To the point Induction of Multicellularity : When mechanically compressed, the salt-loving archaeon Haloferax volcanii can shift from being single-celled to forming tissue-like clusters, displaying new mechanical and biological properties. Insights into Evolution : This study challenges current thinking about evolution by showing that physical forces and genetic changes can work together to promote the development of complex life forms, suggesting that multicellularity might arise more easily than we previously imagined.

Isotope analyses of limestone cave deposits reveal recurrent humid intervals in the Saharo-Arabian Desert over the last eight million years. Dripstones reveal: The Saharo-Arabian Desert experienced repeated wetter periods over the past eight million years. Life-friendly desert: Wetter conditions favoured the exchange of mammals between Africa and Eurasia.

Iceberg armadas and altered river courses caused parts of the northern hemisphere to cool rapidly on several occasions Abrupt climate changes: From the peak of the last ice age to the Holocene, the North Atlantic and neighboring regions cooled rapidly again and again, temporarily. Revealing model simulations: Between 20,000 and 13,000 years ago, ice masses breaking off from the ice sheets of the northern hemisphere enriched the North Atlantic with fresh water and weakened the Atlantic overturning circulation (Amoc), which transports heat from the tropics to the north.

Research team led by Göttingen University challenges conventional poverty metrics   Two billion people globally suffer from moderate to severe food insecurity and widespread micronutrient deficiencies. This contrasts with 654 million people who are classified as extremely poor according to the World Bank's US$2.15 per day International Poverty Line (IPL).

To the point Successful: Birds in the city are less likely to have brown plumage, and those with colorful plumage are more common. Differences between city and countryside: It is usually warmer in cities, there are fewer predators, but there is more artificial light and other background colors Advantages: Camouflage is not as important in the city because there are fewer predators than in nature.

Publication by the University of Bonn warns of misunderstandings in handling predictive algorithms Researchers from chemistry, biology, and medicine are increasingly turning to AI models to develop new hypotheses. However, it is often unclear on which basis the algorithms come to their conclusions and to what extent they can be generalized.

In a study, it wasn't the bravest mice, but rather the shy ones, that proved to be the most persistent tinkerers To the point More successful: Shy mice visited problem-solving tasks more often than their bold counterparts, giving them more chances to succeed. Testing conditions matter: mice performed differently in natural environments compared to laboratory settings - and not always in predictable ways.

A study examines the relationship between gender roles and the desire to have children in Scandinavia To the point Low Birth Rates: Researchers examined the link between gender roles and the desire to have children in Denmark, Finland, and Norway. Structural barriers are only a factor: In highly gender-equal societies, declining birth rates cannot automatically be attributed to everyday structural challenges faced by parents.

Max Planck researcher Isabel Thielmann finds that dishonest behavior is consistent In brief New study shows: People who have lied once are likely to lie again in similar situations. It used to be assumed that lying is primarily situation-dependent. There is a connection between dishonest behavior and certain personality traits.

Alcohol in their food increases the production of sex pheromones in male fruit flies, making them more attractive to females A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology has investigated why the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster drinks alcohol and has shown that alcohol has a direct and positive effect on the mating success of male flies.

A new study reveals a long-isolated North African human lineage in the Central Sahara during the African humid period more than 7,000 years ago To the point DNA analysis from two naturally mummified individuals from Libya: More than 7,000 years ago, during the so-called African Humid Period (Green Sahara), a long isolated human lineage existed in North Africa.

International research team analyses magmatic crystals formed prior to volcanic eruption 40,000 years ago How long before the actual volcanic eruption are there warning signals deep down inside the Earth? An international research team led by the University of Göttingen has investigated this question by analysing volcanic deposits from a volcanic eruption that occurred in the Phlegraean Fields near Naples 40,000 years ago.

New research shines light on how the brain interprets nutritional and hydration needs and turns them into action. To ensure we get the calories and hydration we need, the brain relies on a complex network of cells, signals, and pathways to guide us when to eat, drink, or stop. Yet, much about how the brain deciphers the body-s needs and translates them into action remains unknown.

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.