Selective fishing of older herring has resulted in a large shift in the migration pattern of these fish, according to new research. For years, herring have visited sites on the south coast of Norway to spawn, but in 2020 a rapid shift was seen, with the fish instead visiting areas hundreds of kilometres to the north. Researchers have concluded that too many older fish have been removed from these waters, preventing the knowledge of the best spawning grounds being passed to younger, less experienced fish. This finding shows how human activity can affect animal migration, which could have serious consequences for the delicately balanced ecosystems built around them.

Research article: Slotte et al.

Archaeologists have identified tools that the ancient Maya may have used for tattooing, and the self-assembling stable structures that may help ‘forever chemicals’ persist in nature.

Research Highlight: Tattoo-making tools used by ancient Maya revealed

Research Highlight: ‘Forever’ molecules bunch themselves into cell-like structures

AI companions — apps where humans build relationships with computers — are hugely popular, with millions of people around the world using them. But despite increased social and political attention, research investigating how these systems can affect users has been lacking. We find out about the latest research in this space.

News Feature: Supportive? Addictive? Abusive? How AI companions affect our mental health

A technique that lets researchers directly edits proteins within living cells, and how a fibre-rich, low-fat diet could help replenish populations of gut microbes ravaged by antibiotics.

Nature: Powerful protein editors offer new ways of probing living cells

Nature: How to fix a gut microbiome ravaged by antibiotics

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100 days into his term, President Donald Trump and his administration have already caused the biggest shakeup in modern scientific history, slashing funding, bringing large swathes of US research to a standstill and halting many clinical trials. But many fear these actions are just the beginning. We look at what the long-term impacts of these decisions might be for science in the United States and the world.

Nature: Will US science survive Trump 2.0?

A distant planet that orbits two stars, at a right angle, and how fringe-lipped bats’ hearing helps them find palatable amphibians.

Research Highlight: ‘Tatooine’-like planet orbits two stars ― but at a weird angle

Research Highlight: For these bats, eavesdropping is a valuable learnt skill

The first skeletal evidence from bones that Roman gladiators fought lions, and scientists finally pinpoint the genes responsible for three of the pea traits studied by Gregor Mendel.

BBC News: Bites on gladiator bones prove combat with lion

Nature: Century-old genetics mystery of Mendel’s peas finally solved

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Research shows that, over the past two decades, rates of mental illness have been increasing in adolescents in many countries. While some scientists point to soaring use of smartphones and social media as a key driver for this trend, others say the evidence does not show a large effect of these technologies on teenagers’ psychological health.

At the heart of the dispute is a large, complex and often conflicting body of research that different researchers interpret in different ways. This has left parents unsure what to do.

This is an audio version of our Feature: Do smartphones and social media really harm teens’ mental health?

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