Polar bears are struggling in all areas of their lives, but scientists hope to prevent extinction by manipulating their genes.

EarthSnap

Rapid warming in the Arctic is changing sea ice in ways that directly affect bears, the region’s top predators. Ice now forms later, melts earlier, and provides a more unstable habitat than it did decades ago. For polar bears, this change disrupts almost every aspect of life, from hunting to movement to reproduction. … Read more

Land animals evolved from marine ancestors – a new study reveals the genes of the transition

A colorful timeline of when different generations of animals evolved into lifestyles based on land.

The transition from water to land is a question that still puzzles scientists. Those ancient organisms would need to adapt to the many new challenges of life outside of water. So, how did they do that? In the 2025 study, my colleagues and I tried to understand the genetic basis of adaptation to life on … Read more