Parasitoid wasps, which have larvae that grow in or on other organisms and eventually kill their hosts, are widely recognized for their vast biodiversity and fascinating ecology. Syntretus perlmani, an unusual parasitoid wasp capable of attacking adult flies, has been found to infect the fruit fly Drosophila.

By analysing the ancient genomes of individuals from Rapa Nui, researchers have overturned a contentious theory that the remote Pacific island experienced a self-inflicted population collapse before European colonization.

Boosting the heart’s natural countermeasures against poor function is one way to treat heart failure, but existing therapies need to be given frequently. An antibody with enduring effects could offer a solution.

In brain tumours, immune cells called macrophages scavenge lipid debris from the myelin sheath of neurons. These lipid-laden macrophages cause immunosuppression, and their transfer of lipids to tumours fuels cancer growth.