Myth: The adult brain is hardwired and unchangeable On the contrary, your brain changes with every new skill you learn and the brain can form new connections throughout your life.
Spurs, furs, and vampires: The science of venomous mammals The platypus, the slow loris and the vampire bats are all unique and fascinating creatures with one curious thing in common. Venom.
Who came first, sponges or comb jellies? A Danish biologist has gone through more than 1,000 articles in an attempt to find morphological characters, which could help to settle the debate about which of the two groups forms the most basal branch on the evolutionary tree of the animal kingdom.
What in the world is consciousness? Our perception of the world around us, and ourselves within it, are ‘controlled hallucinations’ that the brain uses to help keep itself alive
How your brain decides whether to run or walk Two centres in the brain decide when you should walk or run.
Climate change boosts algae growth in the Arctic Microscopic algae living underneath sea ice are an essential source of food in the Arctic ocean. But do we really know how little light they need to survive?
CRISPR breakthrough ignites hope of using pigs as organ donors Scientists have effectively switched off virus genes in pig DNA, bringing us one step closer to using pigs as organ donors for humans.
Human organs-on-chips may one day replace animal testing Scientists have developed more than ten different human organ chips, including devices to mimic critical functions of the lungs, kidneys, intestines, liver, and bone marrow. Eventually this technology could render animal testing obsolete.
See what life is like when you study climate change in Greenland Scientists study uncharted waters and living fossils to document sea ice melt in Northeast Greenland.
New part of the immune system discovered Scientists have discovered a part of the immune system that could protect against all respiratory infections and sexually transmitted diseases.
Algae: the future sustainable super crop Research into algae makes it increasingly clear that these plants have huge potential for the sustainable production of everything from food to medicine.
Why interval training can lead to better conditioning And why not everyone gets the same amount of benefit from a hard workout.
How our cells repair their damaged DNA Researchers find important mechanism that allows cells to repair damaged DNA. Could answer questions about cancer development.
Loss of large animals has reduced global circulation of vital nutrients Decline of large animals such as whales, sea birds, and salmon has led to a loss of 94 per cent of the transportation of nutrients on the planet.
The Black Death has been hiding among us for thousands of years Fossil DNA reveals that the plague is much older than previously suspected. The discovery could shed new light on the evolution of a deadly disease.
This is what a 50-million-year-old bat looked like Scientists have for the first time determined the colour of an extinct mammal: a bat that lived 50 million years ago.
Swedish lizards are thriving under rising temperatures A northern species of lizards are bucking global trends when it comes to climate change. New research shows that they can adapt quickly by laying their eggs earlier.
Light from distant galaxies can reveal extra-terrestrial life Physicists can now trace light emitted by plants and microorganisms on planets far away.
Study: Altruism is in our genes Choosing to be a blood donor is hereditary, shows new research. Reveals bigger truth about altruism.
Can cortisol indicate dementia? High levels of the stress hormone cortisol could indicate memory problems in the elderly, but scientists do not know why.
Alzheimer’s prevention can vary between populations A gene variation that protects against Alzheimer’s is missing in most Danes but not in other Nordic populations.
Wild horses could soon return to Europe Scientists say we could have wild horse populations running free in just two decades.
Scientists solve the riddle of eel evolution European and American eels emerged as separate species 3.5 million years ago -- yet they can still breed with each other. Scientists can now tell us how.
Want to know your risk of dying in the next five years? Take the Ubble age test OPINION: Scientists create website that allows you to calculate your five-year risk of dying.
Scientists find missing link of microorganisms The tree of life has to be rewritten after a new type of microorganism was found recently in the depths of the ocean.
Space travelling cancer cells filmed for the first time A team of scientists have filmed living cancer cells in space for the very first time.
New study could change the treatment of blood clots Doctors find new method to treat patients with blood clots in the heart that reduces risk of death by 44 per cent.
Scientists rediscover extinct sea snakes A team of scientists from Australia and Denmark have rediscovered two species of sea snakes that were though to have been extinct since 2001.
