CuriosiTEA Journal Club 

Student summary by Elizabeth Li Original Source: Sharoni, T. et al., Nature Ecology and Evolution, June 26, 2026 https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/scientists-discover-a-hidden-antiviral-immune-system-in-sea-anemones-that-works-the-opposite-way-from-humans-yet-still-stops-deadly-viruses Image created by Elizabeth Li Abstract Background: Viruses have infected living organisms for hundreds of millions of years, driving the evolution of unique defense systems in different species.

Student Summary By Jayden Ahn Original Source: No individual author listed, Science Daily, July 1, 2026 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621031409.html Image created by Jayden Ahn Abstract Background: Millions of years ago, in the Late Cretaceous Period, there was a group of bird-like dinosaurs called oviraptors. Of course they went extinct millions of years ago, but to this day there is a 70-million-year-old mystery about these dinos. Oviraptors incuba

Student Summary By Olivia Hwang Original Source: Maddie Burakoff, Audubon, May 29, 2025 https://www.audubon.org/magazine/hummingbird-rapidly-evolved-longer-beak-slurp-more-nectar-feeders-new-study-finds Image Photographed By Olivia Hwang Abstract Background: Anna’s Hummingbirds were historically found only in a small range of chaparral habitat in southern California and northern Mexico, where the mild climate let them feed on nectar year-round. However, with the recent commer

Student Summary by Elizabeth Li Original Source: University of Birmingham, SciTechDaily, June 18, 2026 https://scitechdaily.com/these-tiny-birds-became-giants-on-remote-scottish-islands/ Image created by Elizabeth Li Abstract Background: A common evolutionary pattern found in species of animals isolated on islands for prolonged periods of time is a change in body size. This pattern is sometimes called the “island rule” or island gigantism, and it belongs to a broader set of c