Disk rescue: At Cambridge University in Cambridge, England, archivists are working to save files stored on old floppy disks before the data disappears for good. The project began when disks once used by physicist Stephen Hawking arrived at the library. Their tests found that mold, worn surfaces, and weak magnetism can erase information completely. To protect what remains, the team now looks for disks from writers and public figures who relied on early computers. Because each format needs its own machine, collectors help by lending equipment and sharing know-how. More long-forgotten disks appear as people clear out storage, adding small pieces to a fading digital past.
Web metropolis: Deep in a cave near the Greek-Albanian border, researchers found a huge sheet of connected spider webs spread across a narrow passage, forming a single structure built by two different species. The colony holds over 111,000 spiders gathered on the wall, creating numbers rarely seen in one place. Instead of competing, the species share the space and feed on tiny insects that cluster near the cave’s sulphur-rich surfaces. The web itself is made of overlapping funnel-like sections that blend into one massive network. Scientists visit the site to study how creatures adjust to places with almost no light. Even those who dislike spiders might admit the scale is impressive.
