Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 22h

Over 4,600 odorant receptors annotated across 70+ Nymphalids (mostly Heliconiinae) and moths!
Our new paper reveals lineage-specific OR expansions/contractions shaping butterfly olfactory evolution.
Huge thanks to @giorgiobianchini and his amazing treeviewer.org
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...

2

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 22h

We find striking lineage specific expansions and contractions...

1 1

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 22h

New paper out! A nice collaboration.
We explore how olfactory brain structures and receptors evolved across this remarkable group, Heliconiini butterflies.

Evolution of the olfactory system during the radiation of Heliconiini butterflies

Abstract. Sensory system evolution plays a crucial role in shaping species’ interactions with their environment, yet the extent to which olfactory system d

academic.oup.com

1 8 19

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 7d

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

Olfactory floral mimicry of injured ants mediates the attraction of kleptoparasitic fly pollinators

Mochizuki reports a plant that lures pollinating flies by imitating the scent of ants injured by predators. This study reveals the first known case of ant mimicry in flowers and uncovers previously un...

share.google

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 11d

Finally... Grant proposal submitted!

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Molecular Biology and Evolution @molbioevol.bsky.social · 16d

Villalobos-Leiva et al. analysed population structure, genetic diversity, and geometric morphometrics of wing shape in Vanessa carye, supporting its status as a migratory species with the longest journey among American butterflies.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molb...

#evobio #molbio #migration

MBE | Tales of a Super Butterfly: Is Vanessa carye a Truly Migrant Species? Unraveling Migration Using Morphological and Genomics Approaches

1 4

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Tatsuya Amano @tatsuya-amano.bsky.social · 19d

Women, non-native English speakers & those form low-income countries are disadvantaged in science but by how much? We found that women with non-English first languages from low-income countries publish up to 70% fewer in English than their counterparts. 1/5
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
#languagebarriers

Scientific productivity gap based on English-language peer-reviewed papers. Shown are the maximum % differences in the number of peer-reviewed papers published by female native English speakers from a high-income country (-45%), female non-native English speakers from a high-income country (-60%), and female non-native English speakers from a lower-middle income country (-70%), compared to male native English speakers from a high-income country (red flag).

5 63 95

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 21d

#GameOverIsrael

#GameOverIsrael: European campaign calls to boycott Israel in football

YouTube video by Middle East Eye

youtube.com

1

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Emília Santos @emiliapsantos.bsky.social · 22d

Very proud of this extremely collaborative piece: academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Here, we show that divergence in visual systems - in response to differences in the light environment - leads to rapid divergence in sexually selected colour traits. Work brilliantly led by Madeleine Carruthers. 🐟👀🎨

Rapid Divergence of Visual Systems and Signaling Traits to Contrasting Light Regimes During Early Speciation of African Crater Lake Cichlid Fish

Abstract. Sensory adaptation is widely hypothesized to drive ecological speciation, yet empirical evidence from natural populations undergoing early stage

academic.oup.com

1 20 37

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Science Magazine @science.org · 22d

A new Science study of ants in Fiji—involving genomic sequencing of over 4000 ant specimens from museum collections—shows that most native species have been in decline since humans first arrived in the archipelago 3000 years ago. https://scim.ag/489mI2o

Genomic signatures indicate biodiversity loss in an endemic island ant fauna

Insect populations have declined worldwide, but the extent and drivers of these declines are debated. Most studies rely on field surveys performed in the past century, leaving gaps in our understandin...

www.science.org

17 48

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 23d

𝘊𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘢 𝘴𝘱.

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 23d

1

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Max Farnworth @maxfarnworth.bsky.social · 25d

Our paper on central complex evolution in Heliconiini butterflies is now available as reviewed preprint at @elife.bsky.social 🎉🎉. Please check out the helpful and constructive reviews which we are going to address in the next weeks 🤗 elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre... @ebablab.bsky.social

Distinct evolutionary trajectories of two integration centres, the central complex and mushroom bodies, across Heliconiini butterflies

elifesciences.org

3 18 50

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 25d

Constraints on chromosome evolution revealed by the 229 chromosome pairs of the Atlas blue butterfly

The genome of the Atlas blue butterfly contains ten times more chromosomes than most butterflies, and more than any other known diploid animal. Wright et al. show that this extraordinary karyotype is ...

www.cell.com

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 26d

Protecting Indigenous territories in areas of the Amazon rainforest with high levels of forest cover may help reduce the number of cases of several diseases in the surrounding areas, according to an analysis in Communications Earth & Environment. go.nature.com/47z1jPX 🧪

This is figure 2, which shows trends in incidence of fire-related and zoonotic/vector-borne diseases across the Amazon.

