The rapid evolution of obesity therapeutics, led by glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and metabolic surgery, has achieved unprecedented weight loss. However, the skeletal consequences of such substantial weight reduction are of increasing clinical concern. This review explores the relationship between obesity, weight-loss modalities, and bone health. While obesity was historically viewed as bone-protective due to mechanical loading, recent evidence highlights qualitative bone deterioration and sitespecific fracture risks. Intentional weight loss through caloric restriction or bariatric surgery consistently accelerates bone turnover and reduces bone mineral density (BMD), with surgical interventions showing the most significant impact. Emerging data on GLP-1RAs suggest modest BMD declines, largely proportional to weight loss and likely driven by mechanical unloading. Conversely, preclinical studies indicate that GLP-1 signaling may exert direct osteoanabolic and anti-resorptive effects. To preserve skeletal integrity, obesity management must shift toward a holistic body composition framework. Integrating structured resistance exercise, optimizing nutrition (calcium, vitamin D, and protein), and implementing skeletal monitoring in high-risk individuals are essential. Future obesity care should prioritize the maintenance of bone quality and lean mass alongside fat reduction to ensure long-term skeletal resilience and prevent fragility fractures.

To address fundamental challenges to global sustainability posed by unprecedented biodiversity loss and the sixth mass extinction (SME), scientists advocate for transformative changes to systems, policies, and behaviours. Yet public understanding of the biodiversity crisis remains largely unexplored. This article presents the first comprehensive examination of public mental models regarding support for transformative changes using a nationally representative UK survey (n = 739). Whilst only 28% of respondents had heard of the “sixth mass extinction,” 93% accepted the phenomenon once explained, with 95% attributing it to human activities. Principal component analysis revealed distinct mental models for policy support (conservation, market regulation, lifestyle changes, and big technology) and behavioural change (citizenship, consumer actions, waste reduction, and nuclear energy use). Attribution to direct human causes strongly predicted support for transformative change (β = 0.44, p < 0.001), while attributions to distant and non-human causes reduced support (β = − 0.20, p < 0.001). These findings demonstrate high latent public support for sustainability transformations and provide actionable insights for science communication and policy engagement strategies addressing the biodiversity crisis.

Abstract We have been conducting mass-balance monitoring on Aldegondabreen since the early 21st century. Over the most recent five year period (2019/20–2023/24), the glacier has experienced its most negative mass balance, averaging −2.0 m w.e. a −1 . This dramatic loss is linked to rising air temperatures, with several of the warmest years on record for the Arctic land occurring during this interval. In 2024, for the first time, the critical threshold of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels was exceeded globally, and this resulted in the lowest annual balance observed since the beginning of our monitoring program (−2.48 m w.e. a −1 ). Archival evidence indicates that such intense melting is unprecedented since at least 1911, which marked the end of the Little Ice Age in the region. As of 2025, the glacier’s mean ice thickness has been estimated at 39 m (33 m w.e.) meaning that the loss of 10 m w.e. in just the last five years is an enormous change.

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a frequent and underrecognized complication of obesity, mediated by a complex interplay of hormonal, vascular, metabolic, and psychosocial pathways. Despite the established link between weight reduction and improved sexual health, the specific effects of new pharmacological weight-loss therapies on sexual function remain underexplored. To critically evaluate the recent evidence on the impact of weight-loss medications on sexual function, synthesizing clinical outcomes, mechanistic insights, and identifying critical research gaps. We conducted an update and comprehensive narrative review using PubMed, Scopus and Embase databases. A systematic search strategy employed predefined terms related to obesity, SD, and pharmacotherapy. Eligible studies were those reporting sexual outcomes using validated instruments [eg, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)] or relevant clinical reports. GLP-1 receptor agonists show promising results in men, improving erectile function, testosterone levels, and sperm parameters. In contrast, direct evidence in women remains limited. Tirzepatide achieves unprecedented weight loss, but case reports suggest potential sexual side effects. Naltrexone/bupropion may benefit sexual desire through mood improvement, while phentermine/topiramate primarily enhances psychological well-being. Setmelanotide demonstrates the direct involvement of the melanocortin pathway in sexual function. Across all drug classes, sexual endpoints were typically secondary outcomes in clinical trials. Pharmacological weight-loss therapies influence sexual health through multiple direct and indirect pathways. However, current evidence is inconsistent, and sex-specific data are scarce. Future clinical trials should systematically include validated sexual function measures as primary endpoints and stratify results by sex and comorbidities to better guide clinical practice in sexual medicine.

