Two organs, one brain area: How fish orient themselves in the water

A selectively bred carp strain is boosting productivity and profits across polyculture ponds in Bangladesh, improving overall pond performance in smallholder systems. A completed study shows that the third generation (G3) rohu, developed by WorldFish, grows 32.6% faster than conventional local fish and increases net margins by 24.8% for farmers, with higher total production and revenue across polyculture pond systems. The research is published in the journal Aquaculture Research.

The next U.S. trip to the moon isn't about planting a flag. It's about learning how to live and work there. NASA has just reset its Artemis program, marking a clear strategic shift: Space exploration is moving away from a race to achieve milestones and toward a system built on repeated operations, a sustained presence and lunar infrastructure that could become part of the technology networks we rely on here on Earth.

In a new study, Northwestern University neurobiologists discovered that gut bacteria and the nose work together to shape social behavior in mice, including who fights and who backs down. Using a combination of genetic and behavioral experiments, the scientists found gut microbes produce a pungent odor that other animals can smell. When detected, these scents trigger aggression and shape social hierarchies. The discovery reveals a previously unknown way the microbiome influences social interactio

A flesh-eating parasitic fly has spread north through Mexico to within a few hundred miles of the U.S. southern border. The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) lays its eggs in open wounds and in the orifices of live, warm-blooded animals—including, occasionally, humans. The maggots then devour the animal's flesh, causing devastating lesions that can quickly kill the infested host.