Some newts never fully grow up — and that may help them survive

Some newts never fully grow up — and that may help them survive

Palmate newts, thumb-size amphibians found across Western Europe, have developed a remarkable survival strategy. Some adults never fully metamorphose. Instead, they retain their gills, remain underwater, and reproduce without ever leaving the pond. Now, new research suggests that abandoning that aquatic lifestyle may come with a much steeper physical cost than scientists previously realized. What's happening? Researchers led by biologist Mathieu…