Platinum (Pt) nanocatalysts are essential for facilitating the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cells but suffer from a trade-off between activity and durability. Here we present the design of an ultrafine nanocatalyst comprising Pt nanoparticles with sparsely embedded cobalt oxide clusters (CoO x @Pt). This design exploits strong Pt/oxide interaction, which grants the catalyst its high structural and chemical durability without sacrificing activity. The CoO x @Pt nanocatalyst delivers a high initial mass activity of 1.10 A mgPt −1, a rated power density of 1.04 W cm−2 and a Pt utilization of 10.4 W mgPt −1 in a membrane electrode assembly. It exhibits notably high durability with an unprecedented rated power loss of 7.5% at a demanding ultralow Pt loading after accelerated stress testing . This remarkable activity and durability could offer a long projected lifetime of 15,000 hours and greatly reduce the lifetime-adjusted cost.

BackgroundDespite only limited sampling, the holoparasitic plant family Balanophoraceae harbors extreme mito-genome diversity and also has exceptionally divergent plastomes. We therefore sequenced the mitochondrial, plastid, and nuclear genomes of Balanophora yakushimensis and its transcriptome.ResultsAt 1.1 Mb, the B. yakushimensis mitogenome is one of the largest known mitogenomes. Driving this expansion and generating the most repeat-rich mitogenome in land plants are many large (up to 200 kb) duplications and a massive proliferation of short, AT-rich repeated sequences. The repeat proliferation, in conjunction with a highly elevated and unusually AT-biased mutation rate, has produced what is by far the most AT-rich land-plant mito-genome. These invasive repeats also created giant introns, unprecedented in size for organelles, and greatly expanded all rDNA exons. We discovered a record-low, for all genomes, transition/transversion ratio (0.12) in B. yakushimensis mtDNA and documented a 26-fold range in this ratio across angiosperm mitogenomes. The B. yakushimensis nuclear genome has lost exceptionally many genes that function in organellar DNA recombination, repair, and replication (RRR). We discuss ways in which these losses—and other genetic alterations as well as non-genetic ones—may or may not be related to the unusual features of both its mitochondrial and plastid genomes.ConclusionsThe mitogenome of B. yakushimensis possesses many exceptional, indeed record-setting properties. The unprecedented loss of nuclear genes for organellar DNA RRR may explain some of these unusual features. These findings expand the boundaries of mitogenome deviancy and raise outstanding questions about the forces driving such extravagantly diversifying evolution.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-025-02449-8.

