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Hardly any insects can see the colour red. However, two beetle species from the Mediterranean region are an exception, as an international research team has discovered. Insect eyes are generally sensitive to ultraviolet, blue and green light. With the exception of some butterflies, they cannot see the colour red.

Researchers in Freiburg have identified the protein ELAV as a key regulator of circular RNA production in the nervous system, which is crucial for brain function. To the point Stable rings: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are extremely stable molecules crucial for brain function, and their exceptionally high abundance in neurons has long been a mystery.

Living worm towers are recorded in the wild for the first time, a rare example of collective hitchhiking in nature First evidence of -living towersin nature : Scientists observed this behavior in rotting apples and pears from local orchards in Konstanz, Germany Tower function confirmed: Towers can attach to passing insects and can bridge physical gaps to disperse.

Compared to today's AI, natural brains work much more efficiently. In Wolf Singer's group at the Ernst Strüngmann Institute of Neuroscience in Frankfurt, Felix Effenberger is investigating the role of rhythmic activity in the processing of information. Based on the research results, it may be possible to develop new types of computer chips for AI that function similarly to nerve networks in the brain and require significantly less energy than today's digital chips.

A new study reveals the significance of regional dispersals and local interactions in coastal Papua New Guinea To the point 2.500 years of human history in Papua New Guinea: The first ancient genomes, dietary isotopes and plant microfossils from Papua New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago provide direct genetic evidence that refines our understanding of early dispersals and population interactions in the Pacific.

A new study provides an explanation for why certain leukemia patients do not respond to therapy To the Point Ancient origin : MN1 is an ancient gene that underwent structural changes at the origin of vertebrates Integration : MN1 integrated to ancient molecular machinery and fuelled the origin of novel developmental program Brain-skull connection : MN1 controls both the brain patterning and skull formation, representing the long-sought genetic a

A research team at the University of Würzburg has gained new insights into the development of kidney tumors in young children. These enable a better risk assessment and could form the basis for targeted screening and improved early detection. A research team at the Biocenter of Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), together with cooperation partners at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge (UK), has taken a significant step towards understanding Wilms' tumors, malignant kidney tumors in young children.

Researchers identify group of nerve cells in the brain that influence eating behavior and weight gain To the point Nerve cells in the hypothalamus: These neurons influence eating behavior and weight gain. Hormone-controlled: These nerve cells are controlled by the hormone leptin, which suppresses appetite.

Life Published: 21 May 2025, 13:40 An invisible intruder puts the delicate balance in our lungs to the test: the mold Aspergillus fumigatus, harmless in nature, can become a serious danger if the immune system is weakened - and change the entire bacterial world in the lungs. But that's not all: the intestines and metabolism also appear to be affected by a lung infection.

Göttingen researchers develop algorithm to uncover overlooked chemical linkages in proteins   Proteins are among the most studied molecules in biology, yet new research from the University of Göttingen shows they can still hold surprising secrets. Researchers have discovered previously undetected chemical bonds within archived protein structures, revealing an unexpected complexity in protein chemistry.

Fibroblasts play a central role in the maintenance of healthy tissue structures, but also in the development and progression of diseases. For a long time, these specialized cells of the connective tissue were regarded as a uniform cell type. A recent publication by scientists at Leipzig University Medicine makes it clear that fibroblasts in human tissue consist of different populations with specialized tasks.

International research team led by Göttingen University produces genetic activity map for rare worm   Scientists have uncovered the genetic underpinnings of one of the ocean's most bizzare animals: a branching marine worm named Ramisyllis kingghidorahi that lives inside sea sponges and reproduces in a truly extraordinary way.

How do insects perceive mechanical stress? This is a question of interest in many different fields including comparative morphology, neurobiology and robotics. A team led by Brian Saltin of the Bonn Institute of Organismic Biology has developed a computer model to study the fruit fly Drosophila, focusing on the creature's tiny sensory organs for perceiving mechanical stress located near its leg joints.

The architecture for complex communication already existed in the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees   To the point Language Connection: Researchers discovered a neuronal connection related to language in chimpanzee brains, previously thought to be unique to humans. Arcuate Fasciculus: The arcuate fasciculus links language areas in the brain; this connection exists in chimpanzees but is weaker than in humans.

Certain detergent additives known as aminopolyphosphonates can be transformed into glyphosate and other problematic substances when wastewater is treated. A research team led by Professor Stefan Haderlein of the Geoand Environmental Center at the University of has made this fundamental finding. To achieve this, the team carried out comprehensive experiments in the laboratory which also included conditions found in wastewater.

Shrub fringes on the edges of forests and fields protect animal species and have a positive effect on biodiversity: This was reported by a research team from the University of Würzburg. They are the transition zones between forest and open landscape and serve as habitats and retreats for various animal species.

To the point Mother-offspring attachment in the wild: Wild chimpanzees develop secure or insecure-avoidant attachments to their mothers, but not disorganised attachments, suggesting that it is not a viable survival strategy in the wild. Attachment types: Chimpanzees with secure attachment are confident, while those with insecure-avoidant attachment are more independent.

A research team at the Carl Ludwig Institute of Physiology at Leipzig University has shown for the first time how the energy content of individual nerve cells in the brain changes during so-called depolarization waves, waves of activity that occur in various brain diseases. The results provide an important basis for understanding the energy metabolism in the event of an acute lack of blood flow, such as occurs in strokes.

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.