news

Göttingen researchers develop algorithm to uncover overlooked chemical linkages in proteins   Proteins are among the most studied molecules in biology, yet new research from the University of Göttingen shows they can still hold surprising secrets. Researchers have discovered previously undetected chemical bonds within archived protein structures, revealing an unexpected complexity in protein chemistry.

Fibroblasts play a central role in the maintenance of healthy tissue structures, but also in the development and progression of diseases. For a long time, these specialized cells of the connective tissue were regarded as a uniform cell type. A recent publication by scientists at Leipzig University Medicine makes it clear that fibroblasts in human tissue consist of different populations with specialized tasks.

International research team led by Göttingen University produces genetic activity map for rare worm   Scientists have uncovered the genetic underpinnings of one of the ocean's most bizzare animals: a branching marine worm named Ramisyllis kingghidorahi that lives inside sea sponges and reproduces in a truly extraordinary way.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Certain detergent additives known as aminopolyphosphonates can be transformed into glyphosate and other problematic substances when wastewater is treated. A research team led by Professor Stefan Haderlein of the Geoand Environmental Center at the University of has made this fundamental finding. To achieve this, the team carried out comprehensive experiments in the laboratory which also included conditions found in wastewater.

Shrub fringes on the edges of forests and fields protect animal species and have a positive effect on biodiversity: This was reported by a research team from the University of Würzburg. They are the transition zones between forest and open landscape and serve as habitats and retreats for various animal species.

Voltage-gated calcium channels are associated with numerous diseases. A new research group led by Nadine Ortner from the Institute of Pharmacy at the University of Innsbruck is now focusing on gene mutations that impair the function of a specific channel subtype known as CaV1. The five-person interdisciplinary team is funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) with 1.64 million euros.

To the point Mother-offspring attachment in the wild: Wild chimpanzees develop secure or insecure-avoidant attachments to their mothers, but not disorganised attachments, suggesting that it is not a viable survival strategy in the wild. Attachment types: Chimpanzees with secure attachment are confident, while those with insecure-avoidant attachment are more independent.

Teamwork is crucial for proteins. Little is known, however, about which protein teams are actually active in which tissues. A new large-scale study by systems biologists at ETH Zurich is now redrawing the map. The human body and its organs are composed of a wide variety of cell types. Although all cells contain the same genes, they function very differently - partly because protein interactions differ between cells.

Researchers have discovered key 'units' in large AI models that seem to be important for language, mirroring the brain's language system. When these specific units were turned off, the models got much worse at language tasks. Large Language Models (LLMs) are not just good at understanding and using language, they can also reason or think logically, solve problems and some can even predict the thoughts, beliefs or emotions of people they interact with.

University of Manchester scientists have successfully pioneered a way to create functioning human spinal discs, aiming to revolutionise our understanding of back pain and disc degeneration in a leap for medical science. The groundbreaking research, led by Dr Matthew J. Kibble, used a state-of-the-art 3D printing technique called bioprinting to replicate the complex structure and environment of human spinal discs.

A research team at the Carl Ludwig Institute of Physiology at Leipzig University has shown for the first time how the energy content of individual nerve cells in the brain changes during so-called depolarization waves, waves of activity that occur in various brain diseases. The results provide an important basis for understanding the energy metabolism in the event of an acute lack of blood flow, such as occurs in strokes.

Researchers at the University of Bern, together with scientists from Stanford University and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), have discovered a new cellular mechanism that controls the stability of messenger RNA (mRNA) in cells. When this mechanism is disrupted, tumors can grow more quickly.

In a new study, researchers at the University of Würzburg are investigating the interaction of major global change drivers on insects. The number and diversity of insects is declining worldwide. Some studies suggest that their biomass has almost halved since the 1970s. Among the main reasons for this are habitat loss - for example through agriculture or urbanization - and climate change.

The behavior of Antarctic krill not only reacts to external environmental influences such as light or food. It also uses its internal clock to adapt to the extreme conditions of the polar environment. Individually, Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba ) do not make much of an impression. With a maximum body length of six centimetres, a weight of just two grams and its transparent skin, it does not look very spectacular.