Surprising bacteria discovery has puzzled scientists A new species of bacteria has been found in a Danish man with blood poisoning. The bacteria's closest relative lives in the alimentary tract of African termites.
Tomorrow's technology will lead to sweeping changes in society – it must, for all our sakes OPINION: The shift to tomorrow's society will not take place over hundreds of years, but within a generation, argue two researchers.
New research project sets its sights on cure for heart failure Modern medicine can only slow down development of heart failure, but not prevent it. New project aims to change that.
Lumpy bacteria cause life-threatening infections New bacteria growing method reveals how bacteria conceal themselves, avoiding both white blood cells and antibiotics.
Danish biologist catches sea snakes with his bare hands Thanks to a fearless Danish scientist we now know more about the many species of venomous sea snakes.
New study offers hope for patients with chronic infections Scientists learn more about the showdown between bacteria and the immune system.
New study shatters established knowledge of the immune system Danish scientists discovers how the immune system is activated to break down bacteria. The experiments disproves a prevalent established theory about the immune system.
Mechanism behind cell development discovered Danish scientists have discovered a cell mechanism that can explain the development of some of types of cancer.
Professor: ‘Focus on the broader issues when you communicate’ How do you get science out of its ivory tower? A Q&A with world-famous evolutionary biologist Eske Willerslev.
World’s fastest fish continues to impress The sailfish is not only the world’s fastest swimmer. A new video reveals that its movements during hunting are the quickest ever seen in a marine animal.
Computer model to detect prevalent diseases New research aims to make it possible to assess people’s genetic risk for a variety of widespread diseases using a computer model.
Humans alone killed off the giant moa bird New research reveals that the moa population were fit and healthy before humans started hunting the bird. In spite of this, it took less than 200 years before the gigantic bird had died out.
Map outlines global hotpots of bycatch intensity Fishery bycatch poses a great threat to various endangered species, and to ecosystems in general. Scientists have now mapped out the problem.
Metabolism works differently than we thought Kleiber’s law of metabolism, which states that the metabolic rate of an animal scales to the 3/4 power of the mass, has a flaw in it, argues Danish scientist.
Animal origin theory challenged: Early animals needed almost no oxygen The first animals on Earth could get by with much less oxygen than previously thought, new study reveals.
Why do headless chickens run? The brain does not control all body movements. Some movements are to a great extent controlled by neural networks in the spinal cord. This is why a chicken can run away after you chop its head off. A new study takes a closer look at this strange phenomenon.
Even tiny oil spills may break Arctic food chain Drilling for oil in the Arctic may have catastrophic consequences, new study suggests.
Can we avoid animal testing entirely? Scientists are working flat out to find alternatives to animal testing. QSAR computer models are looking promising.
Secret mission of microscopic drones revealed Vaccinations of cattle and sheep against insect-borne diseases cost society millions each year. Danish researcher sheds new light on how the little bloodsucking creatures spread disease.
Head injury can cause mental illness If you suffer a head trauma, your risk of developing certain mental disorders increases significantly – in some cases by more than 400 percent, new study reveals.
Hummingbirds can fly with almost no oxygen The hummingbird’s super-fast wing beats are among the most energy-intensive movements in the animal kingdom. Still, the birds can fly 4,000 metres above sea level, where there is very little oxygen. Scientists have now figured out how this is possible.
Political colour is half genetic New study provides definitive evidence that heritability plays a significant role in the formation of political ideology, regardless of how ideology is measured, the time period or population sampled.
Surviving ash trees help to address evolutionary riddle A pathogenic fungus is killing thousands of European ash trees every year. Danish researchers are now trying to uncover the genetics behind the unknown defence mechanism in ash trees. Not only to save the ash trees, but also to address an evolutionary mystery in trees.
Ancient fish face bears signs of modern jaw A smiling fish that lived in China 419 million years ago revolutionises our conception of the origin of humans and most other vertebrate animals.
Oxygenated Earth much older than we thought The discovery of the world’s oldest soil suggests that Earth’s atmosphere contained oxygen as early as three billion years ago. That’s 700 million years earlier than previously thought.