9 20

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 27d

🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

'Butterfly' Explores 4,000 Years of Our Fascination with Lepidoptera in Art and Science

A new book forthcoming from Phaidon celebrates our love for these prolific winged things throughout millennia.

www.thisiscolossal.com

1

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · 28d

Boop!

I Booped a Caterpillar Every Day for 33 Days.

YouTube video by Autumn Parks

youtube.com

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo @multicellgenome.bsky.social · Sep 8

More on the ancient foundation of animal development. Coyle & King illustrate how core regulatory modules were present in our pre-animal ancestors. The key was not invention, but recycling & new protein interactions. #CellBiology #multicellularity #protistsOnSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

21 74

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Molecular Biology and Evolution @molbioevol.bsky.social · Sep 5

Red devil spiders from the Canary Islands have a genome half the size of mainland counterparts - Pisarenco, @jrozasub.bsky.social et al. show how purifying selection against slightly deleterious DNA and TE insertions is the primary mechanism.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf206

#evobio #molbio #TEsky

How Did Evolution Halve Genome Size During an Oceanic Island Colonization?

Abstract. Red devil spiders of the genus Dysdera colonized the Canary Islands and underwent an extraordinary diversification. Notably, their genomes are ne

doi.org

21 36

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Molecular Biology and Evolution @molbioevol.bsky.social · Sep 1

Hines et al. examined the genetics of parallel color pattern acquisition in three bumble bees in Western N. America - in three lineages, color shifts map to the regulatory region of a segmental-fate-determining Hox gene called Abdominal B.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf187

#evobio #molbio

MBE | Similar Genetic Routes Are Independently Targeted for Mimetic Color Convergence in Bumble Bees

2 10

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · Sep 1

Finally good news!

Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · Sep 1

A study in Nature Communications shows that countries are at different stages of a common global sequence of decline in religious participation, personal importance of religion, and religious belonging. go.nature.com/4oPDLfM 🧪

This is figure 1, which shows religiosity-cohort gap in participation, importance, and belonging in different countries (country secularity ranked).

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · Aug 31

This is a great opportunity to learn all about genomics!!!!!

Workshops @evomics.bsky.social · Jul 25

Early bird applications for the Workshop on Genomics 2026 are still open until the 1st of August, we have a few spots left! Do not miss the chance to get a discount! 🙆🏽‍♀️ #evomics2026
Apply here: evomics.org/apply-worksh...

Workshops @evomics.bsky.social · Jul 1

Applications are now open for the Workshop on Genomics 2026 (11-24 Jan) in Cesky Krumlov, Czechia. For the first time, we are offering Early Bird Registration discounts! 🐣 Do not miss the chance! 🤩 Help us spread the word among friends and colleagues! 🙆🏽‍♀️ #evomics2026
evomics.org/apply-worksh...

1 2

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Joseph Spencer @talkingrootworm.bsky.social · Jan 6

“Bedazzled Jewels” The #metalmark butterflies (Fam. #Riodinidae) include many stunning species w/ diverse forms. In this group are the #Helicopiini, which are furry & often adorned w/ metallic scales. Here are Elegant #Jewelmark, #Anteros allectus, & Black-bellied Jewelmark, A. formosus. #Ecuador

Fuzzy white butterfly with green eyes and dark tarsi resting on a leaf, it has dark spots on the undersides of the wings accented with green and silver metal scales.

Fuzzy white butterfly with green eyes and dark tarsi resting on a leaf, it has red polygons scattered on the undersides of its wings that are accented with green and silver metal scales. The color scheme of this jewelmark reminds me of Christmas decorations.

4 11

Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi

Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · Aug 27

A study in Nature Medicine identifies the Mediterranean diet as a promising approach to mitigate genetically dependent Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias risk by targeting a broad spectrum of metabolic pathways. go.nature.com/469m6s3 #medsky 🍎📃 🧪

This is figure 1, which shows the prospective cohort studies examining the interrelationship of genetics, plasma metabolomics, MedDiet, cognitive function and dementia risk.

5 20

Francesco Cicconardi @fcicconardi.bsky.social · Aug 26

"#Antisemitism" cuts...

edition.cnn.com/2025/08/25/u...

$2.4B of Harvard’s canceled research grants, visualized | CNN

As Harvard University and the Trump administration negotiate a funding stalemate, billions of dollars of research grants hang in the balance.

edition.cnn.com