In the July 21 SN: Portraits of a galaxy’s ecosystem, sleep and Alzheimer’s, poliovirus vs. glioblastoma, Parker Solar Probe previewed, mind-reading robots, a new ancient gibbon and more.
DRY TIMES A 200-year drought 4,200 years ago that caused civilizations to collapse across the globe marks the start of the newly designated Meghalayan Age. As seen in this photo from Algeria in 2017, droughts still occur during this ongoing geologic time period.
IN THE DEEP Healthy shallow reefs, like this one in Micronesia, are at increasing risk. Researchers previously hoped that species from these reefs could survive in deeper reefs, but new evidence shows this may not be the case.
L.A. Rocha/California Academy of Sciences
GOTCHA A new machine, shaped sort of like a five-fingered arcade claw, gently encloses soft-bodied sea creatures (like this cephalopod) to study before releasing them, unharmed, back into the ocean.
Z.E. Teoh et al/Science Robotics 2018
