Map of Life

A new update to the Map of Life project adds four species, including the Paraselachimorpha, shown in the top left corner of the map. The project, shared in science communication circles, illustrates evolutionary relationships between life forms and invites readers to explore previous versions on the project's website.

The US National Science Foundation has approved funding for a research collaboration led by University of California, Berkeley to sequence the genomes of Antarctic organisms. The project aims to map the genetic makeup of life in Antarctica, aiding studies of evolution, biodiversity and how polar species respond to climate change.

New research is mapping the microclimates created beneath solar panels, where shade and cooler temperatures could support native vegetation. Scientists hope the findings will guide the design of solar farms so renewable energy installations also restore or protect plant life, turning energy infrastructure into habitat. The approach, known as agrivoltaics or ecovoltaics, is drawing attention as solar deployment expands worldwide.

Warsaw's Młociny district has opened a public inventory of urban biodiversity, documenting plant and animal life in the area. The initiative makes records of local species accessible to residents, reflecting a broader push by European cities to map and protect green spaces within urban environments.

10x Genomics has begun shipping Atera, which the company describes as a breakthrough spatial biology platform. The launch gives researchers new tools to map cells and molecules directly in tissue, a fast-growing area of life sciences. Announcements of the shipment circulated widely among biotech and genomics observers following the release.

A new genetic map of wild tomato species shows breeders exactly where to find flavor traits lost during decades of breeding for shelf life and yield. Researchers identified the genes behind the sugars and volatiles that give wild fruit its taste, opening the door to tastier commercial tomatoes. The work is being picked up across science media as a fix for the long-running complaint that supermarket tomatoes are bland.