Arctic amplification caused by global warming is accelerating an unprecedented loss of Arctic sea ice due to thinning of multi-year sea ice and increased export through Fram Strait, which is the largest Arctic gateway for ice export. The transition to a thinner and younger Arctic ice cover has resulted in a steady surface albedo decline of 1.25–1.51% per decade, weakening the radiative cooling effect of sea ice by 0.04–0.05 W m – ² per decade. The Fram Strait ice export (FSIE) is a major sink in the Arctic ice mass balance, accounting for approximately 14% of the annual sea ice volume loss. As the ice becomes thinner, it drifts faster, leading to enhanced ice export. The annual and summer FSIE have increased by about 6% and 11% per decade, respectively, further accelerating Arctic sea ice decline. Surface Albedo Modification (SAM) has been considered among variety of climate intervention solutions to slow down the transition of the Arctic into a seasonally ice-free ocean by mid-century, in concert with the greenhouse emissions mitigation efforts. Using climate model simulations, we evaluate the impacts of SAM application on the Arctic radiation budget and ice cover in two deployment scenarios: Arctic-wide and regional in Fram Strait. We model such an increase in sea ice albedo as a perturbation to the present-day climate state. Our results show that enhancing the surface albedo by up to 20% Arctic-wide during summer reduces the absorbed radiation at the surface by 11.16 W/m² and increases outgoing radiation at the top of the atmosphere by 10.70 W/m². This results in surface cooling of –1.33°C and recovers approximately 10% of the present-day Arctic sea ice radiative cooling power. These findings suggest that large-scale surface albedo modification could offset Arctic warming and contribute measurably to global cooling. The regional targeted deployment in Fram Strait yields more spatially limited but dynamically significant responses. SAM in Fram Strait enhances surface albedo both locally and in adjacent regions (Barents, Kara Sea) through advection of thicker, more reflective ice. The resulting radiative cooling alters atmospheric circulation, strengthening the low-pressure system over the Barents–Kara sector and triggering a negative Arctic Dipole pattern. This reduces sea-ice export by 2.4% through Fram Strait via weakening the Transpolar Drift in addition to the local thickening and slowing of the ice in the FS region, supporting ice retention within the Arctic basin. Furthermore, the modified atmospheric circulation induces dynamically driven nonlocal ice growth in areas of Central Arctic which persist year-round. These results highlight the potential of Fram Strait albedo enhancement to support multi-year ice recovery and reduce its loss via the Fram Strait. While basin-wide SAM offers the greatest potential benefits, it remains logistically challenging and carries higher risks of unintended consequences. Targeted regional interventions—such as in the Fram Strait and marginal seas (Barents, Kara, and Beaufort)—present a more feasible and cost-effective alternative, with lower risks and the potential to induce basin-wide responses through coupled atmosphere–ice–ocean interactions. These regions are dynamically linked to major circulation centers, including the Barents–Kara Low and Beaufort High, making them promising leverage points for intervention. A strategy for Arctic climate intervention, where a coordinated, regionally targeted, and seasonally adaptive deployment—combining summer albedo enhancement with winter ice thickening—may offer the greatest potential to stabilize Arctic sea ice while minimizing risks.

Gambusia nobilis is a federally endangered species found across a fragmented distribution within the Pecos River Drainage of Texas and New Mexico, USA. Drought, human water usage, and potential hybridization and competition with introduced congeners threaten species persistence. Therefore, a population genomics study was conducted to provide critical information for conservation planning. Unsupervised clustering suggested hierarchical structure, with a primary K = 3, and deep divergences were detected among samples grouped into the Leon Creek watershed, the Toyah Creek watershed, and water bodies within the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge (F’ST = 0.55–0.76 for putatively neutral data). Phylogenetic analyses showed three distinct clades corresponding to these groups, with divergence times estimated to be in the last 50 000 years. Complimentary morphological analyses detected differences among the three groups, including features of male colour pattern, and the number of caudal-fin rays in both sexes. Taken as a whole, the results indicate that the endangered G. nobilis comprises three species (two of which are named herein as G. pyrros n. sp. and G. echelleorum n. sp.), rather than one, and the study highlights the daunting yet critical task of documenting species diversity during a period of unprecedented diversity loss.

Abstract Previous case studies have linked cyclone-induced atmospheric forcing and/or upper-ocean processes to notable Arctic sea ice loss events in the summers of 2012 and 2016. This study examines a more recent and noteworthy case in late summer 2021 in which substantial sea ice loss followed a period of surface meteorological extremes in the Beaufort Sea region of the Arctic. We focus on the period from mid-August to mid-September 2021 that coincided with the Office of Naval Research THINICE Pilot Field Campaign and investigate stormy and windy conditions with respect to air-sea processes impacting sea ice conditions. We find that during the stormy first half of the campaign, cyclone-induced energy fluxes into the marginal ice zone and surrounding waters preconditioned the ice pack for more rapid melt later in the campaign. The second half of the campaign, in contrast, was marked by non-cyclone wind events that enhanced turbulent (namely sensible) heat fluxes into the ice and upper ocean that increased melt. Moreover, this latter period had enhanced advection of the Beaufort Sea ice pack into above-freezing waters, increasing bottom melt to &gt;1 cm d −1 over the remainder of the campaign. While findings are shown to vary by surface type and at relatively small (i.e. ice-floe) scales, insights are offered on the roles of late summer coupled processes on rapid ice loss events in today’s Arctic environment.

