,' McGill biologist Hans Larsson, the senior author of the study, said in a press statement. 'Most species of crocodiles are already endangered, and rapid shoreline development threatens nearly every population. Our research aimed to uncover the true diversity of crocodiles on these isolated islands.' One of the oldest-living species of reptile on Earth—sharing (along with birds) some of its genetic lineage with the long-extinct dinosaur—crocodiles migrated to the Americas roughly seven million years ago during the tail end of the Miocene epoch. It's likely that a descendent of New World crocodiles, Crocodylus checchiai, traversed the Atlantic aided in part by westward ocean currents. Although well-known for its perplexingly slow rate of evolution, the crocodile eventually diversified into the four—now six—species we know today in the Americas. The discovery of these new crocs was completely unexpected, according to the study's lead author José Avila-Cervantes. Avila-Cervantes and his team compared the genetic sequences of the crocodile populations found on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro to other known populations of New World crocodiles, and found enough genetic differentiation to necessitate a new species distinction—not just a variant of the American crocodile, the most widespread of the New World crocodiles. Scientific names have yet to be assigned to these new species, though a hat-tip to their respective island habitats seems like a good bet. Although it's always thrilling to discover a new species—especially one as large as these crocs—the study also adds a dash of concern. Although both populations are stable, they're small, in both ecosystem size and breeding population. The study estimates that each species contain fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals. 'Now that we recognize these crocodiles as distinct species, it's crucial to protect their habitats,' Larsson said in a press statement. 'Limiting land development and implementing careful conservation strategies on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro will be key to ensuring their survival.' That could prove difficult, as both islands are popular tourist destinations. Cozumel has already seen more than 1.5 million cruise ship tourists in the first three months of 2025, which puts a strain not only on endemic species like crocodiles, but on natural wonders like the island's coral reef system. If the Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro crocodiles have any hope of survival, it'll be because the people of those islands recognize their undeniable worth to the surrounding ecosystem—the natural resource that brings millions flocking to these islands in the first place. 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
