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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for week 08: Honey bees navigate more precisely than previously thought Honey bees navigate with high individual precision, consistently following unique flight paths just centimeters apart, especially near prominent landmarks. Visual features in the environment enhance navigational accuracy, while uniform areas increase variability. Bees' actual navigation is far more precise than indicated by the waggle dance, which contains greater directional error.   New 'scimitar-crested' Spinosaurus species discovered in the central Sahara Spinosaurus mirabilis, a new spinosaurid species with a distinctive scimitar-shaped crest, was discovered in inland Niger, far from ancient shorelines. Its anatomy, including interdigitating teeth adapted for catching fish, and the keratinous crest, distinguishes it from other theropods. The find suggests spinosaurids inhabited forested river systems, not just coastal environments.   First-ever shark recorded in Antarctic waters filmed at 490 meters in near‑freezing water A sleeper shark was recorded for the first time in Antarctic waters at a depth of 490 meters and a temperature of 1.27 °C, challenging previous assumptions that sharks do not inhabit this region. The finding suggests sleeper sharks may exist undetected in the Southern Ocean, likely at depths where water is relatively warmer, and highlights the limited knowledge of deep-sea Antarctic fauna.   Colonists dredged away Sydney's natural oyster reefs. Now, scientists know how best to restore them Restoration of Sydney's oyster reefs is most effective when artificial habitats replicate the specific geometric features of natural reefs, rather than maximizing complexity or height. Optimal designs provide multiple small spaces that enhance juvenile oyster survival by reducing exposure to predators and environmental stress, offering a blueprint for global reef restoration efforts.   Triplet superconductivity—physicists may have found the missing link for quantum computers The niobium–rhenium (NbRe) alloy exhibits properties consistent with triplet superconductivity, enabling the transport of both electrical and spin currents without resistance. This could allow for highly energy-efficient quantum computing and stable Majorana particles. NbRe operates at 7 K, higher than other candidates, but further verification is required to confirm its triplet superconductivity.   Closing in on a universal vaccine: Nasal spray protects mice from respiratory viruses, bacteria and allergens A novel intranasal vaccine in mice provides broad, months-long protection against diverse respiratory viruses, bacteria, and allergens by sustaining both innate and adaptive immune responses in the lungs. This approach bypasses antigen specificity, instead mimicking immune signaling, and could potentially simplify and expand respiratory disease prevention in humans.   Mint, eucalyptus and chili compounds reveal powerful synergy against inflammation in immune cells Combinations of plant-derived compounds from mint, eucalyptus, and chili peppers produce a powerful synergistic anti-inflammatory effect in immune cells, far exceeding the effects of each compound alone. This synergy operates through distinct cellular pathways, suggesting that dietary mixtures of phytochemicals can modulate inflammation at physiologically relevant doses.   Not all humans are 'super-scary' to wildlife, animal behavior study suggests Wild animals show strong fear responses to lethal human activities like hunting, becoming more vigilant and reducing foraging, but react less consistently to non-lethal human presence. Human structures can sometimes decrease animal vigilance by providing perceived refuges. These behavioral changes influence survival, reproduction, and ecosystem dynamics, highlighting the need for nuanced conservation strategies.   Call me invasive: New evidence confirms the status of the giant Asian mantis in Europe Hierodula tenuidentata and Hierodula patellifera, two large Asian mantis species, are now confirmed as invasive alien species in Europe. Their rapid spread, high reproductive rates, and predation on native fauna, including pollinators and protected vertebrates, pose significant threats to local biodiversity. Urban environments and climate change facilitate their expansion, highlighting the need for monitoring and management.   Record-breaking Antarctic drill reveals 23 million years of climate history A 228 m sediment core drilled from beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet provides a continuous climate record spanning 23 million years. Analysis of the core reveals periods of open ocean and ice sheet retreat, offering direct evidence of past responses to warmer climates. These findings are expected to improve predictions of future ice sheet stability and potential sea level rise under ongoing global warming.   