Tag: biology

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.

Myth: The adult brain is hardwired and unchangeable

Spurs, furs, and vampires: The science of venomous mammals

Who came first, sponges or comb jellies?

What in the world is consciousness?

How your brain decides whether to run or walk

Climate change boosts algae growth in the Arctic

CRISPR breakthrough ignites hope of using pigs as organ donors

Human organs-on-chips may one day replace animal testing

See what life is like when you study climate change in Greenland

New part of the immune system discovered

Algae: the future sustainable super crop

Why interval training can lead to better conditioning

How our cells repair their damaged DNA

Loss of large animals has reduced global circulation of vital nutrients

The Black Death has been hiding among us for thousands of years

This is what a 50-million-year-old bat looked like

Swedish lizards are thriving under rising temperatures

Light from distant galaxies can reveal extra-terrestrial life

Study: Altruism is in our genes

Can cortisol indicate dementia?

Alzheimer’s prevention can vary between populations

Wild horses could soon return to Europe

Scientists solve the riddle of eel evolution

Want to know your risk of dying in the next five years? Take the Ubble age test

Scientists find missing link of microorganisms

Space travelling cancer cells filmed for the first time

New study could change the treatment of blood clots

Scientists rediscover extinct sea snakes

Surprising bacteria discovery has puzzled scientists

Tomorrow's technology will lead to sweeping changes in society – it must, for all our sakes

New research project sets its sights on cure for heart failure

Lumpy bacteria cause life-threatening infections

Danish biologist catches sea snakes with his bare hands

New study offers hope for patients with chronic infections

New study shatters established knowledge of the immune system

Mechanism behind cell development discovered

Professor: ‘Focus on the broader issues when you communicate’

World’s fastest fish continues to impress

Computer model to detect prevalent diseases

Humans alone killed off the giant moa bird

Map outlines global hotpots of bycatch intensity

Metabolism works differently than we thought

Animal origin theory challenged: Early animals needed almost no oxygen

Why do headless chickens run?

Even tiny oil spills may break Arctic food chain

Can we avoid animal testing entirely?

Secret mission of microscopic drones revealed

Head injury can cause mental illness

Hummingbirds can fly with almost no oxygen

Political colour is half genetic

Surviving ash trees help to address evolutionary riddle

Ancient fish face bears signs of modern jaw

Oxygenated Earth much older than we thought

How algae slime impacts the climate

Climate change fills polar bears with toxins

A targeted defence against harmful hemoglobin

Why insects always hide in the dark

Bison may boost Danish vegetation

Mechanism behind weird membrane patterns revealed

Microscopic arms race rages on the seabed

Key mechanism in essential enzyme uncovered

Childhood obesity gene identified

Cancer enzymes are smarter than we thought

Fight fish disease with fish

Pregnant women with pets have more vaginal E. coli

Hunger increases support for social welfare

New cancer drug looks promising in human trials

Infections may cause depression

Danish pollen reveals new interglacial period

Malaria's deadly grip explained

Climate change eats up Arctic insect life

What men look for in a woman's face

Fungi and rust can stifle smell of slurry

Breakthrough in our understanding of bacteria

Nanoparticle may boost blood clot drugs

Scientists zoom in on neck and shoulder pain

How bacteria adapt to human hosts

Wolves with mange can heal themselves