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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.

When the cellular waste disposal system goes on strike, this can have fatal consequences. A research team at the University of Würzburg has now identified a key player in this clean-up crew. A special enzyme - the so-called ubiquitin-selective unfoldase p97/VCP - is one of the main players when cells remove malformed or excess proteins from their interior.

Wild chimpanzees alter the meaning of single calls when embedding them into diverse call combinations, mirroring linguistic operations in human language To the point Chimpanzees are capable of complex communication: The human capacity for language may not be as unique as previously thought. Chimpanzees have a complex communication system that allows them to combine calls to create new meanings, similar to human language.

Analysing the gene activity of every single bacterial cell in a colony? A new technique from Würzburg can do this much more efficiently than other methods. Not all'individuals in a population of bacteria are identical. Some may be on the verge of cell division, others are differentiating, others are in the process of adapting to changing environmental conditions.

For the first time, scientists from Leipzig University and other research institutions have gained comprehensive insights into the entire nervous system of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). They have just published the first study in the scientific journal "Nature" that describes in detail the nerve cells (neurons) that span the entire nervous system of the adult fruit fly.

Study of twins detects bacteria in the small intestine that play a role in the development of MS To the point Twin study : Among many other factors, microorganisms in the gut are suspected of contributing to the onset of MS. To obtain meaningful results, researchers examined stool samples and microorganisms directly from the small intestine of identical twins, where only one twin had MS.

Agriculture's impact on insect diversity is more severe than previously thought, according to a new study from the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg. It has long been known that agriculture contributes to the decline in insect biodiversity. The loss of host plants, frequent mowing, and pesticide use all deprive many species of their habitats.

The marine worm Ramisyllis multicaudata , which lives within the internal canals of a sponge, is one of only two such species possessing a branching body, with one head and multiple posterior ends. An international research team led by the Universities of Göttingen and Madrid is the first to describe the internal anatomy of this intriguing animal.

A recent study by the Universities of Jena, Bielefeld and Münster provides evidence that some results of behavioural experiments with insects cannot be fully reproduced. So far, possible reproducibility problems have been little discussed in this context. If an experiment is repeated under similar conditions, the results should be the same.

Bonn researchers link immune cells to higher risk of duodenal carcinoma in hereditary FAP People with the hereditary disease familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) have a greatly increased risk of developing a malignant tumor of the duodenum. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation2 at the University of Bonn have now discovered a mechanism in the local immune system that can drive the development of cancer.

Study challenges long-held assumptions about the Mediterranean Phoenician-Punic civilization, one of the most influential maritime cultures in history To the point Secret of the Phoenician-Punic civilization's success: Their culture spread across the Mediterranean not through large-scale mass migration, but through a dynamic process of cultural transmission and assimilation.

Bonobos refuse to participate when faced with unequal rewards, reinforcing the highly contentious debate about inequity aversion in animals To the point Bonobos show signs of inequity aversion : In two experiments, bonobos were less willing to participate when they received a worse reward than a partner, suggesting they dislike unequal treatment.

The pedunculate oaks typical of Leipzig's floodplain forest and other German oak forests are struggling to regenerate in the understorey due to a lack of light. One reason for this is the absence of flooding in floodplain forests. In a two-year oak experiment in Leipzig's floodplain forest, researchers from Leipzig University and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) found that the current tree dieback - caused by drought and pest outbreaks - combined with the thinning of certain understorey species, can actually support oak regeneration.

Researchers at the MPI of Biochemistry have used spatial Deep Visual Proteomics workflow to reveal why some patients with the hereditary disease alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency remain healthy despite the genetic defect.

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.

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.

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.

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.