Human-driven transformations of terrestrial landscapes are causing unprecedented habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, with particularly severe consequences for medium- and large-sized terrestrial mammals. Landscape ecology offers critical insights into how wildlife populations respond to changes in habitat configuration, quantity, quality and connectivity. This review addresses two primary objectives: (1) to systematically synthesize scientific evidence from 2010 to 2023 on the effects of landscape attributes on the distribution, abundance, and behavior of medium- and large-sized terrestrial mammals, pinpointing the most influential metrics and variables; and (2) to evaluate the response patterns of various species and functional groups to diverse landscape matrices and anthropogenic transformations. The landscape effects explored focused on natural habitat fragmentation affecting functional connectivity, reduction in available habitat, changes in spatial patch configuration, intensification of human activities in the surrounding matrix, and edge effects arising from the transition between natural and anthropized habitats. These landscape attributes significantly influenced species richness (28.45% of studies), occupancy patterns (25.63%), and population abundance (12.39%) of terrestrial mammals. Camera traps served as the primary methodological tool for data collection in these studies, enabling systematic assessment across various spatial and temporal scales. A total of 180 articles from scientific databases were analyzed, with most studies conducted in the Americas, Asia, and Africa, predominantly in tropical and subtropical biomes. Research primarily occurred in native forests (77.17%) and areas with agricultural activities (42.39%), with 68.89% focusing on mammal communities broadly. Commonly utilized landscape metrics were associated with human disturbances and habitat quantity. This review emphasizes the need to comprehend landscape effects on mammal conservation, as species exhibited varied responses to landscape transformation, with some demonstrating ecological flexibility while others faced adverse consequences.

The management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has evolved substantially with the development of incretin-based therapies targeting the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor, and glucagon receptor. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and therapeutic relevance of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists, and emerging triple agonists targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors. GLP-1 RAs, now well-established in clinical practice, offer robust glycemic control, weight reduction, and proven cardiovascular and renal benefits through glucose-dependent insulinotropic effects, appetite suppression, and cardiometabolic protection. Dual agonists, such as tirzepatide, expand upon these benefits by simultaneously activating the GIP receptor, yielding superior glycemic efficacy and unprecedented weight loss, alongside potential insulin-sensitizing effects. The latest innovation, triple agonists like retatrutide, incorporate glucagon receptor activation to further enhance energy expenditure, fat loss, and metabolic flexibility, with promising early results in obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Together, these agents represent a significant therapeutic advancement in T2DM, with increasing potential for comprehensive cardiometabolic disease management. This review summarizes current evidence from clinical trials and mechanistic studies, discusses comparative benefits, and highlights future directions for optimizing their clinical use.

Changes in terrestrial water storage (TWS) are a critical indicator of freshwater availability. We use NASA GRACE/GRACE-FO data to show that the continents have undergone unprecedented TWS loss since 2002. Areas experiencing drying increased by twice the size of California annually, creating "mega-drying" regions across the Northern Hemisphere. While most of the world's dry/wet areas continue to get drier/wetter, dry areas are now drying faster than wet areas are wetting. Changes in TWS are driven by high-latitude water losses, intense Central American/European droughts, and groundwater depletion, which accounts for 68% of TWS loss over non-glaciated continental regions. "Continental drying" is having profound global impacts. Since 2002, 75% of the population lives in 101 countries that have been losing freshwater water. Furthermore, the continents now contribute more freshwater to sea level rise than the ice sheets, and drying regions now contribute more than land glaciers and ice caps. Urgent action is required to prepare for the major impacts of results presented.

