Natural Systems Research Articles

Food-grade emulsion gels and oleogels prepared by all-natural dual nanofibril system from citrus fiber and glycyrrhizic acid

The natural dual nanofibril system consisting of the rigid semicrystalline nanofibrils disintegrated from citrus fiber (CF) and soft semiflexible nanofibrils self-assembled from glycyrrhizic acid (GA) has been recently shown to be effective structural building blocks for fabrication of emulsion gels. In this work, the effect of the CF nanofibrils prepared by different mechanical disintegration approaches (i.e., high-pressure microfluidization and hydrodynamic cavitation) on the interfibrillar CF-GA interactions and the subsequent formation and properties of emulsion gels were investigated, with the aim of evaluating the potential of the dual nanofibril-stabilized emulsion gels as templates for synthesizing all-natural edible oleogels. The obtained results demonstrate that compared to the cavitation, the high-pressure microfluidization is more capable of generating CF nanofibrils with a higher degree of nanofibrillation and individualization, thus forming a denser CF-GA gel network with higher viscoelasticity and structural stability due to the stronger multiple intrafibrillar and interfibrillar interactions. The emulsion gels stabilized by the dual nanofibril system are demonstrated to be an efficient template to fabricate solid-like oleogels, and the structural properties of the oleogels can be well tuned by the mechanical disintegration of CF and the GA nanofibril concentration. The prepared oleogels possess high oil loading capacity, dense network microstructure, superior rheological and large deformation compression performances, and satisfactory thermal stability, which is attributed to the compact and ordered CF-GA dual nanofibrillar network via multiple hydrogen-bonding interactions in the continuous phase as well as at the droplet surface. This study highlights the unique use of all-natural dual nanofibrils to develop oil structured soft materials for sustainable applications.

Insect tracheal systems as inspiration for carbon dioxide capture systems.

Membrane technology advancements within the past twenty years have provided a new perspective on environmentalism as engineers design membranes to separate greenhouse gasses from the environment. Several scientific journals have published articles of experimental evidence quantifying carbon dioxide (CO2), a common greenhouse gas, separation using membrane technology and ranking them against one another. On the other hand, natural systems such as the respiratory system of mammals also accomplish transmembrane transport of CO2. However, to our knowledge, a comparison of these natural organic systems with engineered membranes has not yet been accomplished. The tracheal respiratory systems of insects transport CO2 at the highest rates in the animal kingdom. Therefore, this work compares engineered membranes to the tracheal systems of insects by quantitatively comparing greenhouse gas conductance rates. We demonstrate that on a per unit volume basis, locusts can transport CO2 approximately ⁓100 times more effectively than the best current engineered systems. Given the same temperature conditions, insect tracheal systems transport CO2 three orders of magnitude faster on average. Miniaturization of CO2 capture systems based on insect tracheal system design has great potential for reducing cost and improving the capacities of industrial CO2 capture.

Epitaxial Metal-Organic Framework-Mediated Electron Relay for H2 Detection on Demand.

Hydrogen is regarded as one of the most promising clean substitutes for fossil fuels toward a carbon-zero society. However, the safety management of the upcoming hydrogen energy infrastructure has not been fully prepared, in contrast to the well-established natural gas and gasoline systems. On the frontline is the guard post of hydrogen detectors, which need to be deployed on various structural surfaces and environmental conditions. Conventional hydrogen detectors are usually bulky and environmentally sensitive, limiting their flexible and conformal deployment to various locations, such as pipelines and valves. Herein, we demonstrate the successful synthesis of a palladium-modified epitaxial metal-organic framework (MOF) on single-layer graphene to fabricate a heterostructure material (Epi-MOF-Pd). Device based on the heterostructure demonstrates high sensitivity toward low- concentration H2 (155% resistance response to 1% H2 within 12 s, a theoretical detection limit of 3 ppm). The 25 nm epitaxial MOF acquires electrons from the Pd nanoparticles after the trace amount of H2 is chemically adsorbed and further relays the electrons to the highly conductive graphene. The Epi-MOF-Pd is both flexible and enduring, and maintains stable detection over 10 000 bending cycles. Through photolithography, device arrays with a density of 3000 units/cm2 are successfully fabricated. This versatile material provides a prospective avenue for the mass production of high-performance chemical-sensitive electronics, which could significantly improve the hydrogen safety management on demand.

