Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Sabah's ferret badger found nowhere else on Earth

A comprehensive study reveals the Bornean ferret badger is found only in Sabah's western highlands, with a previously unknown population discovered in Nuluhon-Trusmadi Forest Reserve. The species' range and distribution are largely confined to mountain landscapes, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect its habitat.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateJun 10, 2026

Global rice production nearly doubled despite climate change, driven largely by human management

A new study found that global rice production nearly doubled between the 1960s and 2010s due to increased irrigation and nutrient inputs. Climate change reduced rice production by an estimated 7% between 2006 and 2015, but elevated atmospheric CO2 levels contributed to improved water-use efficiency and enhanced photosynthesis.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 10, 2026

Oldest dinosaur tracksite in Northeast Asia discovered: evidence shows large dinosaurs ranges as far as northern Mongolia 120 million years ago

A joint research team has rediscovered a dinosaur tracksite in the Saizhurakh area of northern Mongolia, revealing footprints of both large herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs. The site provides clear evidence that large dinosaurs inhabited regions as far north as northern Mongolia during the Early Cretaceous period.

Retelling the Jomon story

Researchers used mitochondrial DNA from 13 Jomon skeletons to examine population changes over time, finding a significant increase in eastern Japan between 13,000 and 8,000 years ago. This study suggests regional factors, such as climate and food resources, played a role in shaping the Jomon population history.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalAnthropological Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 17, 2026

Urban sprawl could deny 220 million people access to clean water by 2050

A study analyzing over 100 cities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America found that compact urban planning is crucial for delivering water and sanitation to growing populations. The research suggests that if cities spread outward rather than building more densely, access to clean water and basic sanitation could be significantly impacted.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalNature Cities·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 2, 2025

Vietnam’s sound decision

In her book 'Sonic Socialism: Crisis and Care in Pandemic Hanoi', Christina Schwenkel explores how Vietnam used sound technologies to inform, regulate, and connect people during the pandemic. The country's success was largely due to its rapid communication systems, including loudspeakers and public health videos.

University of Bergen research project awarded NOK 129 million funding by Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

The University of Bergen's 'Fair Choices on the Path to Universal Health Coverage' project aims to strengthen low- and middle-income countries in handling cuts in development aid. The project will improve priority setting through evidence-informed, context-specific approaches, collaborating with academic institutions and governing bodi...

The tipping of the last resilient glaciers

Researchers studying Tajikistan's Kyzylsu Glacier found that the glacier likely reached its tipping point in 2018, with decreasing snowfall causing it to melt. The study uses computational models driven by new local observations and demonstrates the importance of densifying observational data in understanding anomalous glacier behavior.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 2, 2025

High Mountain Asia’s shrinking glaciers linked to monsoon changes

Research from the University of Utah and Virginia Tech reveals that seasonal shifts in rainfall and snowfall patterns are exacerbating glacier melting across the region. Glaciers in Central Himalaya, Western Himalaya, and Eastern Himalaya are especially vulnerable to accelerated ice loss and water availability threats.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalIEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing·TypeObservational study·DateAug 29, 2025

New discovery of wild cereal foraging – a precursor to agriculture – far from the fertile crescent

Researchers found evidence of wild barley harvesting 9,200 years ago in Toda Cave, southern Uzbekistan, suggesting a more widespread transition to farming. The discovery contradicts the idea that agriculture developed independently in various parts of the world, instead revealing a more complex and interconnected process.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Geoanthropology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 25, 2025

Calling for renewed Israeli-Palestinian health cooperation

Decades of successful joint public health efforts have bridged divides between Israelis and Palestinians, reducing infant mortality, controlling infectious diseases, and strengthening epidemic surveillance. The editorial urges a revival of such partnerships to combat the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war and promote regional stability.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJun 11, 2025

Antibiotic pollution in rivers

Human consumption of antibiotics has increased by 65% since 2000, resulting in estimated 8,500 tonnes reaching river systems globally. Chronic environmental exposure can reduce microbial diversity and increase antibiotic-resistant genes, impacting fish and algae health.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateApr 22, 2025

Scientists assemble worlds first immune cell atlas from diverse Asian populations

Researchers have created the world's first Asian Immune Diversity Atlas, profiling healthy immune systems of diverse Asian populations. The study identified unique molecular properties and refined biomarkers for diagnosing diseases, which could help develop targeted therapies tailored to Asian patients.

SourceAgency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore·JournalCell·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 7, 2025

Southern Ocean warming will mean a wetter West Coast

A Cornell University-led study predicts long-term increases in precipitation over East Asia and the Western U.S. as the Southern Ocean warms, regardless of climate mitigation efforts. The research suggests that accounting for cloud feedbacks in climate models can help explain uncertainties and improve predictions.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 2, 2025

Southeast Asia’s fisheries benefit from small-scale, multispecies capture

Despite decades of overfishing warnings, Southeast Asia's catch fisheries have maintained biodiversity and ecological health, with a three-fold higher ratio of underfished stocks compared to the global average. This study highlights the benefits of non-species-selective multispecies fishing practices in promoting sustainable fisheries.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalFisheries Science·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 20, 2025

Tracing the geological history of spring rains: Why diminished in North America while emerged in East Asia

A recent study reveals that shifts in paleogeography and climate change have shaped the spring rainfall pattern. Spring persistent rainfall has prevailed in East Asia since the Miocene epoch, whereas in North America, it only flourished during the Eocene epoch. Climate warming is expected to be a dominant driver of future changes.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·DateMar 18, 2025

Make Indian sign language an official language and open more schools for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, Cambridge study advises Indian government

A Cambridge study highlights the need for India to recognize its own sign language, Indian Sign Language (ISL), as a constitutional right. The study also calls for increased investment in education and training programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, including more schools and higher education institutions.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalLanguage Policy·DateMar 17, 2025

Why is Japanese knotweed so highly invasive?

Research published in New Phytologist reveals that Japanese knotweed's ability to outcompete native plants lies in its rapid clonal propagation method. This study provides crucial insights into the invasive plant's success and offers valuable knowledge for developing effective control methods.

SourceWiley·JournalNew Phytologist·DateFeb 19, 2025

Near-complete skull discovery reveals ‘top apex’, leopard-sized “fearsome” carnivore

A nearly complete skull of the ancient apex carnivore Bastetodon has been discovered in the Egyptian desert, revealing a new species of hyaenodonta. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of hyaenodonts and their global distribution, with findings suggesting they spread from Africa to Asia, Europe, India, and North America.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·DateFeb 17, 2025