News: Research

Research

‘We’re All Asgardians’: New Clues about the Origin of Complex Life

All complex life, a.k.a. eukaryotes, trace their roots to a common Asgard archaean ancestor.

An evolutionary tree shows how eukaryotes are related to Asgard archaea

Research

When Weather Whiplash Becomes the New Normal

Estuaries face increasing climate-induced changes. An 8-year study found droughts and floods shift phytoplankton from diatoms to cyanobacteria, impacting ecosystems.

Torrents of water surge through a once-dry landscape, turning it into a scene of extreme flooding.

Research

Positive Feedback Loop Suggested for Ocean Acidification and Global Warming

Research shows ocean acidification disrupts nitrogen cycling by slowing nitrification and increasing nitrous oxide emissions, worsening global warming impacts.

Charles Bay showcases a serene and expansive body of water, bordered by lush greenery.

Research

These Tiny Coral Reef Fish Parents Decide When Their Embryos Hatch

Leaving the comfort and safety of home to explore the world is a difficult decision. However, in a tiny coral reef fish called a neon goby, dads help their offspring take the plunge by pushing them out the door when the time is just right.

A pair of fish larvae newly hatched from eggs

Research

Adding Predictability to the Carbon Market

Salt marshes are a hot but unpredictable commodity in the carbon market.

A salt marsh seen from an aerial view on a clear day with a boat in the foreground

Research

Newly discovered bacteria and their proteins could advance our understanding of global nutrients

Marine microbiologists discovered five new bacteria phyla with unique proteins from deep-sea sediments, potentially redefining oceanic nutrient cycles.

Five new phyla, highlighted in the color background, contain an unusually high amount of novel proteins.

UT News

Virus Discovery Offers Clues About Origins of Complex Life

The first discovery of viruses infecting a group of microbes that may include the ancestors of all complex life has been found.

Illustration of the inside of a biological cell

Research

A More Nuanced Approach is Needed to Manage Coral Reef Ecosystems

Instead of focusing entirely on biomass and one-size-fits-all solutions, researchers recommend finding which fish provide the most useful functions in each reef system and protecting them.

A school of colorful fish swim over a coral reef

Research

Vitamin Sea: Why Coral Reef Fish Eat Poop

A new study reveals that Caribbean parrotfishes and surgeonfishes consume plankton-eating fish feces as a nutrient-rich supplement to algae.

A Rainbow parrotfish swims in the water column, with many plankton-eating Brown chromis fish in the background. Photo by Hannah Rempel.

Research

Loss of Picky-Eating Fishes Threatens Coral Reef Food Webs

Delicate ecosystems become more precarious as specialized hunters disappear.

A school of red fish swim above a coral reef