For many divers heading to Southeast Asia, their flight times have gotten a lot longer. Prior to the Russians invasion of Ukraine, many airline routes traversed Russian airspace en route to Southeast Asia. With the closure of Russian airspace to some international carriers, including many in Europe, airlines have been forced to seek alternate routes. For some flights from Europe, this is especially problematic, as Russia stands directly in the way.

Florida International University (FIU) marine scientist Yannis Papastamatiou, Ph.D. candidate Sarah Luongo, and a collaborative team of researchers wanted to uncover some of the mysteries of the white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) that gather seasonally around Guadalupe Island, Mexico. 

Plastic pollution is a gigantic problem. Our beaches and waters are littered with plastic, marine life ingests it or gets ensnared and particles are entering our food web and organisms. Microplastics are everywhere now.

This finding, published in Scientific Reports, reveals a previously unknown mathematical capability in these aquatic animals. Led by Prof. Dr. Vera Schluessel from the Institute of Zoology, the study sheds light on the cognitive abilities of fish, challenging assumptions about their intelligence.