Is it too late? Researchers warn West Antarctic Ice Sheet at ‘extreme risk’ of collapse

Studies reveal Antarctic ice crisis, brainless robots powered by air, the power of ‘desert cherries’ in fighting diabetes, and the link between gut microbes and heart disease.

Representational | An iceberg photographed by NASA's DC-8 research aircraft in the Amundsen Sea in West Antarctica | NASA/Jane Peterson

New Delhi: Antarctica is on the brink of rapid and potentially irreversible transformations to its ice, oceans and ecosystems, scientists have warned in a peer-reviewed study published in the journal Nature.

Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) found that multiple large-scale processes are destabilising simultaneously across the continent, with each amplifying the other.

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is at “extreme risk” of collapse, which could raise global sea levels by over three metres, the study reports.

The team also documented a sharp decline in sea ice and weakening ocean circulation, creating feedback loops that could worsen warming across the region.

These shifts could have profound implications for Australia—from rising sea levels and disrupted marine ecosystems to stronger regional warming, the researchers said.

The loss of sea ice and increasing sea levels are also threatening wildlife populations. Numbers of emperor penguins and krill are already in decline, the study found.

The authors stressed that only rapid global cuts in greenhouse gas emissions can prevent further tipping points from being reached.

RobotAir

Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed robots that move and coordinate without any electronics, motors or computers—powered entirely by air. A peer-reviewed study published in the journal Advanced Materials on 6 November shows that these “fluidic robots” can hop, crawl and even synchronise their movements autonomously.

Led by Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science, the robots are designed as modular air-powered units that function like mechanical circuits. Each unit is capable of sensing pressure, actuating motion and controlling airflow independently.

When linked together, these units interact through their environment, allowing coordinated motion to emerge naturally—similar to how fireflies flash in unison, according to the press statement. The robots can perform complex behaviours such as sorting beads or stopping automatically at table edges, all without computer control.

Researchers say this marks a step towards “embodied intelligence”, where a robot’s body itself encodes decision-making, while demonstrating energy-efficient robotics in action.

Chinese fruit may help fight diabetes

Scientists in China have identified anti-diabetic properties in a desert fruit called Nitraria roborowskii Kom, a shrub that has long been used in traditional medicine across the country. Researchers from Qinghai University found that extracts from the plant’s fruit—locally known as “desert cherries”—significantly improved blood sugar control and restored metabolic balance in mice with diabetes.

Published in the Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy, the study reported that the extract, called NRK-C, reduced fasting blood glucose by up to 40% and improved insulin sensitivity by nearly 50 percent over seven weeks.

While further testing in humans is needed, experts say the results highlight the untapped promise of traditional medicinal plants as natural alternatives in the fight against diabetes.

Gut microbes linked to heart disease

Scientists from Seoul, South Korea, have mapped gut microbes linked to coronary artery disease (CAD) in a new study published this week in mSystems. Published on 6 November, it is one of the first studies to establish the link between gut microbes and cardiovascular disease, although scientists have been discussing this connection for years.

The team compared gut samples from 14 CAD patients and 28 healthy individuals to identify specific bacterial species and metabolic pathways associated with heart disease progression. They found 15 bacterial species associated with CAD, along with major shifts towards inflammation and metabolic imbalance in people with the condition.

The team’s next goal is to combine microbial, genetic and metabolic data to develop precision-based strategies—aiming to prevent heart disease before it starts in the gut.

(Edited by Prerna Madan)