There are over three billion specimens and cultural objects housed in natural history collections around the world—things like fossils, dried plants, and pinned insects. Close to forty million of them are at the Field Museum in Chicago, mostly behind the scenes in a vast library documenting life on Earth. These collections are used by scientists at the museum and around the world to explore what lived where and when and how living things have changed over time. 

However, much of the information about these collections is hard to access, because there are no digital records of it. Community scientists volunteering at the Field Museum who have formed a Collections Club are helping to solve this problem. So far, they’ve digitized more than a quarter-million collections items and records. 

A new report in the journal Anatomical Sciences Education outlines best practices and standards for human body donation programs across the United States, which accept whole body donations after death for research and education. The report, issued by a task force of American Association for Anatomy members, seeks to align body donation programs with evolving societal values and legal frameworks. It aims to maintain the highest ethical standards for donors by upholding the principles of informed consent, oversight, and dignity.   

The report emphasizes the importance of ensuring potential donors and their families fully understand the donation process, stressing the need for public education and transparent engagement. “We hold a profound moral and ethical responsibility to honor the selfless contributions of our body donors, and this document represents a significant step towards fulfilling their wishes with the highest standards of ethical care,” said corresponding author Joy Y. Balta, MSc, MEd, PhD, of Point Loma Nazarene University. 

A new study by researchers at Bar-Ilan University, Ariel University and Levinsky College of Education has revealed encouraging findings about cognitive growth and development in adults with non-specific intellectual disability (NSID), especially those with Down syndrome (DS), and challenges previous assumptions about cognitive potential of individuals with Down syndrome.

A groundbreaking study from South Korea has revealed the evolutionary journey of brown algae through genomic analysis. The research highlights key milestones, including the transition to multicellularity and species diversification, and uncovers viral integrations in brown algae genomes that influenced their evolution. It also explores practical applications in aquaculture, biotechnology, and climate change mitigation, emphasizing brown algae's potential for carbon capture and ecosystem restoration, while offering valuable insights into enhancing ecological resilience amid climatic challenges.