Asteroid YR4 2024 is a near-Earth asteroid discovered in December 2024. It is an Apollo-type asteroid, which means it orbits the sun in an elliptical orbit that intersects the Earth's orbit. It made news earlier this year when the probability of YR4 hitting the Earth was raised to 3.1% in February 2025, warranting nations to take note.
The study from IISc found a previously unidentified yeast-like symbiont inside the lac insect Kerria lacca, which gives the insect its distinctive red colour and, may also provide other nutrients in return for shelter.