Shark Sounds, Molecules on Mars and Continued Federal Cuts
Mar 31, 2025
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NASA’s Curiosity rover has found long-chain alkanes on Mars, hinting at possible past microbial life. A newly identified dinosaur claw suggests a foraging function rather than combat. Researchers have recorded the first known sounds of sharks, unveiling their communication methods, while cuttlefish demonstrate fascinating visual tricks. Meanwhile, significant federal funding cuts threaten scientific research and public health initiatives, raising concerns about the future of science and health agencies.
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Quick takeaways
NASA's discovery of long-chain alkanes on Mars hints at potential past microbial life, suggesting ancient biological activity.
The significant federal cuts to health and science agencies threaten crucial COVID-related programs and broader public health initiatives.
Deep dives
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Downsizing
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced plans to cut 10,000 full-time jobs, following another 10,000 voluntary retirements and buyouts. This significant downsizing will affect major agencies such as the FDA, CDC, and NIH, reducing the HHS workforce from 82,000 to around 62,000 employees. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the main goals of these layoffs are to save money and improve efficiency within the department. Coupled with these cuts, the Trump administration also plans to cancel over $12 billion in federal grant funding, impacting COVID-related initiatives and health programs at the state and local level.
Significant Discoveries on Mars and in the Animal Kingdom
NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered the largest carbon-based molecules on Mars, specifically long-chain alkanes believed to derive from fatty acids, essential for cell membranes in living organisms. Although these molecules do not confirm life on Mars, their presence in 3.7 billion-year-old rocks suggests potential past habitability, offering hope for finding signs of ancient microbial life. In a separate finding, researchers identified a new dinosaur species, Therizinosaurus, from a claw fossil in Mongolia, which exhibited unique evolutionary traits like a two-fingered grasp. Additionally, studies on animal behaviors unveiled a new sound-producing capability in sharks and demonstrated how cuttlefish use dynamic visual patterns to hunt, showcasing the complexity of communication and camouflage in the animal kingdom.
Long-chain alkanes discovered by NASA’s Curiosity rover point to the possibility that there may have been fatty acids on Mars—and that they could have come from past microbial life. Paleontologists have found a huge dinosaur claw that was probably made for foraging, not fighting. Researchers studying ocean life have recorded the sounds of sharks and the tricks of cuttlefish. Plus, cuts to jobs and funding for U.S. federal science and health agencies continued last week. Tens of thousands of federal workers are on the chopping block, as is funding for COVID testing, vaccinations and equity initiatives.
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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio.This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Alex Sugiura with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.