news 2024

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin (MPIMG) and the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna have discovered a potential "pause button" in the earliest stages of human development. Whether humans can control the timing of their development has long been debated.

Bonn researchers use nanobodies to elucidate pore formation by gasdermin D in cell membranes The formation of pores by a particular protein, gasdermin D, plays a key role in inflammatory reactions. During its activation, an inhibitory part is split off. More than 30 of the remaining protein fragments then combine to form large pores in the cell membrane, which allow the release of inflammatory messengers.

Police encounters do deter young offenders. The more often the police detect them, the more risk-aware they become, and the more likely they are to abstain from criminal activities. However, this is not equally true for all'adolescents, but particularly for young people with low morals. These are the results of a recently published study led by Florian Kaiser, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute in Freiburg im Breisgau, which will play an important role in shaping police work.

Transferring knowledge from animal experiments to humans remains a key challenge in medical research. This 'translational gap' is often an obstacle to the successful translation of promising preclinical findings into clinical applications. In a joint research project between Leipzig University and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, scientists have used artificial intelligence to develop an approach that compares the molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 disease in humans and animals.

Heidelberg researchers identify biological mechanism that protects against, but can also trigger, errors in the genome Certain developmental signals shape not only the human embryo but also play a significant role in maintaining our genetic blueprints. They prevent alterations in the genome, known as mosaicism.

A new study examines how extreme temperatures in the United States significantly affect mortality among different racial groups and found that both cold and hot days increase mortality rates, with the latter disproportionately affecting underrepresented populations. In particular, Non-Hispanic Blacks experienced higher excess mortality on hot days compared to Whites.

A new study shows that word-initial consonants are systematically lengthened across a diverse sample of languages Speech consists of a continuous stream of acoustic signals, yet humans can segment words from each other with astonishing precision and speed. To find out how this is possible, a team of linguists has analysed durations of consonants at different positions in words and utterances across a diverse sample of languages.

Researchers from Bonn and Tübingen clarify the neuronal basis of the mathematical concept of "zero" Despite its importance for mathematics, the neuronal basis of the number zero in the human brain was previously unknown. Now researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn and the University of Tübingen have discovered that individual nerve cells in the medial temporal lobe recognize zero as a numerical value and not as a separate category "nothing".

Artificial light at night changes the behavior of fish, even into the next generation Scientists have shown that light pollution-especially light in the blue spectrum-can alter the behavior of fish after only a few nights, and have knock-on effects for their offspring. The team studied how female zebrafish responded after being exposed to artificial light at night, which is considered to be the main source of the world's light pollution.

Press release: Battlefield in the Tollensetal valley: arrowheads point to early supra-regional violent conflicts Research team discovers Bronze Age evidence of fighters from the south In the Tollensetal valley in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, researchers have been investigating the remains of Europe's oldest battlefield since 2008.

Research team led by Göttingen University discovers evidence of warriors travelling from the South   In the Tollense valley in Northern Germany, researchers have been investigating the remains of Europe's oldest battlefield since 2008. At various sites along the river, they have discovered human skeletal remains of around 150 individuals - mainly young men - and remains of weapons from the Bronze Age.

Researchers from Freie Universität Berlin examine the effects of multiple, co-acting global change factors on soil biota and functions in new "Nature Communications" study A research team from Freie Universität Berlin has discovered that soil properties are severely impacted when subjected to a large number of different environmental stressors.

International research team find highest speciation in Asteraceae family on oceanic islands Asteraceae, a family of flowering plants which includes daisies, sunflowers and asters, are the most diverse group of flowering plants in the world. This plant family comprises around 34,000 species, some of which are well-known, such as artichokes, chamomile, dahlias and lettuce.

New study shows that women overcontribute to scientific publications in the field of ecology Women working in the field of ecology contribute overproportionately to research output, as shown by a recent study that reveals facets of gender bias in the context of scientific publications that have received little attention until now.

A circuit between the brain and gut influences the gut flora and thus regulates the immune system A study has uncovered a critical brain-gut connection that links psychological states to changes in the gut microbiome, with profound implications for immune function and stress-related health conditions.

A serotonin specific receptor can determine how important visual stimuli are perceived. This explains the effects of certain drugs and could help in understanding psychiatric diseases. Signals in our brain are not always processed in the same way: Certain receptors modulate these mechanisms, influencing our mood, perception, and behavior in various ways.

Migration can have different causes such as military conflicts or poverty. However, there is hardly any research to date on whether international sanctions influence the decision to leave one's homeland or not. Researchers at the University of Hamburg and Trier University have now published the first statistical analysis on sanction-driven emigration in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization.

A study of the University of Bonn investigated how visitors can be motivated to accept smaller portions of meat We eat too much meat in Germany and this not only has a negative impact on health but is also damaging for the environment and climate. Cafeteria owners are increasingly open to the idea of serving smaller portions of meat - especially for cost reasons.

Pollen not only plays a role in allergies, but also influences the local weather. Especially in spring, when large amounts are released, it contributes to the formation of ice in clouds, which can increase rainfall. A recent study led by the Institute for Meteorology at Leipzig University is the first to prove this outside the laboratory.

People who reduce their screen time on by merely one hour a day improve both their well-being and their motivation at work. On average, we spend three and a quarter hours a day looking at our phones. Cutting back this time by one hour a day is not only good for our mental health, but also helps us to feel happier and more motivated at work.