Numerical investigation of the transient fluid flow and heat transfer behavior in self-driven natural circulation cooling loop

An innovative open natural circulation system is proposed in this work, which utilizes the difference of the heat flux loaded on different parts of the pipe to form a self-circulation flow of working fluid. Via CFD simulation established by embedding self-programmed code into commercial software, the transient performance of a three-dimensional natural circulation loop is studied. The results indicate that: applying uniform heat flux on the wall of the loop, the fluid flow state successively experiences three stages, i.e., liquid expansion, partial circulation, and phase change, and finally a vapor plunger blocks the pipe, leading to local heat transfer deterioration and temperature increase; applying non-uniform heat flux, the fluid can be driven to form self-circulation flow, which can not only cool the structure via convection, but also prevent bubbles from accumulating, stabilizing the maximum temperature of the system around the boiling point; further for the loop with a more complex configuration, the self-circulation can be also started but with different start modes. Therefore, the new natural circulation system can achieve effective and adaptive cooling according to the external thermal environment, avoid fluctuation and vapor block phenomenon caused by violent phase change, and reduce the driving equipment and control unit. This work provides a reference for the design of the natural circulation system applied in a non-uniform heating environment. Through transient numerical simulation of the start-up stage, the fluid flow, phase change, and heat transfer characteristics in the natural circulation loop are studied, and the start mode and mechanism are analyzed.

Dynamic loading platforms coupled to ultra-high speed X-ray imaging at beamline ID19 of the European Synchrotron ESRF

ABSTRACT The intersection of dynamic compression, high-rate material response and X-ray science has seen rapid growth, leading to the establishment of specialized end-stations at international facilities such as Linac Coherent Light Source LCLS (Matter at Extreme Conditions – MEC) and Advanced Photon Source APS (Dynamic Compression Sector – DCS), both USA. Although these facilities excel in working with X-rays tailored for small material volumes (i.e. < 1 mm 3 ), it needs a different approach to delve into subsequent processes. This is particularly the case in the transition from the micro- to mesoscale: here the ESRF distinguishes itself. The large beam size (several cm2) of the ID19 beamline, in conjunction with a strong high energy component, source flux density, and outstanding imaging sensitivity, enables sub-surface visualization of engineering-scale structures as well as natural systems in representative volume, under high rate and shock. This is particularly valuable when studying materials with complex mesostructures and heterogeneities on relevant volumetric scales, which often dominate the dynamic material response. The study of the behavior of materials under dynamic loading presents a unique challenge due to inherently spanning over multiple lengths- and timescales. The evolution of sudden (thermo)mechanical excitation, starting from the lattice scale and progressing through grains, phase domains, and ultimately to structures, exhibits a spectrum of responses spanning from the microscopic to bulk length scales. Consequently, a diverse range of diagnostics as well as driver instrumentation is required to identify, study, and characterize this material response spectrum. This article shall introduce platforms available at beamline ID19 and underline their potential by selected showcase applications. Community access proposals such as the beamtime Block Allocation Group (BAG) allow for access in a routine manner.

Advancing Sustainable Ecosystem Development

Ecosystem management integrates natural and human systems, but understanding early stages remains a challenge. Remote sensing aids in monitoring endangered ecosystems. Ecological growth theories and models offer insights, while energy-related tendencies contribute to succession understanding. Collaboration drives sustainable development, alongside social-ecological system understanding. Adaptive management navigates ecosystem transformation, while resource management ensures sustainable use. Engaging communities, leveraging innovative technologies, and effective governance are crucial for long-term sustainability. Conserving biodiversity is essential for ecosystem health, requiring focused actions like habitat restoration and preservation. Addressing climate change impacts strengthens ecosystem resilience and secures sustainable futures. Promoting environmental education and awareness cultivates community involvement and supports conservation efforts. Incorporating economic incentives and valuing ecosystem services encourages sustainable resource management. Effective policy integration across agriculture, forestry and urban planning sectors is crucial for comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem management.

Re-engineered guide RNA enables DNA loops and contacts modulating repression in E. coli.

