A worker ant of the species Temnothorax nylanderi infected with the tapeworm Anomotaenia brevis, recognizable by its yellowish coloration, alongside an uninfected worker (Credit: Susanne Foitzik) Deep inside the damp leaf litter of the Lenneberg Forest near Mainz, Germany, tiny worker ants of the species Temnothorax nylanderi are living surprisingly long lives. While a normal…

Hope has inspired humanity through wars, disasters, personal struggles and moments of uncertainty for thousands of years. Long before modern psychology explored the power of optimism, the ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus reflected on hope as one of life’s greatest strengths. His famous words, “Hope is the only good that is common to all…

For most people, the Sahara is the ultimate symbol of endless sand, scorching heat and one of the harshest environments on Earth. Yet geology tells a remarkably different story. Beneath the dunes lie the remnants of ancient rivers, vast lakes and ecosystems that once supported hippos, crocodiles and thriving human communities. Scientists now know these…