In brief When sleep-deprived: European jackdaws tend to sleep with both halves of their brains deeply asleep rather than staying alert with one half - especially at the beginning of the night when the need for rest is greatest. Differences in the brain: Some brain regions sleep more deeply than others.

To the point A neuroimaging study examined the processing of pain signals in the brain as participantswatched virtual nature videos. Participants reported less pain and showed lower activity in brain regions associated with specific pain processing. The findings underscore the importance of nature-based therapeutic approaches in pain management.

Göttingen research team constructs network of self-learning infomorphic neurons   Novel artificial neurons learn independently and are more strongly modeled on their biological counterparts. A team of researchers from the Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN) at the University of Göttingen and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) has programmed these infomorphic neurons and constructed artificial neural networks from them.

For the first time ever, a team of researchers has found chemical evidence that wine was actually drunk in Troy, verifying a conjecture of Heinrich Schliemann , who discovered the legendary fortress city in the 19th century. In addition, the researchers from the Universities of Tübingen, Bonn and Jena found that not only members of the Trojan elite but the common people too drank wine.

International research team investigates how environment and barriers to dispersal shape biodiversity Why do some plants thrive in specific regions but not in others? A study led by researchers at the University of Göttingen explores the factors shaping plant distributions and how these patterns have changed over millions of years.

Würzburg researchers present a new strategy against the life-threatening fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. They combine RNA molecules and an antifungal agent in nanoparticles. Fungal infections are on the rise globally. According to a study by the Manchester Fungal Infection Group , in 2022, approximately 6.5 million people were infected by a pathogenic fungus, and about 3.8 million died as a result - nearly twice as many as in 2012.

A new study has revealed that African Elephants have an extraordinary ability to meet their colossal food requirements as efficiently as possible. Data from over 150 elephants demonstrated that these giants plan their journeys based on energy costs and resource availability. The findings - published in the "Journal of Animal Ecology" - could provide crucial information to help protect these animals and their habitats.

News from A forest with high tree-species diversity is better at buffering heat peaks in summer and cold peaks in winter than a forest with fewer tree species. This is the result of a study led by researchers from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig University, and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU).

A forest with a high diversity of tree species can buffer heat waves in summer and cold spells in winter better than a forest with fewer tree species. This is the result of a study led by the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig University and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU).

An international research team has analyzed data from 41 million galaxies in order to estimate the distribution of matter in the universe. The data confirm a long-established model - much to the team's surprise. The Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) has been observing large parts of the southern sky over a period of eight years in order to gain valuable new insights into the distribution of matter in the universe.

"Nature" Study: Phosphorene Nanoribbons Combine Magnetic and Semiconductor Properties at Room Temperature A recent study published in the scientific journal Nature has examined the remarkable properties of phosphorene nanoribbons (PNRs). These atom-thin ribbons made of phosphorus exhibit both magnetic and semiconductor properties at room temperature, making them promising candidates for future electronic applications and paving the way for a new generation of energy-efficient technologies.

Researchers from Bonn and Tübingen revise an established theory of stimulus processing in nerve cells during memory processing How does the brain retain a sequence of events in memory? Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn, the University Hospital Tübingen and the University of Tübingen investigated this question.

Research team develops model to analyse consensus building in groups and provides valuable insights for the development of AI and robotic systems. When groups make decisions - be it people agreeing on an idea, robots coordinating their tasks or fish determining their swimming direction - not every individual has the same influence.

News from Researchers have found that so-called conservative species, which are most efficient at using nutrients, water and energy, generally grow faster under real-world conditions than acquisitive, or supposedly fast-growing, species. The findings, published in Nature, broaden our understanding of which trees have the greatest potential to mitigate CO2 emissions.

A new study in the journal Nature shows that so-called conservative species, which use nutrients, water and energy most efficiently, generally grow faster under real conditions than acquisitive, supposedly fast-growing species. The results contribute to a better understanding of which trees have the greatest potential to reduce CO2 emissions.

When plants are attacked by pathogenic bacteria, they use chemical and electrical signals to transmit the information from the point of origin on the leaf surface to the inside and go into defence mode. In order to find out how and where the perception of bacterial contact is converted into electrical signals, a research team led by PD Dr Alexandra Furch from the University of Jena investigated how the external stimulus is transmitted.

Germany's members of the Euclid Consortium have played a significant role in producing the mission's first large set of survey data which the European Space Agency has just released. Researchers from the Argelander Institute for Astronomy (AIfA) of the University of Bonn have been involved in these activities.

Comprehensive scientific dataset sets standards and provides insights into the depths of the universe - thanks in part to strong German participation First major data release: The European Space Agency has released the first major dataset from the Euclid space telescope, launched in July 2023. A record number of galaxies discovered: After only a few years of operation, Euclid has already found 26 million galaxies.

A newly developed laboratory tool can, within hours, help to identify specific viruses which can be used to destroy variants of the dangerous pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Viruses of bacteria, known as bacteriophages, offer an alternative approach to antibiotics in treating multiresistant pathogens.

With artificial photosynthesis, mankind could utilise solar energy to bind carbon dioxide and produce hydrogen. Würzburg chemists have taken this one step further. Photosynthesis is a marvellous process: plants use it to produce sugar molecules and oxygen from the simple starting materials carbon dioxide and water.