Explore the latest insights from top science journals in the Muser Press daily roundup (September 4, 2025), featuring impactful research on climate change challenges.
In brief:
Mechanical forces drive evolutionary change
Mechanical forces shape tissues and organs during the development of an embryo through a process called morphogenesis. These forces cause tissues to push and pull on each other, providing essential information to cells and determining the shape of organs. Despite the importance of these forces, their role in the evolution of development is still not well understood.
Animal embryos undergo tissue flows and folding processes, involving mechanical forces, that transform a single-layered blastula (a hollow sphere of cells) into a complex multi-layered structure known as the gastrula. During early gastrulation, some flies of the order Diptera form a tissue fold at the head-trunk boundary called the cephalic furrow. This fold is a specific feature of a subgroup of Diptera and is therefore an evolutionary novelty of flies.
The research groups of Pavel Tomancak and Carl Modes, both group leaders at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, Germany, looked into the function of the cephalic furrow during the development of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the potential connection with its evolution.
The results of their investigation are published in the journal Nature.
A genetically patterned fold with unknown function
The researchers knew that several genes are involved in the formation of the cephalic furrow. The cephalic furrow is especially interesting because it is a prominent embryonic invagination whose formation is controlled by genes, but that has no obvious function during development. The fold does not give rise to specific structures and, later in development, it simply unfolds, leaving no trace.
Bruno C. Vellutini, a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Pavel Tomancak, who led the study together with Tomancak, explains: “Our original question was to uncover the genes involved in cephalic furrow formation and the developmental role of the invagination. Later on, we broadened our investigations to other fly species and found that changes in the expression of the gene buttonhead are associated with the evolution of the cephalic furrow.”
With their experiments, the researchers show that the absence of the cephalic furrow leads to an increase in the mechanical instability of embryonic tissues and that the primary sources of mechanical stress are cell divisions and tissue movements typical of gastrulation. They demonstrate that the formation of the cephalic furrow absorbs these compressive stresses.
Without a cephalic furrow, these stresses build up, and outward forces caused by cell divisions in the single-layered blastula cause mechanical instability and tissue buckling. This intriguing physical role gave the researchers the idea that the cephalic furrow may have evolved in response to the mechanical challenges of dipteran gastrulation, with mechanical instability acting as a potential selective pressure.
Physical model of folding dynamics
To determine the contribution of individual sources of mechanical stress, the experimentalists in the Tomancak group teamed up with the group of Carl Modes to create a theoretical physical model that behaves like the fly embryos.
Modes says: “Our model can simulate the behavior of embryonic tissues in fly embryos with very few free parameters. The model was fed with the data from the experiments. First, we wanted to see how the strength of the fold affects the function of the cephalic furrow. We assumed that a strong pull inside the fold is a good buffer to counteract mechanical forces. However, we discovered that the position and timing are what really matter. The earlier the cephalic furrow forms, the better of a buffer it is, and when it forms around the middle of the embryo, it proved to have the strongest buffering effect.”
This physical model provides a theoretical basis that the cephalic furrow can absorb compressive stresses and prevent mechanical instabilities in embryonic tissues during gastrulation.
A related study reveals two cellular mechanisms to prevent stress.
Another study, also focusing on mechanisms of how flies counteract mechanical stresses, is published at the same time in the Nature journal. The team led by Steffen Lemke from the University of Hohenheim, Germany, and Yu-Chiun Wang from the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research in Kobe, Japan, found two different ways how flies deal with compressive stress during embryonic development.
Flies either feature a cephalic furrow or, if they lack one, display widespread out-of-plane division, meaning the cells divide downwards to reduce the surface area. Both mechanisms act as mechanical sinks to prevent tissue collision and distortion. The authors of the study worked together with the MPI-CBG researchers during the course of their studies.
Evolution of a small fold
Pavel Tomancak summarizes the results: “Our findings uncover empirical evidence for how mechanical forces can influence the evolution of innovations in early development. The cephalic furrow may have evolved through the genetic changes in response to the mechanical challenges of the dipteran gastrulation. We show that mechanical forces are not just important for the development of the embryo but also for the evolution of its development.”
