A new study finds that press releases are essential for increasing the public reach of scientific studies, with no media coverage without one. Meanwhile, social media promotion alone is not enough to secure media attention. The study highlights the importance of press releases in shaping the scientific information available to society.
The study demonstrates that biosphere reserves in the Western Amazon effectively prevent deforestation compared to similar areas. Transition areas and buffer zones are particularly effective in conserving biodiversity.
A new study finds that global inequality has increased by 170-270% since 1960, challenging the idea of catch-up development. The research highlights the role of neoliberal policies and geopolitical strategies in perpetuating core-periphery inequality.
A study analyzing over 180 ceramic vessels from southern Brazil reveals differences in diet among Indigenous, African, and European communities. Marine resources were more prevalent among Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, while German immigrants relied on plant-based products.
Researchers at ICTA-UAB developed a public tool to explore climate gentrification vulnerability across 36 municipalities in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The map shows that greener, less densely populated areas are at higher risk due to rising temperatures and heat exposure.
A recent study reveals that over 90% of the Mar Menor's key nutrients degrading the ecosystem come from recirculated underground flows, not traditional sources like streams or groundwater. This discovery highlights a previously overlooked pathway of contamination and its impact on eutrophication episodes.
A study of 17,000 EU citizens found that most view economic growth as compatible with sustainability, with values like equality and collective welfare driving support. Citizens in wealthier societies tend to be less supportive, suggesting they feel more secure when basic needs are met.
The Political Ecology Network will convene its biennial international conference POLLEN 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, from June 29 to July 3, 2026. The event will bring together researchers, activists, and creators to discuss contemporary crises and forge pathways toward peaceful alternatives.
A gene therapy developed at UAB prolongs health span and preserves the function of multiple organs in mice during aging, with sustained beneficial effects across multiple endpoints. The treatment shows improved metabolism and organ function, including weight management, insulin sensitivity, and increased energy expenditure.
A study predicts climate change will trap air pollutants over coastal areas, increasing health risks for millions in Barcelona. Ozone concentrations are projected to rise substantially along the coastline by 2100.
A UAB research team analyzed the genome of 54 newborns to track the genetic history of the Iberians. The study found a great genetic continuity, with little external influence, until the arrival of Romans, who introduced new genetic influences.
A study led by Raül Andero at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona found that the ratio of progesterone to estradiol hormones in saliva can predict memory performance, including fear extinction in both mice and humans. This hormonal balance may help identify optimal times for learning and memory tasks.
A new study suggests that commercial marketing logics can hinder the effectiveness of promoting degrowth, a concept proposing an equitable reduction in production and consumption. Instead, non-commercial messaging led by institutions empowering communities is proposed as a more effective approach to shaping values and worldviews.
A recent study by UAB and IJC reveals that SIRT7 plays a crucial role in maintaining the genome stability of male germ cells. The protein's deficiency during ageing leads to functional decline in sperm quality, causing premature loss of spermatogonia and increased DNA fragmentation.
A new study reveals that the Global North has drained over 900 million tonnes of materials, 4 million km2 of land, and 53 billion hours of labor from Latin America through international trade. This unequal exchange reinforces the existing power imbalance in the global economy.
Neanderthals collected shellfish throughout the year, but preferred colder months, demonstrating a well-planned strategy. This finding suggests Neanderthals had access to high-quality marine proteins essential for brain development and reproductive health.
A new heat transport regime, known as hydro-thermoelastic transport, has been discovered in ultrathin semiconductors like molybdenum disulfide and molybdenum diselenide. This regime shows that thermal diffusion is highly impeded, leading to unexpected behavior such as phonon hydrodynamics.
A scoping review of 7 international studies with 3,744 students found that psychological discomfort is currently at low or moderate levels, but student satisfaction with digital tools directly relates to better mental health. Risk factors include 'false' omnipresence, digital fatigue, and social isolation.
Researchers uncover evidence of recurrent high-mountain occupation and systematic exploitation of copper-rich minerals in Cova 338. The site provides new insights into the role of high mountain environments in Pyrenean prehistoric societies.
A study by ICTA-UAB reveals that the West African coast is a primary source of microlitter in the South Atlantic Ocean, with particles transported by equatorial currents to remote areas. The research highlights the need for global action to address this environmental issue.
Researchers propose tailored approaches using CAR platforms, incorporating effector cells like macrophages and Tregs to modulate key processes in neurodegeneration. High-precision immunomodulation is essential for overcoming the complex nature of these diseases.
The study reveals that peri-urban agriculture is key to urban resilience and calls for an urgent shift in planning policies. Agricultural land losses are driven by urban expansion, real estate speculation, and low profitability.
A study by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona establishes the principles for modelling post-growth scenarios, pointing to the need for targeted demand-side measures and investments in low-carbon technologies. The research highlights the potential for post-growth to achieve pos...
A study in Barcelona found that pedestrianisation reduces noise levels by 3.1 dB, exceeding WHO guidelines, but finds no impact from pedestrian activity, which takes over acoustical space previously dominated by motorised traffic.
A new study examines the link between globalisation and populism, finding that selective immigration and import policies can reduce populist rhetoric and electoral success. The study's authors developed a new index to measure a party's level of populism, which shows that populism grew significantly in Europe during the 2010s.