How algae slime impacts the climate Algae in the sea ice around the Arctic and the Antarctic convert CO2 into micro-gels. This makes it possible to see whether this cold slime actually counteracts climate change.
Climate change fills polar bears with toxins The melting ice around Greenland has changed the polar bear’s diet. This means that they are being filled with large quantities of environmental poisons, and that forms a threat to the polar bear’s existence.
A targeted defence against harmful hemoglobin Hemoglobin is both vital and life-threatening. A new project sets out to find out how the body deals with the problem of harmful hemoglobin, and how this knowledge can be used to save lives.
Why insects always hide in the dark It is no coincidence that insect larvae always hide away in dark corners. Scientists have now discovered how the larvae know where it’s best to hide away.
Bison may boost Danish vegetation A new study sets out to clarify what effect the reintroduction of bison will have on the Danish countryside. The bison may open up for a more diverse flora, says researcher.
Mechanism behind weird membrane patterns revealed See pictures of the mysterious cell membrane patterns that scientists discovered five years ago. The mechanism behind these patterns has now been uncovered.
Microscopic arms race rages on the seabed The ocean floor contains viruses and bacteria locked in a constant struggle for survival. This has a great effect on the carbon cycle in the ocean and thus also affects how much CO2 is released into the atmosphere.
Key mechanism in essential enzyme uncovered Scientists know that when certain steroids bind to the essential enzyme known as the sodium pump, it can both kill and cure. Now they have also solved the mystery of how this molecular binding occurs.
Childhood obesity gene identified Defects on a special ’satiety gene’ may constitute a rare but important cause of early childhood obesity.
Cancer enzymes are smarter than we thought Scientists have discovered a previously unknown ability in some enzymes, which can cause cancer to spread if they are unbalanced. The discovery of this function may be crucial to more effective treatment, says researcher.
Fight fish disease with fish Scientists are checking the possibility of limiting the spread of the dangerous fish disease FZT with the help of a very special fish.
Pregnant women with pets have more vaginal E. coli Intestinal bacteria from dogs and cats appear to colonise pregnant women’s vagina, which can increase the risk of e.g. urinary tract infections. This may be caused by the bacteria travelling from the animal via the woman’s hands to her vagina.
Hunger increases support for social welfare If we are hungry when we’re asked about our attitude towards welfare, we are more likely to show support for a social welfare policy. This is a biological impulse which ensures survival, new research suggests.
New cancer drug looks promising in human trials Initial human trials of a new Danish-American cancer drug reveal encouraging results.
Infections may cause depression New study establishes a link between infections and mental health. If you have had a severe infection, your risk of suffering e.g. a depression increases by 62 percent.
Danish pollen reveals new interglacial period New analysis of rare Danish soil layers reveals a hitherto unknown temperate period during the Ice Age.
Malaria's deadly grip explained Scientists have identified the protein that the deadliest malaria parasites bind to in humans. Now the way is paved for a malaria vaccine.
Climate change eats up Arctic insect life Scientists have found the first clear link between insect populations and rising temperatures in the Arctic.
What men look for in a woman's face New research reveals what facial features men look for in women. The underlying mechanism differs greatly from the one women use when picking a man based on his facial features.
Fungi and rust can stifle smell of slurry New study shows how fungal spores and rust can help reduce the stench of slurry in biofilters, which help prevent harmful substances from being released into the atmosphere.
Breakthrough in our understanding of bacteria Scientists have developed a method that will revolutionise genome sequencing of bacteria. The method paves the way for an entirely new understanding of bacteria, say the researchers behind the new method.
Nanoparticle may boost blood clot drugs Danish chemists have set out to create a special nanoparticle that can detect and eliminate atherosclerosis before it turns into a blood clot.
Scientists zoom in on neck and shoulder pain Researchers have developed a method for measuring changes in the central nervous system caused by neck and shoulder pain.
How bacteria adapt to human hosts Researchers have mapped how bacteria go from living in topsoil to living in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients.
Wolves with mange can heal themselves Mange parasites can force humans, foxes and even wolves to scratch their skin into pieces. For foxes this can be fatal, but wolves are hardier.