Journal Reference:
Bruno C. Vellutini, Marina B. Cuenca, Abhijeet Krishna, Alicja Szałapak, Carl D. Modes, Pavel Tomancak, ‘Patterned invagination prevents mechanical instability during gastrulation’, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09480-3
Bipasha Dey, Verena Kaul, Girish Kale, Maily Scorcelletti, Michiko Takeda, Yu-Chiun Wang, Steffen Lemke, ‘Divergent evolutionary strategies pre-empt tissue collision in gastrulation’, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09447-4
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG)
Soot’s climate-altering properties change within hours of entering atmosphere
A study led by researchers at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) has revealed the surprising speed at which soot particles gather chemicals and water vapor after being released into the atmosphere.
Researchers say this rapid transformation of airborne soot – known as “atmospheric aging” – could mean its impact on weather, climate and air quality occurs more quickly, and in ways not fully captured by current atmospheric models up until now.
The findings have been highlighted on the cover of Environmental Science & Technology.
“Soot is a unique aerosol that absorbs sunlight extremely well but barely scatters it, which makes it a potent climate agent from the moment it’s emitted,” said Alexei Khalizov, professor of chemistry at NJIT and senior author of the study funded by the National Science Foundation. “What’s surprised us is just how quickly soot changes after entering the air, dramatically altering its ability to warm or cool the atmosphere. Our results suggest that forecasting soot’s climate impact is far more complex than previously realized.”
Until recently, Khalizov says, much remained unknown about how quickly soot nanoparticles change shape and chemistry once airborne, and how these changes affect their ability to trap or reflect solar energy – known as radiative forcing.
According to Khalizov, soot particles rapidly acquire chemical coatings through capillary condensation, a process where tiny crevices on irregular surfaces of soot particles draw in chemical vapors. As humidity increases, the chemicals collected on soot particles help them absorb water, now through capillary condensation of water vapor. This water uptake transforms the particles’ shape and behavior. These hydrated particles can also promote cloud formation, reflecting sunlight and cooling the atmosphere.
“Until now, models treated soot particles as simple spheres, but in reality, soot particles are aggregates – clumps of many smaller particles. The lace-like shape lets soot collect chemicals much faster than previously thought,” Khalizov explained. “That means soot’s climate properties evolve quicker, affecting both its warming and cooling effects, and also its lifetime.”
At NJIT’s Aerosol and Atmospheric Chemistry Lab, the team used a custom-built aerosol system to study how soot particles change after entering the atmosphere, focusing on particles about 240 nanometers wide – the typical size of atmospheric soot. The group exposed these particles to trace gases like sulfuric acid and oxidation products of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under varying humidity levels to mimic real atmospheric chemical and moisture conditions.
The team tracked key changes tied to atmospheric aging in real time, measuring aspects such as particle size, mass and shape using advanced instruments. Samples were then collected and examined under scanning electron microscopes, revealing how the particles evolved in high resolution.
To complement their experiments, the researchers collaborated with NJIT’s Laboratory for Materials Interfaces led by Professor Gennady Gor to develop a novel computer model to simulate how chemical vapors condense on soot, forming liquid-like coatings that boost the particles’ ability to attract moisture and form clouds – key factors in their climate impact.
Encouraged by the model’s success in describing laboratory results, they then extended their simulations to real atmospheric conditions in collaboration with Professor Nicole Riemer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The results showed that soot particles begin forming coatings and changing shape within tens of minutes, with nearly 80% of particles becoming processed after several hours. For comparison, in simulations where soot was treated as spheres, only 20% became processed – and it took much longer.
This rapid transformation makes the particles more compact and increases their sunlight absorption, intensifying their warming effect, according to Khalizov.
“Initially, these fluffy particles, after mixing with other chemicals, change shape into denser clumps and become more likely to absorb sunlight and convert it to heat, producing more warming,” he explained. “At the same time, they reflect more light and form clouds, leading to cooling. These two competing effects make it more challenging to predict the overall effect of soot while its particles are suspended in the air.”
Khalizov said the study’s insights into soot’s rapid atmospheric aging could lead to more accurate forecasts of its environmental effects, by helping models better represent how soot particles change and influence climate and air quality over time.
The team now plans to explore how these changes affect soot’s lifetime in the atmosphere and its broader effects on weather patterns and public health.
“Our study looked at soot aging in a remote environment. The next big questions involve figuring out the role of this new aging mechanism in a polluted urban environment and testing it within a large-scale climate model,” Khalizov noted. “Addressing these will be key to managing soot’s climate footprint more effectively.”
