WEIRD STUFF

Britain's coastline has been swarmed with jellyfish this year.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) says there's been a "remarkable" 230 per cent surge in sightings of the frilly-mouthed jellyfish, also known as the barrel jellyfish, which is the largest species found in UK waters.

Over the past 12 months, 310 of the giant creatures were recorded around the UK and Ireland, compared to fewer than 100 the previous year.

Measuring up to the size of a dustbin lid, these gelatinous giants are often spotted drifting near beaches in late spring, especially along the Scottish and Welsh coasts.

Despite their size, the barrel jellyfish is a "relatively gentle giant", with a weak sting that poses little threat to humans.

However, experts still advise caution, as even dead jellyfish can sting.

Scientists are unsure what's driving the boom, though warmer seas and shifting ocean currents are likely factors.

Rising water temperatures may be providing perfect breeding conditions, while currents push jellyfish closer to shore.

The MCS report logged 1,327 jellyfish sightings between October 2024 and September 2025, with moon jellyfish remaining the most common at 316 reports.

The compass jellyfish ranked third, while sightings of the deadly Portuguese man o' war plunged by 80 per cent.

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Ancient bacteria could become modern medicine weapon

An ancient bacterial defence system dating back billions of years could hold the key to fighting modern viral threats.

Scientists from Penn State University led by Professor Thomas Wood uncovered how bacteria use long-dormant viruses embedded in their DNA -- known as cryptic prophages - to fend off new viral invaders.

Their study, published in Nucleic Acids Research, reveals how this ancient mechanism could inspire new antiviral therapies and help tackle antibiotic resistance.

Wood explained: "These bacteria carry fossil viruses in their genomes, and we've found that those fossils are actually helping protect them from infection.

"It's a fine-tuned defence system that's evolved over millions of years."

The team discovered that a bacterial enzyme called recombinase, triggered by embedded prophage DNA, flips a section of the genome to produce two new "chimeric" proteins.

These proteins block incoming viruses - or phages - from attaching to the bacterial surface and injecting their genetic material.

When researchers boosted production of these proteins in E. coli, they found the bacteria temporarily became immune to viral attack.

However, after several generations, the viruses evolved new methods to attach, demonstrating the dynamic arms race between microbes and their viral foes.

With antibiotic resistance on the rise, Wood believes the discovery could inform safer alternatives to traditional drugs.

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Sleepless nights could speed up Alzheimer's

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis have found that Alzheimer's interferes with the brain's circadian rhythms, the internal clock that regulates sleep, wakefulness, and countless biological functions.

The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, revealed that this disruption changes how hundreds of genes switch on and off throughout the day, affecting how the brain clears toxins and maintains its health.

Professor Erik S. Musiek, the study's senior author, said: "There are 82 genes associated with Alzheimer's risk, and the circadian rhythm controls about half of those.

"When that rhythm breaks down, it changes the activity of these genes - and that could influence how the disease progresses."

In mouse models, researchers found that the build-up of amyloid - a sticky protein linked to Alzheimer's - threw the brain's internal timing into chaos.

The disturbance affected microglia and astrocytes, key cells that help clean up waste and support communication between neurons.

When their daily rhythm faltered, so did their ability to remove harmful material like amyloid.

The researchers believe improving sleep and maintaining consistent daily rhythms could one day form part of a new strategy to protect the brain from Alzheimer's.