Antarctica sits above Earth's strongest 'gravity hole.' Now we know how it got that way Antarctica lies above Earth's most pronounced gravity low, caused by slow rock movements deep beneath the surface over tens of millions of years. This gravity anomaly coincides with major shifts in Antarctica's climate and the development of its ice sheets. Weaker gravity lowers local sea-surface height, and ongoing research explores links between Earth's interior dynamics, gravity, and ice sheet stability.   Proton's width measured to unparalleled precision, narrowing the path to new physics The proton's charge radius has been measured with unprecedented precision using a novel hydrogen energy-level transition, yielding a value of 0.840615 femtometers. This result, 2.5 times more precise than previous hydrogen-based measurements, aligns with prior findings and further constrains possible deviations from the Standard Model, limiting the scope for alternative physical theories.   Why Triceratops has such a big nose: The first comprehensive hypothesis on soft tissue in the dinosaur Triceratops possessed unusually large nasal cavities with unique internal structures, including likely respiratory turbinates, which are rare among dinosaurs. Analysis of fossil skulls and comparison with modern reptiles indicate these features supported not only olfaction but also regulation of temperature and moisture, compensating for the challenges posed by their large skulls.   Offshore wind farms change ocean current patterns, simulations show Simulations indicate that large-scale expansion of offshore wind farms in the North Sea could alter ocean current patterns, reducing surface speeds by up to 20% and affecting sediment transport and seawater mixing. The extent of these changes depends on turbine spacing, wind farm location, and tidal conditions, suggesting that optimized design can help minimize environmental impacts.   Twelve-year tracking suggests killer whales do not always drive shark disappearances Long-term tracking indicates that while killer whales can cause immediate departures of white sharks from aggregation sites, extended absences are often part of natural behavioral variability. Analysis over 12 years showed several prolonged shark absences, most unrelated to killer whale presence, suggesting that killer whales are not the sole drivers of long-term shark disappearances.   New species of ancient crocodile named in honor of Welsh school teacher A new crocodylomorph species, Galahadosuchus jonesi, from the Late Triassic (~215 million years ago) has been identified in southwestern England. Distinguished by unique wrist morphology and an upright, terrestrial stance, it adds to the known diversity of early reptiles in the region's fissure deposits, providing insight into pre–Triassic–Jurassic extinction ecosystems.   Rare fossil at Montana museum records Tyrannosaurus attack A nearly complete Edmontosaurus skull from Montana contains an embedded Tyrannosaurus tooth, providing rare direct evidence of predatory interaction. The lack of healing around the wound suggests the bite was fatal or occurred post-mortem. This fossil offers new insight into Tyrannosaurus feeding behavior and predator-prey dynamics at the end of the Cretaceous.   Hubble identifies a near-invisible galaxy that may be 99% dark matter A faint galaxy, CDG-2, has been identified in the Perseus cluster, detectable primarily through its globular clusters. Analysis indicates that about 99% of its mass is dark matter, with minimal visible stars and little hydrogen gas. This discovery demonstrates the effectiveness of using globular clusters to trace nearly invisible, dark matter-dominated galaxies.   Warming winters are disrupting the hidden world of fungi—the result can shift mountain grasslands to scrub Warming winters reduce snowpack, disrupting soil fungi such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that support plant nutrient uptake. This leads to fewer beneficial fungi, nutrient loss from early snowmelt, and a shift from grassland to shrubland. Asynchrony between plant and fungal activity further limits plant growth, potentially altering mountain grassland ecosystems.   Study of 65,000 college students links 16 hours a week on social media to higher loneliness Over half of US college students report loneliness, with those spending at least 16 hours per week on social media facing significantly higher odds of feeling isolated. Loneliness is more common among female, Black, and at-home students, while fraternity/sorority members and those in hybrid courses are less affected. Excessive social media use and loneliness appear to be mutually reinforcing.