They’re segmented. They’ve got bristles. And sometimes, metallic jaws and detachable rear ends with eyes and a brain.

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02181-5

The smallest building blocks are enabling next-generation solutions.

Millions of songbirds in Southeast Asia are trapped and smuggled each year for keeping as pets or entering in competitions. Scientists warn that it's fueling a crisis.

Keeping global warming to manageable levels will require removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it somewhere else. The world’s oceans may be a promising option.