A fossilized dragonfly wing found in Canada has led to the identification of a new species, Cordualadensa acorni, which dates back 75 million years. The discovery, published in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, fills a 30-million-year gap in dragonfly evolution and represents the first Mesozoic dragonfly found in Canada.

Spectral bats, the world's largest carnivorous bat species, are more social than previously believed, according to a study in PLOS One. Observations of a family of four bats in Costa Rica have revealed behaviors such as grooming, social vocalizations, hugging, food sharing and cooperative foraging.

Human ancestors had become selective about which rocks they sharpened into tools by about 2.6 million years ago, say scientists who have dated the transport of raw materials to around 600,000 years earlier than previous examples. Researchers have found that inhabitants of the Nyayanga site in Kenya used quartzite from as far as 13 kilometers away to create sharp blades for butchering animals. "This suggests they've got a mental map of where different resources are distributed across the landscape," says Rick Potts, a co-author of the study in Science Advances.

Physicists have discovered a thin film of perovskite-derived crystal that maintains its structure while releasing and reabsorbing oxygen repeatedly at modest temperatures, giving it potential for clean energy technology. The oxide of iron, strontium and cobalt demonstrates synchronized transport and structural changes in every oxygen cycle, according to the study in Nature Communications.

Research published in Nature describes a breakthrough in sterol engineering that has allowed scientists to develop a yeast capable of producing the six essential sterols that honeybees need for proper nutrition. This achievement addresses a critical gap in bee dietary supplements, which previously lacked these vital nutrients. The engineered sterols were successfully integrated into a new "superfood" for bees, resulting in colonies with significantly higher numbers of adult bees.

Isotretinoin treatment for acne in adolescents was linked to slower growth rates but did not affect final adult height, compared with antibiotics, researchers reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. The researchers said even with the study data, "the risk of a potential negative effect on growth should be carefully considered for each individual patient as part of shared decision making."

A study published in the journal eBioMedicine found that certain lipid metabolites, including linoleic acid and sphingomyelins, were negatively associated with excessive daytime sleepiness. The research, which involved data from populations in the US, UK and Finland, highlighted the connection between metabolism and sleep disorders and could lead to new treatments or dietary guidelines.

The National Science Foundation is set to launch the Artificial Intelligence Materials Institute at Cornell University this fall, with partners Princeton University, Boston University and the City College of New York. The $20 million institute aims to accelerate the discovery of materials for quantum technologies, energy and sustainability by leveraging advances in AI and materials data.

October 30 - November 1, 2025
STEM students across the globe are invited to showcase their research and compete for awards at the 2025 International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE), powered by Sigma Xi. IFoRE is going virtual in 2025, which means no travel expenses and easy access for all presenting students. Students who participate in the virtual event will get unique opportunities to network with peers and professionals in their field, gain valuable research presentation experience, and discover future opportunities with school programs and employers. All competing students will be eligible for monetary awards in their discipline and education level. Learn more at experienceIFoRE.