This bizarre creature walks upside down—scientists stunned by ocean discovery - Futura, le média qui explore le monde

Somewhere in the world, surely, a Monkey's Paw is cackling maniacally to itself. Scattered across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, a humble sea cucumber named Holothuria (Microthele) whitmaei makes its home. This unassuming animal somewhat resembles poop, has been saddled with the lamentable common name "black teatfish", and is highly prized as a delicacy in some cultures – even though it has been listed as endangered for more than a decade. And yet, a new study has found, H. whitmaei may live for more than 120 years. In a genetic study spanning more than two decades, a team led by biologist Sven Uthicke of the Australian Institute of Marine Science has discovered that this species barely grows at all – and can live for an astonishingly long time. "Although individuals of some sea urchin species can live to over 100 years, deriving at a similar conclusion for the black teatfish was surprising," they write in a paper published in iScience. "This species is the first sea cucumber species known to surpass a longevity of a century.

The Kawah Ijen volcano is the site of an astonishing and spectacular phenomenon © Daniel, Adobe Stock The Futura Team represents the pulse of Futura’s editorial department, bringing together a collective expertise dedicated to the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Rather than the work of a single author, every article published under this signature is the result of a rigorous collaborative process involving journalists, editors, and fact-checkers. Specializing in news analysis via desk research and international wire services, the team focuses on transforming raw information into accessible, verified content. This curation and synthesis process ensures constant monitoring of technological innovations and major scientific breakthroughs. By cross-referencing sources and conducting multiple rounds of peer review, the Futura Team guarantees scientific accuracy and pedagogical clarity. This collective signature serves as a hallmark of trust, providing reactive, cross-disciplinary information at the forefront of current events

Illustration of the collision between Theia and the early Earth. © Pavel, Adobe Stock The Futura Team represents the pulse of Futura’s editorial department, bringing together a collective expertise dedicated to the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Rather than the work of a single author, every article published under this signature is the result of a rigorous collaborative process involving journalists, editors, and fact-checkers. Specializing in news analysis via desk research and international wire services, the team focuses on transforming raw information into accessible, verified content. This curation and synthesis process ensures constant monitoring of technological innovations and major scientific breakthroughs. By cross-referencing sources and conducting multiple rounds of peer review, the Futura Team guarantees scientific accuracy and pedagogical clarity. This collective signature serves as a hallmark of trust, providing reactive, cross-disciplinary information at the forefront of current events

Powerful dishes isolate a distant planetary signal A research team led by Kevin N. Ortiz Ceballos analyzed four observing sessions conducted between February 2025 and May 2026. They used the 64-dish MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa to scan the young Beta Pictoris star system.