The host specificity of a parasite underpins its ecology, distribution, invasive potential and adaptability, yet for most parasitic plants the host ranges are poorly understood. We examine host-parasite relationships across lineages to infer how host specificity might have influenced the evolution of parasitism in plants. Host preference data for all plant holoparasite species were collected manually from literature and herbarium specimens, then analysed to investigate and visualize host diversity and specificity. We reveal a disproportionality in host preference across host lineages: the Asteraceae contain 10 % of angiosperm diversity but are infected by 31 % of parasite species; meanwhile, monocots comprise 23 % of angiosperm diversity but are infected by only 3.2 % of parasite species of parasite species. Furthermore, we observe striking convergence in host preference: Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae are infected by six, five and four independent parasite lineages, respectively. We also demonstrate considerable variation in the degree of host specificity among closely related parasite species; a result that does not reflect the expectation of holoparasites (especially endoparasites) as host specialists. The marked pattern of convergence in preference across disparate lineages points to a common pathway in the evolution of parasitism of eudicots in preference to monocots, which might, in turn, have been driven by a divergence in host root and vascular architecture. The unexpected variation in host specificity among closely related species suggests that even apparent generalists might contain cryptic host-specific taxa. This highlights the value of host preference as an additional consideration in parasitic plant taxonomy. Together, our data point to a complex interplay between ecological and physiological factors driving the evolution of host-parasite interactions. Moreover, they emphasize how little is known about the ecology of most holoparasitic plants, a group of organisms that are especially vulnerable at a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss and extinction.

Abstract Over the period 2021–2024, glaciers in Western Canada and the conterminous US (WCAN‐US), and Switzerland respectively lost mass at rates of 22.2 ± 9.0 and 1.5 ± 0.3 Gt yr −1 representing a twofold increase in mass loss compared to the period 2010–2020. Since 2020, total ice volume was depleted by 12% (WCAN‐US) and 13% (Switzerland). Meteorological conditions that favored high rates of mass loss included low winter snow accumulation, early‐season heat waves, and prolonged warm, dry conditions. High transient snow lines, and impurity loading due to wildfires (WCAN‐US) or Saharan dust (Switzerland) darkened glaciers and thereby increased mass loss via greater absorbed shortwave radiation available for melt. This ice‐albedo feedback will lead to continued high rates of thinning unless recently exposed dark ice and firn at high elevations is buried by seasonal snowfall. Physical models that simulate impurity deposition and movement through firn and ice are needed to improve future projections of glacier mass change.

In an attempt to break with both the hegemonic and cooptive nature of modernity, we set out to provide a provocative reflection on the teaching of indigenous peoples. The message of this conceptual contribution is simple: To have a future, we need to quickly learn, but also unlearn. The ‘we’ here refers first and foremost to polluter elites in the so-called Global North as well as those in the Global South who have greater access to resources and emit more carbon. The process will need to entail, learning from and with those whose lives are more aligned with the more-than-human world; and unlearn behaviours and practices that brought us to where we are: A situation where we experience the unprecedented loss of species, extractive practices depleting the natural environment, a societal meaning crisis despite being hyper-connected and yet disconnected simultaneously. What seems necessary is no less than a rapid decolonisation of harmful, unsustainable thinking and a fundamental breaking of our unsustainable lifestyles and the behaviours and practices underpinning them to move towards a caring, resonant and sustainable way of being.

In an era of unprecedented biodiversity loss, the need for standardized practices to describe biological variation is becoming increasingly important. As with all scientific endeavors, species delimitation needs to be explicit, testable, and refutable. A fundamental task in species delimitation is distinguishing within-species variation from among-species variation. Many species that are distributed across large geographic areas exhibit levels of genetic variation that are as great or greater than those that exist between well-defined sympatric species. Here, we provide a workflow to distinguish between intra- and interspecific genetic variation and apply the workflow to a taxonomically problematic group of frogs (the Rana pipiens complex, or leopard frogs) that are widely distributed across Mexico and Central America. Our workflow makes use of recent advancements that pair genome-scale datasets with model-based species delimitation methods, while emphasizing the need for positive evidence of reproductive isolation to confirm the validity of geographically contiguous species boundaries. We find that intraspecific geographic variation in widespread leopard frog species has resulted in considerable taxonomic inflation of species. Ten currently recognized species are not supported in our analyses, and we here synonymize them with previously named taxa. Furthermore, we find positive evidence for the presence of three undescribed species. In addition to proposing these taxonomic changes, we provide descriptions of the data or analyses that would be needed to refute and overturn our recommendations. We recommend that all species delimitation studies (especially of geographically variable groups) clarify what new evidence would be sufficient to change the taxonomic recommendations.