RNA serves as information media as well as molecular scaffold in nature and synthetic systems. The single guide RNA (sgRNA) widely applied in CRISPR techniques exemplifies both functions, with a guide region bearing DNA base-pairing information, and a structural motif for Cas9 protein scaffolding. The scaffold region has been modified by fusing RNA aptamers to the tetra-stem loop. The guide region is typically not regarded as a pluggable module as it encodes the essential function of DNA sequence recognition. Here, we investigate a chimera of two sgRNAs, with distinct guide sequences joined by an RNA linker (dgRNA), regarding its DNA binding function and loop induction capability. First, we studied the sequence bi-specificity of the dgRNA and discovered that the RNA linker allows distal parts of double-stranded DNA to be brought into proximity. To test the activity of the dgRNA in organisms, we used the LacZ gene as a reporter and recapitulated the loop-mediated gene inhibition by LacI in E. coli. We found that the dgRNA can be applied to target distal genomic regions with comparable levels of inhibition. The capability of dgRNA to induce DNA contacts solely requires dCas9 and RNA, making it a minimal system to remodel chromosomal conformation in various organisms.

Anisotropic Dual S‐Scheme Heterojunctions Mimic Natural Photosynthetic System for Boosting Photoelectric Response

AbstractThe design of heterojunctions that mimic natural photosynthetic systems holds great promise for enhancing photoelectric response. However, the limited interfacial space charge layer (SCL) often fails to provide sufficient driving force for the directional migration of inner charge carriers. Drawing inspiration from the electron transport chain (ETC) in natural photosynthesis system, we developed a novel anisotropic dual S‐scheme heterojunction artificial photosynthetic system composed of Bi2O3−BiOBr−AgI for the first time, with Bi2O3 and AgI selectively distributed along the bicrystal facets of BiOBr. Compared to traditional semiconductors, the anisotropic carrier migration in BiOBr overcomes the recombination resulting from thermodynamic diffusion, thereby establishing a potential ETC for the directional migration of inner charge carriers. Importantly, this pioneering bioinspired design overcomes the limitations imposed by the limited distribution of SCL in heterojunctions, resulting in a remarkable 55‐fold enhancement in photoelectric performance. Leveraging the etching of thiols on Ag‐based materials, this dual S‐scheme heterojunction is further employed in the construction of photoelectrochemical sensors for the detection of acetylcholinesterase and organophosphorus pesticides.

Origins, diversity, and adaptive evolution of DWV in the honey bees of the Azores: the impact of the invasive mite Varroa destructor

ABSTRACT Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a honey bee virus, whose emergence from relative obscurity is driven by the recent host-switch, adaptation and global dispersal of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor (a highly efficient vector of DWV) to reproduction on honey bees (Apis mellifera). Our study examines how varroa affects the continuing evolution of DWV, using the Azores archipelago, where varroa is only present on only three out of the eight islands, as a natural experimental system for comparing different evolutionary conditions and trajectories. We combined qPCR of 494 honey bee colonies sampled across the archipelago with amplicon deep sequencing to reveal how the DWV genetic landscape is altered by varroa. Two of the varroa-free islands were also free of DWV, while a further two islands were intriguingly dominated by the rare DWV-C major variant. The other four islands, including the three varroa-infested islands, were dominated by the common DWV-A and DWV-B variants. The varroa-infested islands had, as expected, an elevated DWV prevalence relative to the uninfested islands, but not elevated DWV loads, due the relatively high prevalence and loads of DWV-C on the varroa-free islands. This establishes the Azores as a stable refuge for DWV-C and provides the most convincing evidence to date that at least some major strains of DWV may be capable of not just surviving, but actually thriving in honey bees in the absence of varroa-mediated transmission. We did not detect any change in DWV genetic diversity associated with island varroa status but did find a positive association of DWV diversity with virus load, irrespective of island varroa status.

Early Predictor for the Onset of Critical Transitions in Networked Dynamical Systems

Numerous natural and human-made systems exhibit critical transitions whereby slow changes in environmental conditions spark abrupt shifts to a qualitatively distinct state. These shifts very often entail severe consequences; therefore, it is imperative to devise robust and informative approaches for anticipating the onset of critical transitions. Real-world complex systems can comprise hundreds or thousands of interacting entities, and implementing prevention or management strategies for critical transitions requires knowledge of the exact condition in which they will manifest. However, most research so far has focused on low-dimensional systems and small networks containing fewer than ten nodes or has not provided an estimate of the location where the transition will occur. We address these weaknesses by developing a deep-learning framework which can predict the specific location where critical transitions happen in networked systems with size up to hundreds of nodes. These predictions do not rely on the network topology, the edge weights, or the knowledge of system dynamics. We validate the effectiveness of our machine-learning-based framework by considering a diverse selection of systems representing both smooth (second-order) and explosive (first-order) transitions: the synchronization transition in coupled Kuramoto oscillators; the sharp decline in the resource biomass present in an ecosystem; and the abrupt collapse of a Wilson-Cowan neuronal system. We show that our method provides accurate predictions for the onset of critical transitions well in advance of their occurrences, is robust to noise and transient data, and relies only on observations of a small fraction of nodes. Finally, we demonstrate the applicability of our approach to real-world systems by considering empirical vegetated ecosystems in Africa. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Biomimetic Photoexcited Cobaloxime Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

