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Life Sciences - Health - 05.09.2023

Deciphering the ’highway code’ of our cells
A team from the University of Geneva has identified a key mechanism in the regulation of microtubules, the internal communication pathways of our cells. Cancers, degenerative diseases: deregulation of our cells' internal communication pathways is at the root of many conditions. Microtubules - microscopic protein filaments - play a crucial role in controlling these exchanges.

Life Sciences - Health - 05.09.2023

Molecule reduces inflammation in Alzheimer’s models
A potential new Alzheimer's drug represses the harmful inflammatory response of the brain's immune cells, reducing disease pathology, preserving neurons, and improving cognition in preclinical tests. Close Though drug developers have achieved some progress in treating Alzheimer's disease with medicines that reduce amyloid-beta protein, other problems of the disease, including inflammation, continue unchecked.

Life Sciences - Health - 05.09.2023

COVID infections in animals - a key to the ongoing trajectory of the pandemic?
Tracking viral transmissions between humans and animals could help identify successful mutations The COVID-19 pandemic was probably caused by the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from animals to humans, and it has been reported anecdotally that the virus can pass from humans to different animal species, too.

Chemistry - Life Sciences - 04.09.2023

New Ribozyme for Exploring the World of RNA
Important progress for RNA research: A team led by Würzburg chemistry professor Claudia Höbartner has discovered a new ribozyme that can label RNA molecules in living cells. RNA molecules are real all-rounders. They transfer the genetic information from the DNA in the cell. They regulate the activity of genes.

Life Sciences - Agronomy / Food Science - 04.09.2023

First Experimental Release of Parasitic Asian Wasp to Control Spotted-Wing Drosophila
The invasive spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) is a devastating pest in berry, stone fruit and grape crops. A natural antagonist from the fruit fly-s area of origin in East Asia is now due to be released in Switzerland for the first time by Agroscope and CABI. The experimental releases in the Cantons of Jura and Ticino aim to clarify whether this parasitic wasp can become established in Switzerland to regulate the SWD population and reduce production losses.

Life Sciences - 01.09.2023

Toddlers learn to reason logically before they learn to speak, according to a study by UPF
19-month-old toddlers already use natural logical thinking, even before they learn to speak, to deal with uncertainties about the world. This natural logic contributes to their learning process, both in terms of language and in other fields of knowledge. This is one of the main conclusions of a study led by UPF's Center for Brain and Cognition, that has been published today in the journal Current Biology .

Health - Life Sciences - 01.09.2023

Study could help explain why certain brain tumors don’t respond well to immunotherapy
Immune checkpoint blockade has been ineffective for treating glioblastoma; UCLA-led research may reveal why Health + Behavior Immune checkpoint blockade has been ineffective for treating glioblastoma; UCLA-led research may reveal why September 1, 2023 Key takeaways Immunotherapy has been effective in treating certain types of cancer, including those that spread into the brain.

Life Sciences - Chemistry - 01.09.2023

Emerging ATRP Technology Opens New Class of Biopolymers
Researchers in Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Chemistry have developed a reagent that opens new possibilities for creating DNA and RNA-based materials that could be used in ultra-stable and smart sensors for biomedical applications. The work was published on Aug. 22 in the journal Chem. "It's a very emergent technology and pushing the field," said Subha R. Das , associate professor of chemistry, who co-advises chemistry doctoral candidate Jaepil Jeong.

Chemistry - Life Sciences - 01.09.2023

New Advancements in ATRP Could Lead to Smart RNA Biopolymers
Researchers in Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Chemistry developed a novel approach for modifying synthetic and natural ribonucleic acid (RNA) substrates. The resulting materials could have applications for therapeutics such as smart gels to make transplanting organs safer.

Life Sciences - Environment - 31.08.2023

Could insights from ants help people build better transportation networks?
UCLA study finds the insects- nests reflect the way they work together - or don't - to forage for food Science + Technology UCLA study finds the insects- nests reflect the way they work together - or don't - to forage for food August 31, 2023 Key takeaways Ants can either forage for food as individuals or recruit other members of their colonies to help search for or carry food back to their nests.

