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Wildflowers growing on land previously used for buildings and factories can accumulate lead, arsenic and other metal contaminants from the soil, which are consumed by pollinators as they feed, a new study has found. Our results should not discourage people from planting wildflowers in towns and cities.

The human brain can learn through experience to filter out disturbing and distracting stimuli - such as a glaring roadside billboard or a flashing banner on the internet. Scientists at Leipzig University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam have used electroencephalography (EEG) to show that early visual processing in humans changes with repeated exposure.

The human brain can learn through experience to block out disturbing and distracting stimuli, such as a glaring billboard on the side of the road or a flashing banner on the internet. Researchers at Leipzig University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam have discovered with the help of brain wave measurements (EEG) that early visual processing in humans changes through repeated experience.

Growing cells in the laboratory is an art that humans have mastered decades ago. Recreating entire three-dimensional tissues is much more challenging. researchers are developing a new hydrogel-based material that makes it possible to engineer artificial skin tissues, which can serve as living three-dimensional models of human skin for better understanding and treating skin diseases.

New insights into dopamine in focal cortical dysplasia: For the first time, a research team in Bonn is systematically investigating the role of the dopamine system in a common form of therapy-resistant epilepsy. Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type 2 is a congenital malformation of the cerebral cortex that is often associated with difficult-to-treat epilepsy.

A new study examines the symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizal fungi in plant roots and bacterial communities in the soil. Since time immemorial, plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have coexisted in a mutually beneficial relationship. The fungi colonize plant roots and help them absorb nutrients.

Men fall in love slightly more often than women, but women obsess about their partner more than men, according to a first-of-its-kind study investigating the differences between sexes from The Australian National University (ANU). Lead author and ANU PhD student, Adam Bode, said that while previous studies have researched the difference in romantic love between the sexes, this is the first to do it with people currently in love.  "This is the first study to investigate differences between women and men experiencing romantic love, using a relatively large cross-cultural sample.

Research led by Dr. Li-Fang (Jack) Chu at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is uncovering how species-specific developmental timing shapes early development, using pig stem-cells. Understanding how cells grow and change can unlock new therapies for regenerative medicine and Chu's team is showing encouraging results by creating retinal tissues similar to that found in human eyes.

Pathogenic salmonella inject effector proteins into the cells of the stomach and intestinal tissue in order to penetrate and multiply there. The bacteria, which are usually ingested with food, cause dangerous gastrointestinal inflammation and even systemic infections, especially in children and the elderly.

Scientists identified a brain circuit where lies the origin the social difficulties experienced by people with autism spectrum disorders. From birth, human survival depends on the ability to engage with others. This ability, which is essential for development, seems to be impaired very early on in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), who show limited interest in social stimuli from their first year of life.

A novel paper led by Ulrich Brose of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) is widening understanding of how species interact within ecosystems via the so-called ,Internet of Nature'. Published in 'Nature Ecology and Evolution', the paper reveals that species not only exchange matter and energy but also share vital information that influences behaviour, interactions, and ecosystem dynamics - revealing previously hidden characteristics of natural ecosystems.

Have you ever been so laser focused on a task-playing a video game, reading an engrossing book, and so on-that when you look up, hours have suddenly gone by? This is commonly referred to as flow state: a state of absorbed concentration and a distorted sense of time. Studies have shown that working in the flow state has a positive impact on happiness and productivity.

Multiple antibiotic resistance is auxiliary to bacterial fitness and adaptability Could a gene regulatory network in gut microbes have evolved its elaborate and tightly regulated molecular machinery only to pump out antibiotics indiscriminately? Researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) show this is an auxiliary function.

A study co-led by the UB lays the chemical foundations that will allow the production of tailored alginates to meet the production demand in different industrial sectors Every year, thousands of tonnes of brown algae are extracted from the seabed to obtain compounds such as alginates, a polymer composed of sugars that has high density and strength, offering potential biotechnological applications.

The detection of peripheral neural stem cells could transform the treatment of Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injuries To the point Peripheral neural stem cells: Researchers have discovered a new type of neural stem cell in the lungs of mice. These cells have similar properties to the known neural stem cells in the brain, including self-rejuvenation and differentiation ability.

Cambridge researchers have created a 'metal detector' algorithm that can hunt down vulnerable tumours, in a development that could one day revolutionise the treatment of cancer. Genomic sequencing is now far faster and cheaper than ever before. We are getting closer to the point where getting your tumour sequenced will be as routine as a scan or blood test Serena Nik-Zainal In a paper published today in Nature Genetics, scientists at the University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre analysed the full DNA sequence of 4,775 tumours from seven types of cancer.

Long-standing problem solved: Researchers discover that misfolding prevents efficient utilisation of so-called split inteins as 'protein glue' Proteins are the building blocks of life. They consist of folded peptide chains, which in turn are made up of a series of amino acids. From stabilising cell structure to catalysing chemical reactions, proteins have many functions.

How can artificial intelligence enhance our understanding of the visual system in the brain? An international research team (MICrONS), with the participation of the University of Göttingen, has developed new AI models to decode the complex processing of visual stimuli in the brain. The researchers investigated how the shape, connectivity and activity of nerve cells in the mouse brain are related.

Parental genetic traits linked to changes in children's DNA methylation A new study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry , shows that parents' genetic traits-especially those of mothers-can influence how their children's DNA is expressed, even when those traits are not directly inherited.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have unravelled the complex network that cells use to repair their genetic material. By examining thousands upon thousands of genetic interactions, the team has discovered new vulnerabilities in cancer cells that could be exploited therapeutically in the future. The DNA of human cells consists of a sequence of about 3.1 billion building blocks.