AbstractDrawing inspiration from nature has long been a cornerstone of chemical innovation, with natural systems offering a wealth of untapped potential for discovery. In this minireview, we delve into the burgeoning field of cobaloxime catalysis in organic synthesis, which mimics the catalytic activity of the natural organometallic alkylcobalamine enzymes. Our focus lies on elucidating the latest advancements in this area, as well as delineating the primary mechanistic pathways at play. By describing, and comparing these mechanisms, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state‐of‐the‐art, while also shedding light on the key unresolved challenges that await further exploration.

Defining socioecological reciprocity: Intentionality, mutualism or collateral effect

Abstract This perspective piece discusses the history of the use of the term ‘reciprocity’ across environmental social sciences in the analysis of the interactions between the social and the natural systems. Reciprocity, as a concept, these days, seems to be used in a rather uncritical fashion. These pages do not intend to be exhaustive, instead they focus on the role that the idea of explicit intentionality (or its absence) has had on the different ways reciprocity has been conceptualized. The literature identifies two clusters of approaches to this subject. On the one hand, we encounter a group of schools in which the notion of reciprocity demands explicit intentionality, an articulation of the concept that requires intend and consciousness of the consequences of agency and the directionality of causality. On the other hand, a wider definition of reciprocity that does not depend on awareness has also been used to discuss the relationships between human and non‐human actors. Thanks to this wider definition, reciprocity has been used as well to describe interactions between human and non‐human entities in which one or both parties were not explicitly intending to benefit each other. The aim of this article was not to determine which approach is correct and which is not. The goal was to underscore the significance of requiring or not requiring intentionality on the construction and use of the notion of reciprocity and the analytical and representational consequences of this choice. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Altering Mechanical and Dissolution Properties of Coffee Deposit by Adding Glucose.

Glucose modifies the mechanical stability of coffee films and facilitates their dissolution dynamics at the microscale, rendering glucose-coffee a valuable natural biomaterial system for studying pharmaceutical applications. We show the glucose-dependent inhibition of crack propagation during the evaporation of glucose-coffee droplets. The addition of glucose increases the hardness, stiffness, and shear modulus of films, as measured by surface nanomechanical testing. The glucose-coffee film dissolves faster and more evenly than the pure coffee film through interfaces. The water penetrates through well-dissolved glucose channels. The modified mechanical properties and adjustable dissolution time, coupled with edibility, position the glucose-modified coffee as an excellent candidate for developing pharmaceutical inks for personalized medicine droplet-based printing.

An Affordable System Solution for Enhancing Tree Survival in Dry Environments

Water scarcity inhibits plant growth, especially in arid regions. Traditional irrigation methods often lack efficiency and sustainability. This study investigates AquaTrap, a biomimetic design, as a potential solution. The study highlights AquaTrap’s advantages by analyzing its design and previous research on bioinspired water harvesting. It highlights its ability to increase water efficiency and support sustainable plant growth in dry areas. Biomimicry inspires AquaTrap’s design, which mimics natural systems to capture and deliver water to plant roots. To collect condensation while repelling water, the stack uses superhydrophobic materials. Plant roots then receive this accumulated water for growth. Compared to traditional methods, AquaTrap offers many advantages. Its stand-alone design eliminates complex infrastructure and minimizes evaporation. Additionally, delivering water directly to the roots reduces waste and increases water efficiency. This technology holds promise for introducing new vegetation, restoring plant life, and promoting sustainable agriculture in arid regions. Further research is needed to explore the potential of AquaTrap in a variety of field conditions, optimize it for different plants and environments, and evaluate its economic feasibility for widespread use. AquaTrap also has significant potential for sustainable forestry, as it can significantly increase the survival and growth of trees in water-scarce environments. System solution opportunities and modular structure provide crucial support during the most critical adaptation period of afforestation. By reducing water consumption and increasing efficiency, it supports the establishment and maintenance of healthy forests, which are vital for ecosystem resilience and biodiversity.

