Researchers from the University of Copenhagen argue that the health effects of a food product cannot be determined solely on the basis of its nutrient content. The findings suggest that interactions between nutrients and bioactive substances can alter the nutritional and health properties of a particular food. This challenges current n...
A study published in Journal of Cleaner Production found that cricket farming can be a more environmentally sustainable way to produce animal source foods. The research compared cricket production to broiler chicken production and identified areas for further improvement, such as exploring alternative feed sources.
Researchers sequenced the genome of 13 ancient Scythian stallions and 1 mare, uncovering diversity in coat coloration patterns and genetic traits valued by breeders. The study suggests that Scythian breeders maintained natural herd structures and selected horses with robust morphologies.
Kim Sneppen, a professor at the University of Copenhagen, has been awarded a large ERC grant to explore diversity in biological systems using methods from physics and complex systems. His project aims to understand how diversity emerges and is maintained in complex biological systems.
The study reveals that Yamnaya warriors married local Stone Age women, adopting an agrarian lifestyle and forming the Corded Ware Culture. This integration led to a rapid genetic changeover from Neolithic to Corded Ware cultures in Europe.
Scientists have developed a new oilseed crop that is more resistant to heat, drought, and diseases than oilseed rape. The breakthrough technology keeps bitter defense compounds out of the seeds while maintaining them in the rest of the plant, enabling cultivation in areas previously unsuitable for oilseed crops.
New research reveals that as taller shrubs expand into the tundra, nutrients in their leaf litter can either promote or reduce nitrogen fixation. The study, led by Kathrin Rousk and Anders Michelsen, found that warming conditions stimulate nitrogen fixation rates in mosses, but further shrub expansion will depend on dominant species.
Scientists used OCT to observe tissue organization and behavior of living corals, identifying changes in tissue layers and fluorescent pigments under light exposure. The study reveals that corals expand their surface area at night and produce more mucus upon stress, challenging current assumptions about coral metabolic rates.
Children who moved and used their bodies during instruction showed improved math scores, outperforming those who were sedentary. The study suggests individualized learning strategies are crucial for optimizing math performance in school-age children.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have made significant progress in understanding how primary cilia receive and transmit signals, shedding light on their role in regulating cellular behaviors and preventing diseases such as ciliopathies.
Researchers discovered the asteroid break-up occurred 2.5 million years before the rise in marine biodiversity, debunking the myth of a connection between the two events.
Researchers found that people prefer large, widespread species for basic needs like food and medicine due to their ability to produce large quantities. In contrast, smaller palm species are often used for psychological and self-actualization needs with less dependency on biological traits.
Researchers tracked three migratory bird species and found they adjust their routes to match future changes in food availability. By 2080, climate change may make it challenging for birds to find sufficient resources, posing a threat to their survival.
A new study reveals that AMPK plays a key role in enhancing insulin's ability to stimulate glucose uptake in muscles after physical activity. This discovery may lead to the development of an 'exercise pill' for people with limited mobility or those who struggle with physical activity.
A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that weight loss reduced psoriasis severity and improved quality of life among obese test subjects. The results, which showed a lasting effect, underscore the importance of weight loss as part of a broader treatment regimen for overweight patients with psoriasis.
Scientists have discovered molecular mechanisms that allow bacteria to survive antibiotic treatment and cause chronic infections. These 'persister cells' can resuscitate after treatment is abandoned, leading to relapsing infections. Understanding this phenomenon may lead to the development of novel antibiotics targeting persisters.
Professor Rasmus Bro receives the first Nils Foss Excellence Prize for his groundbreaking work in process analytical technology (PAT) in the food industry. He has developed methods to analyse complex fluorescence data, revolutionizing water quality measurement.
Bekzod Khakimov, a promising young researcher from the University of Copenhagen, has received the first Nils Foss Talent Prize. His work focuses on metabolomics, using Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry to improve data analysis and reproducibility.
A 5,310-year-old maize cob genome provides new insights into the early stages of maize domestication, showing key genes affected by human selection. The ancient sample is genetically intermediate between teosinte and modern maize.
Scientists use fossilized pollen to forecast profound changes in plant abundance and composition globally by the middle of this century. One third of North American plants and more than half of European plants may face increased threat status due to climate change.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have reviewed the use of NIR spectroscopy to detect food fraud in Current Opinion in Food Science. The method can reveal far more food fraud than current methods, including intentional misrepresentation and undeclared introduction of cheaper substances. By examining large quantities of raw ...
The University of Copenhagen is receiving $1 million to research manipulating intestinal flora for obesity prevention. The project, PhageGut, aims to use lytic phages to shape the composition of the intestinal flora and prevent obesity.
A team of marine biologists from the University of Copenhagen has used carbon-14 dating to estimate the lifespan of Greenland sharks, finding that they live for at least 272 years. This method was previously only used in archaeological contexts, but is now being applied to fish biology due to the species' extraordinary longevity.
Researchers used ancient DNA to investigate the ecosystem of an ice-free corridor, concluding that it was biologically unviable until around 12,600 years ago. This challenges the established theory on human migration to America, suggesting that early inhabitants likely took a different route.
Researchers found that short-lived physical barriers in the ocean caused by temperature or salinity changes influence phytoplankton communities. This provides insight into maintaining high biodiversity of phytoplankton and its impact on the food web.
