Bird communities in forests change significantly over the course of the year. Nevertheless, the differences between various forest types remain clearly discernible across the seasons. This is shown by a new study conducted by researchers from Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Northwest German Forest Research Institute.

Birds play a larger role in the dispersal of wild cotton than previously assumed. This is shown by a study in the journal Oikos, carried out in southern Africa. Researchers discovered that birds actively collect wild cotton as nesting material and in doing so move seeds over distances of more than a kilometre.

Scientists at Caltech have figured out how to precisely engineer tiny three-dimensional (3D) metallic pieces with nanoscale dimensions. The process can work with any metal or metal alloy and yields components of surprising strength despite having a porous and defect-ridden microstructure, making it potentially useful in a wide range of applications, including medical devices, computer chips, and equipment needed for space missions.

A single conversation can make the difference: brief, structured interventions after a person has attempted suicide significantly reduce the risk of a renewed attempt. This is revealed by an international meta-analysis led by the University of Zurich. People who have already attempted suicide once are at much greater risk of making further.

Injections are considered the most important first-line treatment for acute, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), which can manifest, among other symptoms, as a drop in blood pressure. This recommendation is based primarily on clinical experience and observational data, as placebo-controlled studies in humans with severe anaphylaxis are not feasible.

Researchers at Leipzig University have achieved a success in microrobotics. They were able to show for the first time that tiny, synthetic microswimmers perceive their environment directly via their own body shape and adapt autonomously in strongly changing fluid currents. The work now published in Science Advances thus establishes a new paradigm for autonomous microsystems whose control functions in difficult environments where conventional sensors fail.

VUB Data Analytics Lab solves mathematicians Ran and Teng's 2024 conjecture with commercial language model VUB's Data Analytics Lab publishes new results showing that it is possible to develop original mathematical proofs using commercial language models. In the publication Early Evidence of Vibe-Proving with Consumer LLMs: A Case Study on Spectral Region Characterisation with ChatGPT-5.2 (Thinking), the researchers show that OpenAI' s commercial large language model ChatGPT-5.2 (Thinking) could independently solve a mathematical problem.

Working memory is a cognitive function that is essential for carrying out everyday activities and temporarily retaining information. This process enables us to understand information, learn and manage responses in a controlled manner - abilities that are often impaired in certain neurodegenerative diseases.

Two-year-olds already have a surprisingly good sense of when it is someone's turn to speak. This is shown by new research conducted by linguist Imme Lammertink from the Baby & Child Research Centre at Radboud University, together with colleagues from the Max Planck Institute and the University of Chicago.

A team from the University of Geneva shows that early alterations in the brain's clearance system could contribute to vulnerability to psychosis. How can we explain the onset of psychotic symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia? Despite their major and often irreversible impact on intellectual abilities and autonomy, the biological mechanisms that precede their emergence remain poorly understood.

In the fight against the climate crisis, countries are pinning great hope in reforestation projects. In a new study, researchers show that the location in which reforestation is taking place is usually more important than the number of trees planted. If forests are strategically positioned, the same cooling effect could be achieved using half the area of land.

Researchers at Leipzig University have achieved a breakthrough in microrobotics. For the first time, they have shown that tiny synthetic microswimmers can perceive their surroundings directly through their own body shape and autonomously adapt to rapidly changing fluid flows. The study, now published in Science Advances, establishes a new paradigm for autonomous microsystems whose control functions reliably in challenging environments where conventional sensors fail.

Exhaled breath can provide a treasure trove of health information, offering a noninvasive window to both respiratory microenvironments and systemic physiological states. But collecting such data is a challenge. In 2024, Caltech's Wei Gao , professor of medical engineering, and members of his laboratory developed a prototype for a smart mask that uses clues from exhaled breath to monitor for a range of medical conditions, including respiratory ailments such as asthma and post-COVID-19 infections.

A four-year study in the Dutch part of the North Sea shows that a small-scale offshore solar farm did not cause measurable changes in currents and water mixing. At the same time, multiple species settled on the floating installations within a short period of time, including mussels, barnacles and other small marine animals.

Research published in Science Advances has uncovered new insights into why the most aggressive oesophageal cancers are so difficult to treat and how the body's own defence systems are helping them to thrive. The study, led by Professor Eileen Parkes and her team in the Department of Oncology at the University of Oxford, analysed patient-donated tumour samples and found that the most dangerous types of oesophageal cancers share a key feature: high chromosomal instability.

This weekend we will be switching to a new system for handling student queries. From 16 March you can track the status of your question or request in your portal. Click to read the news article. Better insulation and ventilation in social housing means that children need less medication for asthma or allergies.

The new experimental compound works through an epigenetic mechanism that acts not only on the symptoms of the disease, but directly on the molecular mechanisms that contribute to its progression. Health A team from the University of Barcelona has designed and validated in animal models an innovative compound with a pioneering mechanism of action for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The University and University Hospital of Würzburg have demonstrated magnetic particle imaging on humans for the first time. The new procedure enables radiation-free visualisation of blood vessels in real time. 131 years ago, the physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered the rays named after him in Würzburg, enabling completely new methods for visualising the human body.

Three striking new species of rock-dwelling monitor lizards have been  formally described  from the savannas of north-eastern Queensland, revealing a previously unrecognised evolutionary lineage. The discovery, led by researchers from The Australian National University (ANU), identified the Rainbow Rock Monitor ( Varanus iridis ), the Orange-headed Rock Monitor ( Varanus umbra ) and the Yellow-headed Rock Monitor ( Varanus phosphoros ).

Does feeding less protein over a longer period not only reduce nitrogen losses, but also affect methane emissions? Researchers at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) investigated this in a multi-year study with dairy cows, funded by the Vereniging Diervoederonderzoek Nederland (VDN), LVVN and the Melkveefonds.