Health - Life Sciences - 31.08.2023

First digital mapping of the immune cells responsible for allergies
Allergic diseases affect up to a third of the world's population, and their prevalence is constantly rising. In order to develop more targeted and effective therapies, research is mobilizing to better understand the biological and cellular mechanisms involved in the development of allergies. One type of immune cell, mast cells, is of particular interest to scientists and doctors, but little is known about them at present.

Health - Life Sciences - 31.08.2023

How fungal infections cause blood poisoning
Blood poisoning caused by a fungal infection is a severe, life-threatening condition. Researchers at the University of Bern have now discovered a mechanism that helps a yeast fungus to spread more easily within the body. The immune system, of all things, plays a major role in this process. These findings could open up new therapeutic avenues for blood poisoning caused by yeast, but also for other invasive fungal infections.

Health - Life Sciences - 31.08.2023

Boys who smoke in their early teens risk passing on harmful epigenetic traits to future children
A new study suggests boys who smoke in their early teens risk damaging the genes of their future children, increasing their chances of developing asthma, obesity and low lung function. Clinical Epigenetics is the first human study to reveal the biological mechanism behind the impact of fathers' early teenage smoking on their children.

Health - Life Sciences - 31.08.2023

Targeting age-related diseases with biomarkers
Innsbruck researchers are making a major contribution to a new international concept for aging research. A new framework for so-called biomarkers makes it easier to define the biological process of aging. In this way, the researchers are also opening up new avenues for the prevention of age-related diseases.

Health - Life Sciences - 31.08.2023

Navigational technology aids brain surgery visualization
Navigational technology used in self-driving cars aids brain surgery visualization Johns Hopkins researchers demonstrate the promise of 'augmented endoscopy,' a real-time neurosurgical guidance method that uses advanced computer vision techniques Accessing the brain for neurosurgery involves drilling and cutting that can cause deep-brain anatomy to shift or become distorted.

Life Sciences - Environment - 30.08.2023

Algae provide clues about 600 million years of plant evolution
Research team led by Göttingen University investigates 10 billion RNA snippets to identify -hub genes- The Earth's surface is covered by plants. They make up the majority of biomass on land and exhibit a wide range of diversity, from mosses to trees. This astounding biodiversity came into existence due to a fateful evolutionary event that happened just once: plant terrestrialization.

Environment - Life Sciences - 29.08.2023

Male crested macaques more likely to respond to offspring screams recruiting support
When infants are involved in agonistic conflicts, male crested macaques (Macaca nigra) are more likely to respond to screams from their own offspring. This is the conclusion of a recent study led by behavioural ecologist Professor Anja Widdig from Leipzig University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig as part of the Macaca Nigra Project (MNP).

Health - Life Sciences - 29.08.2023

Hemp helps to heal
While the German government is planning to relax legislation on the use of cannabis, researchers from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, together with colleagues from Italy, Austria and the USA, have identified the mode of action underlying anti-inflammatory effects demonstrated by cannabinoids.

Life Sciences - Environment - 29.08.2023

Male crested macaques are more likely to respond to calls for help from related juveniles
Male crested macaques (Macaca nigra) are more likely to respond to their offspring's calls for help when they are involved in conflicts. This is the conclusion of a study recently completed under the leadership of behavioral ecologist Anja Widdig from the University of Leipzig and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig as part of the Macaca Nigra Project (MNP).

Pharmacology - Life Sciences - 28.08.2023

A major step forward in the treatment of narcolepsy
Difficulty staying awake may seem trivial, but it's the main symptom of one of the most severe sleep disorders: narcolepsy. In Montpellier, the Centre de référence des narcolepsies et hypersomnies rares (Inserm/University/CHU de Montpellier) headed by Yves Dauvilliers is conducting cutting-edge research into this disease.