The low primordial heavy noble gas and 244Pu-derived Xe contents of Earth's convecting mantle

Clues to unraveling the origin and history of terrestrial volatiles lie in the noble gas record of Earth's mantle. However, the low abundance of heavy noble gases (Ar-Kr-Xe) in mantle-derived rocks presents a major analytical challenge that limits our understanding of mantle volatile evolution. Here, we employ a new technique of ultrahigh precision dynamic mass spectrometry to measure Ar-Kr-Xe isotopes in mantle-derived gas collected from Mt. Etna (Italy) and Eifel (Germany), which both tap depleted convecting mantle reservoirs. We find that the fractions of primordial Kr-Xe from accretionary sources (≤ 7 % of non-radiogenic, non-fissiogenic isotopes) and 244Pu-derived 136Xe (≤ 9.8 ± 9.3 % of total fissiogenic Xe) are both markedly lower than previously estimated. For Mt. Etna, we find an apparent lack of detectable primordial Xe, which could reflect an additional contribution from recycled atmospheric volatiles from nearby subduction. In addition, slight excesses of 238U-derived fissiogenic Xe relative to the upper mantle composition may reflect the contribution of a crustal component related to the occurrence of a HIMU (“high μ” where μ = 238U/204Pb)-type source in Mt. Etna volcanic products. The low primordial heavy noble gas and 244Pu-derived Xe contents of Earth's convecting mantle, as derived from these new data, requires extensive volatile loss during terrestrial accretion, followed by long-term degassing and pervasive overprinting of primordial heavy noble gases by subduction recycling. In addition, we suggest that quantitative incompatible element (including Pu, U) extraction to the Hadean crust and subsequent reintroduction of U via subduction could have contributed to lowering the ultimate fraction of 244Pu-derived 136Xe in the upper mantle. The differences observed between this study and other upper mantle Xe studies may reflect mantle source heterogeneities (e.g. due to the heterogeneous overprinting of mantle volatiles by subduction) but could also result from analytical inconsistencies and/or subsurface isotope fractionation in natural systems. Future studies are crucial to gain insight into the origin of these different results.

Detecting dynamical causality via intervened reservoir computing

An abundance of complex dynamical phenomena exists in nature and human society, requiring sophisticated analytical tools to understand and explain. Causal analysis through observational time series data is essential in comprehending complex systems when controlled experiments are not feasible or ethical. Although data-based causal discovery methods have been widely used, there is still a lack of direct ways more aligned with the intuitive definition of causality, i.e., whether interventions on one element lead to changes in the subsequent development of others. To solve this problem, we propose the method of intervened reservoir computing (IRC) based on constructing a neural network replica of the original system and applying interventions to it. This approach enables controlled trials, thus observing the intervened evolution, in the digital twins of the underlying systems. Simulated and real-world data are used to test our approach and demonstrate its accuracy in inferring causal networks. Given the importance of causality in understanding complex dynamics, we anticipate that IRC could serve as a powerful tool for various disciplines to decipher the intrinsic mechanisms of natural systems from observational data.

Realising transitions for urban regeneration through statutory planning: the case of greyfield precinct renewal in suburban Melbourne

ABSTRACT The compact city agenda aims to deliver sustainable future urban form. However, as with all planning, there is contestation. While built form and housing have primacy, cities need space for hard and soft infrastructural systems, including natural systems that, until recently, have been taken for granted but are diminishing through poorly planned densification. Nowhere is this more evident than in the suburbs, where lot-by-lot redevelopment is significantly reducing open space and tree canopy. Infill developments are not producing the benefits expected from compact cities; they are increasing strain on the grey, blue, and green infrastructure. This paper highlights limited intent in local planning regulations to promote anything other than business as usual, which, in the Australian context, is single lots becoming 2–4 subdivisions. While planning schemes can regulate negative externalities, they do not consider this when taken as a whole, across a redeveloped neighbourhood predominantly consisting of housing, and are not using the redevelopment opportunities to build a more resilient future for local areas. This paper builds on the Australian greyfield literature by showing how statutory amendments can promote precinct scale development, working across multiple lots to deliver housing concurrently with greater levels of amenity for existing and future residents.

Rational Molecular Design of a Fluorescent Probe for Selectively Sensing Human Cytochrome P450 2D6.

