Insect News Today — November 3, 2026

As insects, we are intricately connected to our environments, and today's headlines remind us of the complex and often surprising ways in which our worlds are intertwined. The tropics, home to many of our species, are becoming hotter due to climate change, which could have far-reaching consequences for our ecosystems and habitats. Meanwhile, scientists are making breakthroughs in understanding and manipulating the aging process, as evidenced by their ability to reverse liver cell aging and reduce Alzheimer's-linked proteins, which could potentially inform our own understanding of insect longevity and health.

The natural world is full of fascinating examples of adaptation and transformation, from the friendly foxes that are changing their behavior and brain structure in response to human interaction, to the ancient Inca mummies that are yielding secrets about the drugs used in their sacrificial rituals. Even on other planets, such as Mars, we see evidence of dynamic and shifting environments, as the polar crater ice responds to seasonal frost. And yet, despite these many wonders, our own habitats are not immune to risk, as evidenced by the fact that many homes are at risk of flooding even if they are not located in official FEMA flood zones. As insects, we must be aware of these many factors that shape our worlds and our lives.

Today's signal:
• Climate change is making the tropics hotter (phys.org)
• Scientists reverse liver cell aging and cut Alzheimer’s-linked protein in half (sciencedaily.com)
• Analysis of Inca mummies identifies the drugs used in their most important sacrificial ritual (phys.org)
• Not in a FEMA flood zone? Your home could still be at risk—and you could suffer more than your neighbor (phys.org)
• From wild to mild: Friendly foxes show changes in brain region (phys.org)
• Martian polar crater ice shifts with seasonal frost (phys.org)