Researchers at the Max Planck Institute have discovered that certain strains of the fungus Beauveria bassiana can effectively combat wood-devouring insects like bark beetles, offering a potential alternative to traditional insecticides, according to multiple news sources. The discovery addresses the increasing threat posed by bark beetles to spruce trees, a problem exacerbated by climate change.
The beetles, which normally defend against fungal attacks by utilizing phenolic compounds derived from the spruce trees they consume, are vulnerable to these specialized fungal strains, according to Ars Technica. The fungus circumvents the beetles' dietary defenses and causes disease.
In other news, concerns have been raised about potential political interference in NIH appointments, contrasting with the agency's historical scientific independence, as reported by multiple news sources via Hacker News. Asda is also reportedly struggling with declining sales and customer base despite revitalization efforts. Additionally, a secret warehouse is holding 450,000 archaeological objects discovered during the HS2 railway construction, promising new insights into British history, according to various news sources.
Separately, Nature News issued an author correction to an article published on January 7, 2026, in Nature. The correction pertains to the spelling of Sandra M. Camunas-Alberca's name, which was initially published without a middle initial. The HTML and PDF versions of the article have been amended. The original article, "Albumin orchestrates a natural host defence mechanism against mucormycosis," explores the role of albumin in fighting fungal infections. Antonis Pikoulas, Ioannis Morianos, and Vassilis Nidris are listed as having contributed equally to the research. Kyriakos Petratos is listed as deceased.
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