Journal Reference:
Alexei F. Khalizov, Ella V. Ivanova, Egor V. Demidov, Ali Hasani, Jeffrey H. Curtis, Nicole Riemer, and Gennady Y. Gor, ‘Capillary Condensation: An Unaccounted Pathway for Rapid Aging of Atmospheric Soot’, Environmental Science & Technology 59 (28), 14564-14571 (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c00633
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
From greenhouse gas to carbonate beneath the seafloor
Limiting climate change will require, in addition to strong reductions of emissions, the removal and safe storage of large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. One promising option for carbon capture and storage (CCS) lies beneath the seabed: in certain rocks known as basalts, CO₂ could react naturally with water and rock to form carbonate minerals within just a few years, binding it permanently without the risk of leakage. Initial field trials in Iceland and the USA point in this direction.
Could the widespread flood basalt formations along continental margins therefore play a role in future climate protection? That is what this expedition with MARIA S. MERIAN will be investigating off the Norwegian coast.
CO₂ storage in flood basalts beneath the seabed
“Our central research question is: does the basalt below the seabed, in its properties and composition, have the potential to store CO₂ permanently and safely?” explains Chief Scientist Dr Ingo Klaucke, a geologist at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. “The expedition will provide us with the necessary data to assess the storage potential of rocks and lay the foundation for their geophysical monitoring.”
The potential could be vast: globally, basalt deposits beneath the ocean theoretically have a storage capacity of 40,000 gigatons – several times the current annual global CO₂ emissions. This is why the expedition is named “Permanent sequestration of gigatons of CO₂ in continental margin basalt deposits, CO₂PR”.
Extensive lava layers off Norway’s coast
The cruise will focus on the Skoll High on the Vøring Plateau off the Norwegian coast, where cores from previous scientific drilling expeditions have indicated extensive lava layers. To determine the properties of the seabed rock, the researchers will employ high-resolution 2D and 3D surveying techniques, including reflection and refraction seismic as well as electromagnetic measurements. The resulting physical parameters, such as sound velocity and electrical resistivity, will then be fed into models to derive information on density and conductivity, and thus the rock’s storage potential. Artificial intelligence will support the data analysis.
The aim is not only to identify suitable storage structures, but also to explore ways in which a future CO₂ storage site could be monitored remotely – for example, using seismic or electromagnetic signatures that might indicate leaks.
En route to the study area, the team will deploy two ARGO floats northeast of Iceland to help closing a gap in the ocean observation network.
Fewer conflicts with other sea uses
With its contribution to the international PERBAS initiative, Expedition MSM140 is providing important foundations for developing flood basalts as CO₂ storage sites. In addition to their sheer size and the potentially rapid and permanent fixation rates, such sites have the advantage of usually being far offshore and therefore less intensively used than the North Sea or other shallow shelf seas. Conflicts with other forms of use will likely be less frequent. However, the great distance from the coast would make implementation costly, as tankers would need to transport CO₂ far out to sea.
Expedition at a glance
Name: MSM140 ‘CO₂PR’
Chief Scientist: Dr Ingo Klaucke
Dates: 4 September – 9 October 2025
Start port: Reykjavik, Iceland
End port: Trondheim, Norway
Working area: Vøring Plateau, Norway
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)
HALO research aircraft takes a detailed look at clouds in the South Pacific and Southern Ocean
The German research aircraft HALO is currently being prepared for deployment in New Zealand at its home base at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen: During the “HALO-South” mission, which will begin in September, researchers led by the Leibniz Institute of Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) will investigate the interaction of clouds, aerosols, and radiation over the Southern Ocean.
To this end, HALO will spend five weeks conducting measurement flights over the oceans of the clean southern hemisphere from Christchurch, New Zealand. Since it went into service in 2012, HALO has only been used this far south once before. The mission in New Zealand is therefore a first: never before has a German research aircraft investigated the South Pacific and the adjacent Southern Ocean in this region.
The aircraft measurements during ‘HALO-South’ are mainly funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) with contributions from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (MPIC) and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). They mark the start of intensive research cooperation between Germany and New Zealand.
The researchers hope that the measurements will not only provide important data for optimizing weather forecasts and climate models in the little-explored southern hemisphere, but also provide a better fundamental understanding of how the atmosphere and clouds will respond to a decline in anthropogenic emissions in the coming decades. For the team, looking into the cleaner atmosphere around Antarctica is therefore also a glimpse into the future.
The Southern Ocean around Antarctica is one of the cloudiest regions on Earth. Current climate models are based primarily on measurements in the northern hemisphere. Since the southern hemisphere has less land mass, fewer people, and less industry, it is significantly cleaner than the northern hemisphere.
