November 17, 2025

Sea urchin research at Tel Aviv University. Photo by Shahaf Ben Ezra

Pathogens, storms and extreme temperatures: the causes of mass sea urchin deaths

A pair of studies from Tel Aviv University map 110 mass mortality events of sea urchins since 1888 and show that pathogens are the main cause, while also presenting a "corona swab" method for non-invasive genetic sampling under the skin.
The Tova volcano and the lake at its foot. Illustration: depositphotos.com

74 years ago: One of the largest volcanoes on Earth erupted. How did humans survive?

New research shows that the Toba volcano supereruption, despite its power, was probably not the only or main cause of the genetic bottleneck that characterizes the modern human population.
Destruction after an earthquake in Turkey. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Scientists were wrong: Turkey's continental crust is rupturing

Deep beneath Turkey's surface, scientists reveal subtle but powerful movements that are reshaping the continent's crust