A review of existing research concludes that manipulating food product order or proximity can positively impact food choices. Healthy food nudging is promising, with 16 out of 18 studies showing a positive impact. The review suggests using placement of products to promote healthier options, such as vegetables being placed first in line.
Researchers found over 1000 different species of Cercozoa, a group of bacteria-eating microorganisms, in four small soil samples. Climate change is expected to shift the number of these microorganisms, potentially impacting decomposition processes.
Melatonin production in plants is involved in stress memory, particularly through its regulation of sub-cellular antioxidant systems. The study found that exogenous melatonin application enhances drought priming induced cold tolerance in barley, making it a promising approach to abiotic stress tolerance.
Researchers have modified microalgae to produce complex molecules using sunlight, enabling efficient production of pharmaceutical compounds. The method offers a sustainable and renewable energy-based solution for producing chemicals, potentially replacing traditional methods that rely on plants or yeast.
A team of scientists has identified a mechanism responsible for delivering zinc into crop seeds, paving the way for breeding plants with enhanced zinc content. The discovery could lead to improved nutritional value in a large part of the human diet.
Researchers found that plant gases released in response to climate changes can form clouds that reflect incoming solar radiation, cooling the ground and mitigating temperature rises. This effect is more sensitive than CO2 release through plant respiration, with a 20-fold increase in sensitivity to temperature rise.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered a method to break down plant biomass using sunlight, potentially producing biofuels and biochemicals. The process, known as reverse photosynthesis, uses enzymes and chlorophyll to accelerate chemical reactions, reducing pollution and increasing production speed.
Researchers use Ptychographic X-ray computed tomography to visualize food structures on the nanometer scale, revealing details about fat and water distribution. This breakthrough has promising prospects for improving food consistency and reducing costs in the industry.
Regular recreational football training significantly improves health profiles in 63-75 year old untrained men, reducing body weight and risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The study also found that football preserves muscle mass, which is essential for maintaining a physically active lifestyle in older adults.
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered a previously unknown weakness in bacteria, known as an 'Achilles heel', which is a proton leak state. This discovery may lead to the development of novel antibiotics by targeting this safety valve in bacterial energy metabolism.
Researchers have identified a novel mechanism by which beneficial microbes produce plant hormones to control plant diseases. The study found that bacteria can efficiently control pathogen infections in model plants by producing cytokinin, allowing the plants to maintain tissue integrity and biomass yield.
Chemists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered how lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) bind to cellulose, a crucial step in transforming plant waste into sustainable biofuels. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient production and development of green energy sources.
Researchers aim to shed light on non-coding RNA's function in plant regulation and defense against environmental challenges. The study focuses on temperature response and adaptation, which could lead to more resistant crop plants.
Researchers developed a new approach to designing insulin-based pharmaceuticals using self-assembling nano-insulin. This method could lead to more personalized medications with fewer side effects for Type 1 Diabetes patients.
Researchers have found evidence of small oxygen concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere 3.8 billion years ago, contrary to previous thought that oxygenation occurred later. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of life on our planet and has significant implications for understanding the pace of life's emergence.
Researchers aim to uncover mechanisms that regulate plants' defence against stress factors, leading to the development of new crop species. Fluctuating protein structures may be essential for carrying out specific functions.
Researchers investigate how climate change affects the balance between nutrient and toxicant content of eucalypt leaves, impacting koala survival. Climate-related stress may alter eucalypt leaf chemistry, affecting koalas' ability to detoxify and gain energy from their diet.
A study suggests that changes in deep-water ocean circulation, rather than CO2 levels, drove the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event. This finding supports the idea that icehouse conditions, not super-greenhouse periods, are associated with the greatest increase in marine biodiversity in Earth's history.
Researchers have made direct observations of the Greenland Ice Sheet's reduction and melting over the past 110 years. The study reveals that some areas have lost considerable amounts of ice during the twentieth century, with mass loss along the southeastern and northwestern coast contributing significantly to global sea level rise.
A new study by geologist Christoph Korte elucidated a previously unknown major temperature change during the Jurassic period. The researchers found that changes in ocean currents, particularly the uplift of the North Sea Dome, led to reduced heat transport to the Arctic region and altered local fauna distribution.
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have made a groundbreaking discovery in cancer therapy, revealing a new chemical reaction that enables more accurate treatment. This breakthrough has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce damage from traditional radiation therapy.
The study reveals that Yakutian horses developed their adaptations in less than 800 years, making it one of the fastest examples of adaptation in mammals. The genome analysis shows that the founders of modern Yakutian horses entered the region with Yakut horse-riders in the 13-15th century AD.
A new study shows that cuckoos use a highly complex individual decision-making process to navigate during migration. The birds can assess advantages and disadvantages of different routes, adjusting their behavior based on health, age, experience, or personality traits.
Scientists at University of Copenhagen discover heart urchin shell has a structure that nears theoretical ideal for foam structure strength. The shell's unique porosity and strut arrangement make it up to six times stronger than chalk, despite being lighter.
A business-as-usual approach to satisfying food demand is not sustainable due to climate change. Plant science can bolster supply by increasing crop nutritional content, water efficiency, and resistance to pests and diseases.