Mystery Reef

Just off the coast of Tela, Honduras, a coral reef has caught the attention of the marine science community. This reef defies what we know about coral survival. Despite threats like warm waters, boat traffic, agricultural runoff, and murky water, the Tela Bay reef isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving. Live coral cover here is around 65%, compared to the Caribbean average of just 18%.

Scientists are trying to understand what makes the Tela Reef so resilient and whether its secrets can help save other threatened reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. Research by National Geographic and the University of Miami highlights the presence of elkhorn coral—a critically endangered species—flourishing in Tela under conditions that have devastated it elsewhere, like in the Florida Keys.

Andrew Baker, a marine scientist from the University of Miami, explained that Florida’s elkhorn populations are struggling with rising temperatures. He suggests that introducing genetic diversity from resilient populations like Tela’s might help.

Various theories have been proposed to explain Tela’s resilience. One suggests that periodic influxes of saline water from the Gulf kill harmful bacteria and algae. Another theory is that the reef’s richness makes it less attractive to fishermen, leaving the coral undisturbed. A more promising idea is that the coral in Tela hosts heat-resistant symbionts—microorganisms that live inside coral cells and provide energy through photosynthesis. These symbionts may help the coral cope with warmer, more acidic water.

In addition to the unique coral, Tela Bay also has a population of long-spined sea urchins, which were nearly wiped out in the 1980s. These urchins graze on algae that could otherwise overwhelm the coral.

Scientists are not waiting for a definitive answer. They’ve established a coral breeding center in Tela, aiming to spread the genetic traits of Tela coral to reefs worldwide. The University of Miami’s Coral Reef Futures Lab and the Florida Aquarium in Tampa are already cross-breeding Florida elkhorn coral with samples from Tela.

Classical Music ‘Synchronizing’ our Brain

Classical music by composers like Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart is known to impact mood. Scientists are now using brainwave measurements and neural imaging to understand how Western classical music affects the brain positively.

This research could lead to new treatments for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Professor Bomin Sun from Shanghai Jiao Tong University hopes to apply these findings in clinical practice to develop effective music therapy tools.

The study involved 13 patients with treatment-resistant depression who had electrodes implanted in their brains for deep-brain stimulation. These implants are placed in a circuit connecting the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc).

The researchers discovered that music has antidepressant effects by synchronizing neural activity between the auditory cortex and the rewards circuit. This synchronization involves the BNST-NAc circuit, which is closely related to the amygdala, a key structure in emotional processing.

Patients were divided into two groups based on their music appreciation: high or low. Those who appreciated music more showed greater neural synchronization and better antidepressant effects. Conversely, those with lower music appreciation showed less improvement.

The researchers used unfamiliar Western classical music to avoid bias from prior experience. They found that enhancing BNST-NAc oscillatory coupling with theta frequency noise increased music enjoyment in patients with low appreciation.

The next steps include studying how music interacts with deep brain structures in depressive disorders and exploring combined sensory stimuli, like visual images, for potential therapeutic effects. The team plans to develop digital health products, such as smartphone apps and wearable devices, based on their music therapy research.

A Floating Seat

An Austrian chef who lost nearly all use of his legs is back in the kitchen thanks to an innovative device created by a friend.

The device, a C-shaped metal hook suspended from ceiling rails, allows Chef Peter Lammer to move freely around the kitchen while keeping his hands free for cooking tasks.

Ten years ago, Lammer, from Salzburg, was in a motorcycle accident that left him 80% disabled, despite extensive physical therapy.

The accident brought severe pain, mental strain, and a bleak financial outlook. However, Lammer’s friend, Bernhard Tichy, who ran a local zip line course, was inspired by Lammer’s passion for cooking and family. Together, they designed a device called Standing Ovation. It lets disabled users sit on a bicycle seat attached to a hook, which is connected to a ceiling rail. This setup allows them to slide along the workspace, with the device bearing their torso weight, leaving their hands free for work. When lifting, a spring system absorbs additional weight, reducing strain on the legs.

With Standing Ovation, Lammer can pull a pot off the stove and glide to the prep station with just a small push.

“All the experts said I would never be able to do a standing job again,” Lammer told Reuters from the kitchen of his Salzburg restaurant, Johanneskeller.

Second-Largest Diamond Ever Found

The second-largest diamond ever discovered was found in Botswana last week.

Lucara Diamond, a Canadian company, unearthed the 2,492-carat stone in the Karowe mine using X-ray technology. This diamond is the largest found since the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905, parts of which are now in the British Crown Jewels.

Weighing about a pound, the diamond, still unnamed, will be displayed in Botswana this week. Its discovery will fund education and healthcare programs in the country. Lucara reported that the find was detected and recovered by their Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray Transmission technology, installed in 2017 to identify large, high-value diamonds. This latest discovery adds to other significant finds from the mine, including diamonds of 1,758 carats and 1,109 carats.

“We are thrilled about the recovery of this 2,492-carat diamond,” said William Lamb, President of Lucara. “It highlights the wealth in Botswana’s soil and the nation’s progress in developing its diamond industry for the benefit of its citizens.”

Botswana is the world’s largest diamond producer, with diamonds accounting for 80% of its exports and a third of its revenue. Financial Times quoted unnamed sources close to Lucara estimating that it could fetch upwards of $40 million.

Snail Poison as Diabetes and Hormone Drug

Cone snail venom could be the key to developing better diabetes treatments, according to a recent study. Researchers found that the toxin from the Conus geographus, one of the most venomous creatures on Earth, might also help create new drugs for other hormone-related conditions.

The team, led by scientists from the University of Utah, identified a component in the venom that mimics somatostatin, a human hormone that regulates blood sugar and several other hormones. This toxin, called consomatin, helps the snail immobilize its prey. In humans, somatostatin prevents dangerous spikes in blood sugar and other hormone levels. However, consomatin is more stable and specific than somatostatin, making it a promising model for drug development.

The researchers found that consomatin targets the same protein as somatostatin but does so more precisely, affecting only blood sugar levels without influencing other hormones. This makes it more targeted than the most precise synthetic drugs currently available for hormone regulation.

Though using snail venom as a treatment might be risky, understanding its structure could lead to safer drugs for endocrine disorders. Consomatin’s stability is due to an unusual amino acid that prevents it from breaking down quickly, a feature that could inspire longer-lasting medications.

Senior author Professor Helena Safavi noted that the precision of the toxin could be incredibly useful in treating diseases. “Venomous animals have evolved to fine-tune venom components to target specific physiological processes, often relevant to disease,” she said. Safavi explained that consomatin, which shares an evolutionary lineage with somatostatin, has been refined by the cone snail over millions of years into a highly effective weapon.

Consomatin works by rapidly lowering blood sugar, leaving the snail’s prey unresponsive, while a second component prevents blood sugar levels from recovering. Dr. Ho Yan Yeung, the study’s lead author, suggested that the venom might contain other glucose-regulating molecules, not just insulin- and somatostatin-like toxins.