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a key enzyme that mediates the metabolism of various drugs and endogenous substances in humans. However, its biological role in drug-drug interactions especially mechanism-based inactivation (MBI), and various diseases remains poorly understood, owing to the lack of molecular tools suitable for selectively monitoring CYP2D6 in complex biological systems. Herein, using a tailored molecular strategy, we developed a fluorescent probe BDPM for CYP2D6. BDPM exhibits excellent specificity and imaging capability for CYP2D6, making it suitable for the real-time monitoring of endogenous CYP2D6 activity in living bio-samples. Therefore, our tailored strategy proved useful for constructing the highly selective and enzyme-activated fluorescent probes. BDPM as a molecular tool to explore the critical roles of CYP2D6 in the pathogenesis of diseases, high-throughput screening of inhibitors and intensive investigation of CYP2D6-induced MBI in natural systems.

Evolution of parasites in the Anthropocene: new pressures, new adaptive directions.

The Anthropocene is seeing the human footprint rapidly spreading to all of Earth's ecosystems. The fast-changing biotic and abiotic conditions experienced by all organisms are exerting new and strong selective pressures, and there is a growing list of examples of human-induced evolution in response to anthropogenic impacts. No organism is exempt from these novel selective pressures. Here, we synthesise current knowledge on human-induced evolution in eukaryotic parasites of animals, and present a multidisciplinary framework for its study and monitoring. Parasites generally have short generation times and huge fecundity, features that predispose them for rapid evolution. We begin by reviewing evidence that parasites often have substantial standing genetic variation, and examples of their rapid evolution both under conditions of livestock production and in serial passage experiments. We then present a two-step conceptual overview of the causal chain linking anthropogenic impacts to parasite evolution. First, we review the major anthropogenic factors impacting parasites, and identify the selective pressures they exert on parasites through increased mortality of either infective stages or adult parasites, or through changes in host density, quality or immunity. Second, we discuss what new phenotypic traits are likely to be favoured by the new selective pressures resulting from altered parasite mortality or host changes; we focus mostly on parasite virulence and basic life-history traits, as these most directly influence the transmission success of parasites and the pathology they induce. To illustrate the kinds of evolutionary changes in parasites anticipated in the Anthropocene, we present a few scenarios, either already documented or hypothetical but plausible, involving parasite taxa in livestock, aquaculture and natural systems. Finally, we offer several approaches for investigations and real-time monitoring of rapid, human-induced evolution in parasites, ranging from controlled experiments to the use of state-of-the-art genomic tools. The implications of fast-evolving parasites in the Anthropocene for disease emergence and the dynamics of infections in domestic animals and wildlife are concerning. Broader recognition that it is not only the conditions for parasite transmission that are changing, but the parasites themselves, is needed to meet better the challenges ahead.

Evolution of parasites in the Anthropocene: new pressures, new adaptive directions.

The Anthropocene is seeing the human footprint rapidly spreading to all of Earth's ecosystems. The fast-changing biotic and abiotic conditions experienced by all organisms are exerting new and strong selective pressures, and there is a growing list of examples of human-induced evolution in response to anthropogenic impacts. No organism is exempt from these novel selective pressures. Here, we synthesise current knowledge on human-induced evolution in eukaryotic parasites of animals, and present a multidisciplinary framework for its study and monitoring. Parasites generally have short generation times and huge fecundity, features that predispose them for rapid evolution. We begin by reviewing evidence that parasites often have substantial standing genetic variation, and examples of their rapid evolution both under conditions of livestock production and in serial passage experiments. We then present a two-step conceptual overview of the causal chain linking anthropogenic impacts to parasite evolution. First, we review the major anthropogenic factors impacting parasites, and identify the selective pressures they exert on parasites through increased mortality of either infective stages or adult parasites, or through changes in host density, quality or immunity. Second, we discuss what new phenotypic traits are likely to be favoured by the new selective pressures resulting from altered parasite mortality or host changes; we focus mostly on parasite virulence and basic life-history traits, as these most directly influence the transmission success of parasites and the pathology they induce. To illustrate the kinds of evolutionary changes in parasites anticipated in the Anthropocene, we present a few scenarios, either already documented or hypothetical but plausible, involving parasite taxa in livestock, aquaculture and natural systems. Finally, we offer several approaches for investigations and real-time monitoring of rapid, human-induced evolution in parasites, ranging from controlled experiments to the use of state-of-the-art genomic tools. The implications of fast-evolving parasites in the Anthropocene for disease emergence and the dynamics of infections in domestic animals and wildlife are concerning. Broader recognition that it is not only the conditions for parasite transmission that are changing, but the parasites themselves, is needed to meet better the challenges ahead.