Listening in on fish grunts, and more…

A groundbreaking study using ancient DNA has solved a 160-year-old mystery of the Franklin Expedition, identifying six sailors from the doomed 1845 Arctic voyage—including Captain James Fitzjames, whose body showed signs of cannibalism, and Harry Pegler, whose identity was long disputed due to a mix-up with a steward’s uniform. The research reveals that five of the six identified men died within two kilometers of each other, raising new questions about the fate of the HMS Terror crew. Meanwhile, a surprising discovery in immunology shows that eating a meal boosts T-cell function by delivering lipids that enhance protein production—potentially improving long-term immunity and even cancer immunotherapy outcomes. In another revelation, scientists have successfully decoded the unique grunts and knocks of eight rockfish species, using underwater microphones to create a non-invasive tool for marine conservation. And radio astronomy, born from a radio interference problem, has uncovered the universe’s most violent phenomena—from pulsars to the Big Bang’s afterglow—proving that the most profound discoveries often come from unexpected sources.