Because the atmosphere in the south is cleaner, there are fewer particles on which droplets or ice crystals can form. That is why there is less ice and more liquid water droplets in the clouds there than in the north. However, atmospheric models have so far been mainly aligned to data from the northern hemisphere, which leads to uncertainties in the representation of clouds in the southern hemisphere. This discrepancy has been known for several years, but there is a lack of measurements in the south to adjust the climate models accordingly.
“We hope that the large-scale HALO-South measurement campaign will enable us to make an important contribution to closing this gap,” explains campaign leader Prof. Mira Pöhlker from TROPOS and the University of Leipzig. Twenty-two special measuring instruments from eight institutes will be used to study the entire cycle of cloud formation, from particle formation from precursor gases to cloud seeds and the radiation properties of clouds. “We are very pleased to have so many experienced experts on board to work together to answer questions such as: What aerosols are present in the Southern Ocean? Where do they come from? How do they change clouds?”
A total of 176 flight hours are planned for the HALO-South mission. Around 50 researchers will be on site from the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), the Leipzig Institute for Meteorology at the Leipzig University, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), Goethe University Frankfurt (GUF), the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (MPIC) in Mainz, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and the Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ). The aircraft is operated by the Flight Experiments (FX) facility at DLR Oberpfaffenhofen. The University of Canterbury, Christchurch, and MetService New Zealand are also participating with ground-based measurements.
September marks the end of winter in New Zealand and the beginning of spring in the Southern Ocean. This time of year was chosen to study the particularly clean atmosphere over the seas around New Zealand. The campaign will be embedded in parallel intensive field activities such as ground-based measurements from New Zealand and will be supported by satellite investigations. For example, the flight plan on site will be adjusted to the overflights of the ESA EarthCARE Earth observation satellite in order to fly exactly under the satellite orbit.
The HALO-South mission will thus support the validation of the ESA satellite as well as the EU CleanCloud project, which investigates interactions between aerosols and clouds to improve our understanding of climate dynamics in a constantly changing world. Prof. Andreas Macke, Director of TROPOS, who initiated HALO-South in 2018, adds: “I am delighted that, with this and other projects in collaboration with international partners, will enable us to take research in the southern hemisphere to an unprecedented level.”
The aircraft measurements taken by HALO will also be supplemented by ground measurements at the MetService New Zealand site in Invercargill in the far south of New Zealand. From September 2025 to March 2027, several remote sensing and in-situ measuring devices from TROPOS will analyze cloud properties during the “goSouth-2” measurement campaign to create a detailed contrast study between clean Antarctic air and aerosol-polluted Australian air.
During HALO-South, in addition to the measurements in Invercargill, which are scheduled to last around two years, accompanying ground measurements will also be carried out by the Universities of Leipzig and Canterbury at the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre on the eastern side of New Zealand’s South Island. There, a cloud radar and a Doppler wind lidar will contribute to recording the cloud structure that is important for the HALO-South campaign. The HALO-South mission thus marks the start of a series of intensive collaborations in the field of atmospheric research between Germany and New Zealand.
The investigations around Antarctica are to be continued in 2027-2030 as part of the large-scale international research project “Antarctica InSync” with a series of Antarctic expeditions, which are currently being planned and will also play a role in atmospheric research.
HALO-South will provide urgently needed insights into the relationship between aerosols and clouds in the southern hemisphere, from the formation of cloud droplets and ice to changes in the radiation budget caused by clouds, which in turn are relevant for the formation of aerosols. These findings will be extrapolated to a larger scale using satellite data and global climate models.
The campaign will build on and continue previous HALO campaigns that focused either on cloud and aerosol properties or on gas and aerosol properties (ML-CIRRUS, CIRRUS-HL, ACRIDICON, CAFE-EU, CAFE-Brasil, CAFE-Pacific, EMeRGe-EU, and EMeRGe-Asia). The measurements at HALO-South are intended to cover the interaction with aerosols throughout the entire life cycle of clouds, from formation to dissipation. With this extensive measurement campaign, the researchers aim to better understand the differences between the southern and northern hemispheres in order to improve weather forecasting and climate models.
They also hope to gain a better understanding of how the atmosphere of the northern hemisphere will change in an increasingly decarbonized world without fossil-fuel based emissions.
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)
Featured image credit: Gerd Altmann | Pixabay
