New Atlas

Medical Audio available

Lamprey molecules squirm into the brain to deliver cancer drugs

Michael Irving May 17, 2019

The lamprey is not something you’d normally want anywhere near your brain. But now, researchers have used molecules taken from the freaky fish’s immune system to deliver drugs inside the body – and even managed to sneak them into the brain.

Researchers have used molecules from the lamprey's immune system to help fight brain cancer

Biology

Scientists seek genetic answer to predatory nature of invasive lionfish

David Szondy April 28, 2019

The lionfish is an invasive species that is currently wreaking havoc in the warm waters of the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the US southwestern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. NCSU scientists initiated a study of lionfish genetics to learn more about their origins and how to control them.

Genetics help to identify the origins of the lionfish that are devastating warm American waters

Medical Audio available

The superbug-fighting potential of fish slime

Nick Lavars April 1, 2019

The growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is seeing scientists get more and more creative in their search for new drugs that might help us maintain the upper hand. Researchers have uncovered what they say is a potential goldmine of antibiotics in the form of fish slime.

Scientists are hailing the mucus that coats fish as a potential goldmine of antibiotics

Robotics Audio available

Bees and fish learn to communicate long distance – via robots

Michael Irving March 21, 2019

A colony of bees in Austria and a school of fish in Switzerland have become unlikely allies. In experiments run by several European universities, the two very different animal species were able to communicate and coordinate their movements long-distance with the help of some robotic interpreters.

European researchers have used robots to help bees and fish communicate over long distances

Biology Audio available

Fish pass self-awareness test for the first time, raising questions about animal consciousness

Michael Irving February 7, 2019

Humans can recognize their own face in the mirror, and so can apes, monkeys, dolphins, elephants, and some birds. Now a fish species has passed the mirror test for the first time, which may suggest that the animals are smarter than we give them credit for.

A new study shows that fish seem to be able to recognize their own reflection, which ...

Science Audio available

Stress-analysis device stands in for salmon

Ben Coxworth February 4, 2019

Sea lice infestations are a common problem in salmon farms, and while there are chemical-free ways of getting the parasites off the fish, they're kind of rough. A new device is being put through one such delousing process, in order to measure just how hard it is on the salmon.

Even when chemicals aren't used, delousing may still be physically hard on farmed salmon

Science

Scientists safely reproduce the taste of toxic pufferfish – fugu tofu, anyone?

Ben Coxworth January 24, 2019

Some seafood aficionados swear that you just HAVE to try pufferfish sushi – unfortunately, though, if it isn't prepared correctly, it'll kill you. Scientists from China and the UK have developed a safer alternative, by replicating the flavor of the fish without any of the poison.

A Takifugu obscurus pufferfish ... prepare it with care

Biology Audio available

Prehistoric shark had video-game teeth

Ben Coxworth January 21, 2019

"Sue" is the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found. Although the fossilized bones were unearthed 20 years ago, scientists recently discovered the remains of a previously-unknown shark that co-existed along with the dinosaur – and the fish has been named after a classic video game.

Galagadon nordquisti likely lay on the riverbed, feeding on invertebrates

Environment Audio available

Fish found thriving in waters with almost no oxygen

Michael Irving January 20, 2019

During a recent expedition to the Gulf of California, a team of marine biologists discovered huge schools of fishes living in an environment that’s almost completely devoid of oxygen – levels well below the amount previously thought necessary for these animals.

Environment

Aquatraz is made to be an Alcatraz for farmed salmon

Ben Coxworth January 2, 2019

Among the criticisms of salmon farms are the facts that non-native fish can escape into the local marine environment, plus the farmed fish may become infected with parasites that spread to wild populations. A new type of salmon pen, however, is designed to address those problems.

The walls of the Aquatraz salmon pen are composed of exposed netting at lower depths, but ...