Climate change is threatening our communities across the globe, and adaptation is becoming essential. Many adaptation programs mainly invest in building assets, like savings or infrastructure. We found that a broader set of factors – such as social networks and learning – can play an important part in the actions communities end up taking.

A unique group of extinct ants called “hell ants” were preserved in fossil amber dating to 78-100 million years ago. They had bizarre mouthparts and horns that are not found among nearly any of today’s living insects. A new fossil discovery reveals the predatory role of this strange headgear and illustrates how unique these ants are in evolution.

A cell is highly interactive and constantly exchanges ‘physical’ information with its surroundings. By combining a special 3D printing technique with smart materials, we developed micrometer-sized scaffolds to stretch single cells. This new approach helps us to better understand how individual cells sense and respond to external mechanical stimuli.

Receiving help from others is an essential aspect of our life. In childhood but also in old age, we need our families, related kin or broader society to help meet our needs. Our research reveals that we can expect to live longer in societies where people share resources more generously.

Our tongue is inhabited by billions of microbes. But are they beneficial for us? A new imaging technique reveals that these microbes build organized communities with a patchy mosaic structure, extending our understanding of how microbes live with us and contribute to our health.

Billions of years ago, Mars appears to have had abundant surface water. There is little, if any, direct evidence of the ancient atmosphere that helped make the surface warm enough for that to happen. Studying impact craters on Earth that are similar in structure to those on Mars may hold the key to resolving this ongoing problem.