First

Life

This is the first fungus known to host complex algae inside its cells

In the lab, an alga and a fungus teamed up to exchange food, similar to lichens. But instead of staying outside, the alga moved into the fungal cells.

Paleontology

This giant marsupial was a seasonal migrant

A new analysis suggests that Diprotodon optatum, a giant plant-eating marsupial that went extinct about 40,000 years ago, migrated long distances, much like today’s zebras and wildebeests.

Oceans

Atlantic monument is home to unique and varied creatures

A region of ocean off the coast of Cape Cod has become the first U.S. marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean.

Astronomy

Distant star has northern lights–like display

A dim star shows signs of auroral lights, the first detected on a body that’s not a planet or moon.

Astronomy

First quasar quartet discovered

A quartet of quasars seen in the early universe may mark where a massive galaxy cluster is starting to form.

Animals

Snail shell creates blue iridescence with mineral

Mollusk shines blue using calcium compound rather than organic molecule.

Astronomy

Giant rings encircle young exoplanet

Stretching 90 million kilometers from their center, 37 stripes of dust around exoplanet were probably crafted by moons.

Life

Fossil fish eye has 300 million-year-old rods and cones

A fossil fish shows the earliest evidence of rods and cones, cells essential for color vision in vertebrates.

Astronomy

Star-eating star spotted

The first Thorne-Żytkow Object, a strange pair of stars where one engulfs the other, has been discovered.

Paleontology

Ancient crustacean had elaborate heart

The now-extinct Fuxianhuia protensa had a fancy cardiovascular system that sent blood to its limbs and organs, including its brain.