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If we can understand exactly how neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS progress in fruit flies, we may also gain valuable insights into how these diseases develop in humans. Research by neurobiologist Marije Been of Radboud University shows that the formation of certain protein clumps may mark the onset of ALS.

Ancient teeth reveal mammalian responses to climate change in Southeast Asia over the last 150,000 years Isotopic Analysis: A new study shows that ancient mammals' dietary flexibility influenced their survival during climate changes over the past 150,000 years in Southeast Asia. Research Findings: The study analyzed 141 fossil teeth and found that animals with varied diets survived better, while specialists with narrow diets went extinct.

Research team identifies oxygen isotopes in "cherts" as indicator of heat flow on early Earth   Rocks store information from long ago. For instance, their composition can reveal the environmental conditions during their formation. This makes them extremely important in climate research. This led a research team at the University of Göttingen and the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences to investigate the following: do "cherts" - sedimentary rocks that form when silica-rich sediment mud is buried hundreds of meters deep - reveal anything about the climate of the past?

A study by the University of Bonn proves that transformer models used in chemistry learn only statistical correlations Language models are now also being used in the natural sciences. In chemistry, they are employed, for instance, to predict new biologically active compounds. Chemical language models (CLMs) must be extensively trained.

Researchers uncover how transcription factor dosage reshapes cell identity, showing that even small differences in dose can steer cells toward completely different fates. Their findings reveal a new layer of control in cell reprogramming. Transcription factors are proteins that control gene expression in a cell.

A simple change in species composition can impact the course of evolution: A research team from the University of Bern and the University of British Columbia in Canada shows that the presence of just one other fish species is enough to drive the emergence of new species in sticklebacks. It has long been assumed that adaptation to different habitats plays an important role in the evolution of new species.

A team from the University of Geneva and HUG has discovered a subgroup of immune cells particularly involved in the disease, paving the way for more precise treatments and avoiding certain side effects. Multiple sclerosis, which affects around one in 500 people in Switzerland, is an autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack the central nervous system, causing irreversible damage.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are well known as a form of cancer treatment. Researchers at UZH have now identified a new, important function of these inhibitors: promotion of tissue healing. This finding could help advance the treatment of fibrosis and chronic wounds. The body employs a protective mechanism that curbs overzealous immune responses.

Last Updated: 15 Oct 2025 19:00:10 Novel research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University, has revealed the epidemiology of phaeochromocytoma, a rare adrenal tumour, in dogs. The new study uncovers previously unreported breed predispositions and other demographic risk factors, which will contribute to improved recognition of canine phaeochromocytoma in general veterinary practice and deepen the understanding of the cancer.

The brain's mechanisms for repairing injuries caused by trauma or degenerative diseases are not yet known in detail. Now, a study by the University of Barcelona describes a new strategy based on stem cell therapy that could enhance neuronal regeneration and neuroplasticity when this vital organ is damaged.

Interdisciplinary team develops "Linked-Lives" model for exploring individuality in social contexts / Publication in Nature Human Behaviour Why do individuals - both humans and animals - differ so greatly in how they interact with others? How do social experiences shape these differences? And what consequences do variations in social behaviour have for individuals and communities? An interdisciplinary research team led by psychologists Dr Niclas

Researchers and the changing Siberian landscape The Arctic tundra is not only a place of untouched nature, but also a hotspot for ecological change. Researchers studying the fragile balance of the tundra are uncovering alarming signs: the disappearance of lichens and the increase in fires mark the start of a chain reaction with potential global consequences.

An EPFL study shows red light, like blue, causes stronger glare than white, challenging the century-old and globally used function that describes how the human eye responds to different light wavelengths. The findings have implications for standards and research, as well as for the comfort of building occupants.

Quitting smoking in middle age or later is linked to slower age-related cognitive decline over the long term, according to a new study by UCL researchers. The study, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity , looked at data from 9,436 people aged 40 or over (with an average age of 58) in 12 countries, comparing cognitive test results among people who quit smoking with those of a matched control group who kept smoking.

From computer chips to quantum dots-technological platforms such as these were only made possible thanks to a detailed understanding of the used solid-state materials, such as silicon or more complex semiconductor materials. This understanding also includes being able to identify and control irregularities in the crystal lattice of such materials.

Oxford research reveals need to support children across entire weight spectrum, not just those with obesity. The NHS incurs an estimated £340 million in additional healthcare costs annually due to weight-related health problems in children, but it is not just obesity driving the costs. New research from the University of Oxford reveals that underweight children need comparable medical support as those who are severely obese, challenging assumptions about childhood health priorities.

With implications for aging and dementia, a study finds game-like online exercises offset signs of aging in key brain systems for learning and memory - the first of any intervention shown to do so A McGill University-led clinical trial is the first in humans to show online brain training exercises can improve brain networks affecting learning and memory.

Why do some people only use cannabis once, while others become frequent users and some go on to develop cannabis use disorder? The first study of its kind to look at the trait of frequency of cannabis use has shed light on possible genetic factors at play. Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry postdoctoral researcher Hayley Thorpe collaborated with researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine to conduct the study while serving as a visiting scholar there.

Groundwater commonly contains methane, but the amount of this important greenhouse gas that can escape to surface waters or the atmosphere is highly uncertain A team from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry and University of Jena has shown that microbes in groundwater significantly reduce methane emissions, as revealed in a new study published in PNAS.

Satellite data can refine risk assessments and improve safety for critical infrastructure. A new method, published in Nature Communications, reveals that one-third fewer bridges are classified as high-risk when spaceborne monitoring availability is integrated into risk assessments. This enables infrastructure authorities to make better-informed maintenance decisions.