A new study reveals evidence of east-west genetic exchange and long-term population continuity in southwestern Europe, linking populations across thousands of years. Genetic data from rare human remains and cave sediments provide key insights into the Gravettian culture.
Physicists at the University of Vienna have developed a new method that reveals the realistic magnetic structure and determines the precise distance between the sensor and the sample, solving the challenge of reconstructing the magnet from the measured magnetic field. This approach uses modern machine learning methods combined with the...
Researchers at the University of Vienna have developed molecular sponges from various types of plastic waste, which can capture significant amounts of moisture from the air. These sponges can hold large quantities of water and release it again under moderate heating, offering promise as a decentralized water source.
A new study suggests that the 3D arrangement of DNA may have played a key role in the emergence of complex nervous systems in cephalopods. The researchers found that genome reorganisation brought previously distant regions of DNA into contact, changing gene regulation and potentially driving evolutionary innovation.
A new study by the University of Vienna reveals that Asgard archaea, our closest microbial relatives, exhibit dynamic crawling motility, challenging current models of complex life origins. The cells' unusual behavior, characterized by long protrusions and actin-based cytoskeleton, may have much older origins than previously thought.
Researchers at the University of Vienna developed a new method to automatically detect anomalies in large scientific datasets. The method, called Simulation-Based Benfordness Estimation, uses Benford's Law to identify irregularities and improve data quality, leading to more reliable research and AI applications.
A Vienna team shapes nanopores in hexagonal boron nitride to control their shape and properties, enabling new applications in filtration, DNA sequencing, and quantum technologies. The team uses electron irradiation and introduces gases to create circular and triangular pores, influenced by chemistry and physics.
A new study by the University of Vienna reveals that ammonia-oxidizing archaea in marine sponges are not strict specialists, but instead use amino acids such as valine, leucine, and isoleucine as additional food sources. This finding suggests that these symbiotic microbes may have an unknown ability to communicate with their animal hosts.
Research on European mountain summits reveals a rising number of plant extinctions despite increasing biodiversity, with specialists of high-elevation ecosystems primarily affected. Climate warming is driving these local extinctions, which are more likely to occur on summits with stronger warming and lower species' range margins.
Research at the University of Vienna discovered that scoop-shaped pores on anther pores determine how pollen is released, with narrower, more targeted jets and faster speeds. This finding is crucial for understanding buzz-pollination and its importance in light of climate change and declining bee populations.
Researchers mapped animal genomes across 4,454 species, tracing 'evolutionary highways' that shape biodiversity over 600 million years. The study provides a framework for conservation and explores future directions of genome evolution.
Researchers from the University of Vienna discovered that ancient Arabian oases created distinctive pottery brands 3,200 years ago, with production continuing for over a thousand years. The study sheds light on the resourcefulness and inventiveness of ancient communities, who participated in wider networks of technological know-how.
A 10-year study shows that people's expectations of their own ageing can influence their social lives. The research found that those who expected a fulfilling family life in old age actually spent more time with family and friends years later. