How do insects perceive mechanical stress? This is a question of interest in many different fields including comparative morphology, neurobiology and robotics. A team led by Brian Saltin of the Bonn Institute of Organismic Biology has developed a computer model to study the fruit fly Drosophila, focusing on the creature's tiny sensory organs for perceiving mechanical stress located near its leg joints.

Analysing gravity data collected by spacecraft orbiting the moon reveals groundbreaking insights about the Moon-s deep internal structure without having to land on the surface. The study offers evidence that a warmer interior on the Moon-s near side compared to the far side created the conditions for volcanic activity, that may have lasted far longer than expected.

Roots 'feel' gravity to extend and anchor themselves in the soil, but they can alter their growth direction toward a water source when needed. However, according to a new study by scientists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and Northwest A&F University in China, this change is promoted by drought conditions, which suppress the roots' gravity-sensing ability.

Sophie Adelaars researches sweat and saliva testing as an alternative to blood sampling. What if we could monitor patients in the future without taking blood samples every time? TU/e researcher Sophie Adelaars investigated a promising alternative: measuring biomarkers in sweat and saliva. This week, she defended her thesis at the Department of Electrical Engineering.

Research team identifies global gaps in national food self-sufficiency   Growing emphasis on self-reliance and trade barriers could impair the ability of people to consume healthy and sustainable diets around the world. Research teams from the University of Göttingen and the University of Edinburgh investigated the extent to which 186 countries can feed their own populations solely through domestic production.

Taste, pain, or response to stress - nearly all'essential functions in the human body are regulated by molecular switches called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Researchers at the University of Basel have uncovered the fundamental mechanism how such a GPCR works. Using a method similar to the earth satellite GPS, they could track the motions of a GPCR and observe it in action.

Hiding behind numerous disguises, HIV has been evading researchers for years, leaving the search for a vaccine as elusive as the virus itself. Once believed to exist as pure strains or subtypes, new research shows the virus evolves constantly, combining dangerous elements that complicate treatment. As part of its evasive techniques, the virus can lie dormant in cells, avoiding treatments and the body's own immune system.

For honeybees to overwinter successfully, several factors must work together. Researchers at the University of Würzburg have now identified a crucial one: The more diverse the diet, the greater the chances of survival. Especially in temperate climates, winter poses a major challenge for honeybee colonies.

A new research project led by scientists at The University of Manchester in collaboration with global energy company Equinor ASA will unlock crucial insights into how microbes in deep underground storage sites could impact the success of carbon capture and storage (CCS). As the UK strives to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050, secure and permanent geological storage of CO2 is essential to avoid the worst-case consequences of climate change.

The architecture for complex communication already existed in the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees   To the point Language Connection: Researchers discovered a neuronal connection related to language in chimpanzee brains, previously thought to be unique to humans. Arcuate Fasciculus: The arcuate fasciculus links language areas in the brain; this connection exists in chimpanzees but is weaker than in humans.

A research team from RWTH Aachen University has impressively demonstrated the effectiveness of nanoparticle-based combination therapies in cancer treatment in a recent study. The results have now been published in the renowned journal Nature Nanotechnology . The work by Karina Benderski, Prof. Twan Lammers and Alexandros Marios Sofias from the Institute of Experimental Molecular Imaging is the first comprehensive quantitative analysis of so-called multi-drug nanomedicine.

Research at the University of Lausanne's School of Criminal Sciences combines infrared spectroscopy and AI for fast, reliable detection in the field. The research, led by Hervé Rais, Olivier Delémont and Pierre Esseiva, involves deploying portable and rapid techniques for the detection and analysis of falsified medicines.

Young people in the UK who lived in polluted areas during their early years are more likely to report worse general health than their peers at age 17, according to new UCL research. The study, published in  Scientific Reports ,  reveals that teens from ethnic minority backgrounds and deprived neighbourhoods were particularly at risk of being exposed to high levels of air pollution during childhood, with potential long-term impacts on their health.

The body defends itself against pathogens by depriving them of vital iron. However, this strategy doesn't always succeed against Salmonella. Researchers at the University of Basel have discovered that these bacteria specifically target iron-rich regions within immune cells to replicate. Their findings on how pathogens evade the immune defense are important for fighting infections.

Nanoparticle Combination Therapies Significantly Enhance Tumor Growth Inhibition. In a study recently published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, researchers at RWTH demonstrate the effectiveness of multi-drug nanomedicine for cancer treatment. Their findings highlight a major step forward in translational research and could help shape new treatment protocols in oncology.

A new study published in the journal Vaccine reveals that improvements in the supply chain and delivery of human rabies vaccines in Tanzania and Kenya could significantly reduce preventable deaths and ensure more efficient use of health budgets. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Glasgow, Ifakara Health Institute, the Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (CEMA) at the University of Nairobi, the University of Edinburgh, and Washington State University, with support from the Wellcome Trust.

The brain uses a dual system for learning through trial and error, according to a new study in mice led by UCL researchers. This is the first time a second learning system has been identified, which could help explain how habits are formed, and provide a scientific basis for new strategies to address conditions related to habitual learning, such as addictions and compulsions.

Dog vaccination programmes are a highly effective way to control and, ultimately, eliminate rabies, however new research has shown just how detrimental geographical gaps in vaccine coverage can be for virus control. The new research, led by the University of Glasgow in collaboration with the Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania, and Global Animal Health Tanzania, examined two decades of dog vaccination data from the Serengeti district, from 2002 to 2022.

The brain's ability to integrate internal body signals with external stimuli is essential for survival. A recent study led by Marzia De Lucia in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at CHUV reveals that this mechanism persists even in coma Our body and brain are in constant interaction. This dialogue is crucial not only for reacting to signals from our organs, but also for interpreting stimuli from our environment.

Sophisticated chemical analysis of volcanic gases from Kenya have provided the first evidence that a vast mass of deep Earth material lies beneath East Africa. An international team of scientists led by Professor Fin Stuart from the University of Glasgow, working in partnership with the Kenya Geothermal Development Company, has discovered surprising results in a new study of gases from the Menengai geothermal field in central Kenya.