Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected gases, including dimethyl sulfide (DMS), on exoplanet K2-18b that are linked to biological activity on Earth. While the signal is strong, it's not yet confirmed as life, with researchers awaiting further data to rule out non-biological explanations.
Scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute are embarking on an ambitious project to sequence the genomes of all life on Earth, starting with microscopic tardigrades. Advances in sequencing technology allow them to process samples much faster than before, aiming to unlock new insights into biology, evolution, and potential biomedical applications.
A new study using a 3D model suggests life on Earth could end between 1.35 and 1.87 billion years from now due to the Sun's increasing brightness and subsequent impacts on CO2 levels and temperature. Researchers explored scenarios with strong and weak weathering feedback mechanisms.
A new study mapped vast underground fungal networks, finding they could stretch 750 million times the Earth-Sun distance. These networks are vital for plant life and climate regulation but are threatened by agriculture, with cropland densities 47.3% lower than in wild ecosystems.