A new study reveals major blind spots in global sustainable research, overlooking key strategies and sectors needed to address the environmental crisis. The study finds that sustainability researchers are neglecting potentially powerful actors, including civil society, and failing to assign clear responsibilities across sectors.
A global study documents the collective ecological memory of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, revealing a consistent pattern of large-bodied bird species disappearing from local environments replaced by smaller-bodied species, with average bird mass declining from 1500g to 535g over eight decades.
Research reveals major gaps in studying the relationship between AI and journalism, including environmental impact and Global South deployment. Most studies are conducted from Europe, leaving scarce attention to the Middle East, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa.
A research team led by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona has discovered the molecular mechanism regulating bacterial cell division. The MraZ protein binds to the dcw gene cluster, enabling coordinated action of proteins necessary for cell division and bacterial wall formation.
A recent study identifies plankton tropicalization in the western Mediterranean, indicating ocean warming impacts on marine ecosystems. Rising sea surface temperatures alter the base of marine food webs, affecting planktonic primary producers and consumers.
A bioadhesive patch inspired by mussel adhesion has been developed to eliminate glioblastoma cells. The patch targets remaining cancer cells after surgery, inducing cell death through oxidative stress.
Researchers found that overexpressed Fc gamma receptors on reactive microglia mistakenly identify healthy neurons, leading to their elimination. Immunotherapy targeting these receptors could slow disease progression by preserving dopaminergic neurons.
A new study refines radiocarbon dating of marine remains in the Cantabrian region of Spain, improving precision for reconstructing human past during the Magdalenian period. The research provides new correction values to accurately interpret site chronology and fine-tune the 'clock' used to reconstruct Palaeolithic human populations.
A new study reveals that socio-environmental mobilizations play a critical role in global biodiversity conservation by resisting environmental degradation. These local struggles often overlap with global conservation priorities, highlighting the need for policy shifts to recognize and support these movements.
New research reveals that Indigenous communities in southern Brazil hunted large whales 5,000 years ago, long before previously thought. The study provides strong evidence of active hunting and sheds light on the economies, technologies, and lifeways of postglacial societies along the Atlantic coast of South America.
A study by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona finds that fossil fuel companies' promoted low-carbon projects are ineffective in reducing emissions and prolonging the lifespan of fossil fuel infrastructures. These projects reinforce the industry's power and aggravate environmental injustice, while delaying a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels.
The field of quantum structured light has transformed the way we communicate, measure and process information by combining quantum information with spatial and temporal structures of light. This technology enables simpler and faster circuits for quantum computing, as well as improved resolution techniques in imaging and metrology.
Marine Animal Forests are complex habitats that provide essential ecological services, including biodiversity hotspots, nursery areas, and carbon cycling. Scientists urge immediate action to protect these ecosystems from destructive fishing practices, pollution, and climate change.
A comprehensive investigation reveals significant public support for degrowth's key ideas across the UK and US. The study challenges the notion that such policies lack popular backing. Majority support was found for the full proposal with or without labels, while the 'degrowth' label alone received lower support due to low awareness.
Researchers aim to prove Einstein wrong by testing Lorentz invariance, a fundamental concept in quantum field theory and the Standard Model of Particle Physics. Despite not succeeding, their new bounds improve upon previous limits by an order of magnitude.
According to a new study, humans travel for approximately 1.3 hours per day, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status. This constant travel time is influenced by psychological desires and practical limitations, resulting in a convergent range of travel times across different modes of transport.
The study reveals that pottery production was organized in specialized workshops near clay deposits, indicating a hierarchical organization of the El Argar society. The findings suggest a structured economy with regional and economic interactions, contradicting previous ideas about local production.
The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded an €8.33 million Synergy Grant to a five-year project led by Professors Jun Borras, Esteve Corbera, Ian Scoones, and Anna Tsing. The 'Land and Life in the Anthropocene' project aims to reshape landscapes for more-than-human life through innovative framework and connected approaches.
Researchers have developed a new method for calibrating electrical resistance using memristors, which can provide stable resistance values directly linked to fundamental constants of nature. This approach eliminates the need for complex cooling systems or high magnetic fields, making it a simpler alternative to current systems.
Researchers identified a precise dysfunction in specific brain circuits causing mitochondrial epilepsy. Restoring the function of GPe neurons suppressed fatal seizures in mice models, opening up new therapeutic options for patients with mitochondrial diseases.
Climate models oversimplify the role of calcifying plankton in capturing and cycling carbon, potentially underestimating the ocean's capacity to respond to climate change. Ignoring these organisms' diversity risks oversimplifying how the ocean responds to climate stressors.
A study published in Science Advances has discovered that the RAD21L protein plays a crucial role in regulating DNA structure and gene expression in sperm precursor cells. The absence of this protein leads to defects in chromosome pairing, genetic recombination, and spermatogenesis, resulting in male infertility.
A study reveals that the Mar Menor lagoon has sediments with excessive levels of lead, arsenic, and other toxic metals accumulated over centuries due to mining activities. The research highlights the ongoing risk these metals pose to aquatic organisms and ecosystems, even after the closure of mines in the 1990s.
A team of researchers analyzed teeth from five archaeological sites in the Euphrates Valley, revealing that early farming communities were inclusive and open to newcomers. Women were found to be more likely than men to move between communities, possibly to avoid inbreeding.
A new study reveals that fossil fuel companies are failing to invest in renewables, with only 20% owning an operational project and renewable energy representing just 0.1% of their primary energy extraction.