Purpose of reviewSarcopenic obesity is a clinical condition characterized by the coexistence of excess adiposity and impaired muscle function, associated with heightened cardiometabolic risk and frailty. The emergence of new incretin-based obesity management medications (OMMs), which allow unprecedented weight loss, has raised concerns regarding weight loss-induced fat-free mass (FFM) reduction, including skeletal muscle mass (SMM). This review examines recent findings on the prevalence, diagnosis, and implications of sarcopenic obesity, explores the effects of weight-loss interventions on body composition and their impact on health, and discusses strategies to preserve muscle mass.Recent findingsWeight loss induced by incretin-based OMMs results in a variable but significant reduction in FFM. The extent to which this loss affects SMM and function remains uncertain. Nutritional strategies, particularly adequate protein intake, and structured exercise interventions, especially resistance training, play a key role in mitigating FFM loss. Digital health interventions and telemedicine-based exercise programs offer promising approaches for maintaining muscle health during weight loss.SummaryThe clinical significance of FFM loss during weight reduction remains debated. Future research should refine sarcopenic obesity diagnostic criteria, assess the long-term impact of FFM/SMM reduction during intentional weight loss, and evaluate interventions that optimize body composition while preserving functional health.

Amidst the chaotic atmosphere of the 1920s, Life magazine was a common sight in the homes of middle-class Americans everywhere.1 During this period of massive social and cultural change, many Americans experienced an unprecedented loss of certainty. As a humor and general interest publication existing during the time, Life capitalized on the vulnerability of Americans. Life worked on two distinct levels – while it fostered anxiety about modernity and the changing times, it also used humor to provide middle-class Americans with comedic relief from the very anxieties it fueled. In perpetuating the feeling of uncertainty, Life simultaneously offered itself as a salvation from the unsettling problems afflicting 1920s society.Comedic Relief in a Culture of Uncertainty: The Contribution of Life Magazine in the 1920s by Andy Ho is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Unpreferable vibrations and impacts pose substantial risks to sensitive devices, structures, and the human body, demanding materials capable of providing both high energy dissipation and impact protection across a broad temperature range. Traditional damping materials often fail to meet these demands because of a trade-off between damping and mechanical strength. We introduce an innovative strategy to fabricate armored polymer-fluid gels (APFGs) that combine high damping and high modulus for effective damping and impact protection under extreme conditions. By using a controlled surface cross-linking process through diffusion, we greatly enhance the mechanical strength of polymer-fluid gels without sacrificing their damping capabilities. This asymmetric design results in an unprecedented loss factor (tanδ > 0.5 from -45 degrees to 135 degrees Celsius, peaking at tanδ = 2.2) while achieving a tensile modulus of 20 megapascals. This method resolves the long-standing damping-modulus trade-off, positioning APFGs as promising candidates for robust damping and impact protection in electronics and human motion applications.

Deforestation and forest degradation pose significant environmental and socio-economic threats to North-Eastern Nigeria. This region, ravaged by insurgency (such as Boko Haram) and climate change, has witnessed unprecedented forest loss, compromising biodiversity, water resources and livelihoods. This study examines the pattern, consequences and drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in North-Eastern Nigeria. Using mixed-methods approach, combining satellite remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Normalise Differential Vegetation Indices (NDVI) and field data, this research analyze forest cover changes over time and the impact of human activities such as agricultural expansion, illegal logging and urbanization. The findings reveal alarming rates of forest loss with significant implications for environmental sustainability, food security and human well being. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of high resolution satellite imagery and machine learning techniques in detecting subtle vegetation changes.The study recommends sustainable forest management practices, conflict sensitive conservation approaches and climate resilient agriculture to mitigate deforestation and forest degradation. It also highlights the need for policy reforms, community engagement and international cooperation to protect North-Eastern Nigeria’s fragile forest ecosystems and promote sustainable development.