Scientists have identified a new wild cat species in Bolivia's cloud forests. This small, slender cat is known locally as Tilcayo and has been formally named. Genetic analysis revealed it is distinct from other known tiger cat species. Local communities have known about this cat for generations, passing down its name. Conservation efforts are needed as its population size remains unknown.

We all experience infantile amnesia, meaning we can't remember our very first years. Although babies do create lasting memories, adults find it tough to recall them. The hippocampus and developing neural connections are crucial for these early memories. Brain development throughout childhood also influences how long these memories remain accessible.

For generations, vultures were part of the everyday landscape, clearing livestock carcasses before they could linger. In the 1990s, diclofenac caused their numbers to collapse from around 50 million. Their disappearance was linked to rising stray dog numbers, water contamination and an estimated 500,000 additional human deaths between 2000 and 2005.

Researchers found waste eggshells can become a fine powder for mortar. This powder replaced cement, showing no reduction in compressive strength. The strongest results occurred when ten percent eggshell powder was used. Higher amounts increased porosity and weakened the mortar's internal structure. This study highlights a sustainable method for construction materials.

A trio of African wild dog brothers undertook a remarkable odyssey covering 4,126 kilometers across Zambia. This unprecedented trek marks the longest documented dispersal by a mammal in Africa. Their journey through various terrains, including natural reserves and areas impacted by humans, highlights the crucial need for habitat connectivity beyond national park borders, revealing pressing conservation issues faced by species that require large ranges.

Bearded vultures have returned to the Alps after decades of absence. A reintroduction program successfully established a self-sustaining population by 2021. Wild-hatched birds increasingly drove this population growth and recovery. However, recovery has been uneven across the Alpine range. Ongoing threats and survival differences still shape the species' future.

Colorado’s lesser prairie-chicken population has fallen from more than 80,000 birds in 1975 to only 89 breeding males in 2024. The Southern Plains Land Trust has acquired nearly 2,100 acres for just under $2 million to restore grassland habitat. The property, near an active breeding site, will be restored with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to support the species’ recovery.

A rat eradication project on St Agnes and Gugh in the Isles of Scilly began in 2013 after invasive brown rats were found to be threatening nesting seabirds. The islands have remained rat-free since the operation, while Manx shearwater breeding numbers have increased from 22 pairs before eradication to 225 apparently occupied breeding sites recorded in 2025.

An Australian amateur astronomer made a groundbreaking observation in their backyard, discovering a colossal ten-sided atmospheric wave. This unique finding corroborated the existence of a decagon around Saturn's south pole, as confirmed by years of data from the Hubble Space Telescope. The decagon, intertwined with fierce jet streams, spans numerous atmospheric levels, shedding light on the circulatory processes within the atmospheres of these gas giants.

Britain experienced a significant butterfly boom during the record heat of summer 2026. Over 100,000 volunteers counted nearly 1.4 million butterflies and moths across the nation. Painted ladies, a migratory species, saw their numbers surge by 335 percent this season. Experts warn this boom could lead to a population crash for caterpillars next year. Drought conditions that benefited adult butterflies harmed their offspring and food sources.