Submerged in Science - Eos

Researchers from the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS) Ocean Observatory have documented submerged "peat reefs" in the shallow waters of Mozambique's Bazaruto Archipelago, finding that ancient coastal forests - now lying beneath the sea - support marine biodiversity comparable to coral reefs. Published on 12 October in Scientific Reports, the study is believed to be the first ecological research into tropical peat reefs from a biodiversity perspective, with radiocarbon dating placing peat formation between roughly 300 and 5,000 years ago. The reefs, sitting just 2 - 4 metres deep, host no living coral yet shelter dozens of fish species, spiny lobsters, oysters and juvenile reef fish, alongside larger species including sharks, rays and turtles. The findings carry significant implications for coastal conservation and blue economy policy. Some peat samples contain up to 40% organic carbon by dry weight, raising questions about their potential role as legacy carbon stores - though researchers note that the peat reefs' present-day carbon cycling function remains unresolved and requires further dedicated study.

While these grainy, black-and-white images might not look like much today, they were a huge deal at the time.

Chen and his team pioneered an innovative "negative-curvature interface" strategy in alloys. The graphic illustrates how negative-curvature interfaced nanoprecipitates harden the novel microstructures of the designed alloy. Credit: Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-74629-1 Metallic materials used in extremely cold environments must maintain high strength, ductility and fracture toughness to support applications in aerospace, clean energy, superconducting systems and deep-space exploration. However, traditional alloys often suffer performance degradation at ultralow temperatures because of the long-standing trade-off between strength, ductility and toughness. Although metals may become stronger at lower temperatures, they can also become more brittle and prone to fracture.

Weighted mean FO for the 230 species in our models. Credit: Biology Letters (2026). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2026.0079 What seabirds eat might seem like a good starting point for identifying species that tend to accumulate plastic in their digestive systems. Yet a recent global analysis suggests that mapping the evolutionary relatives of birds could offer better clues than their diets or feeding methods alone.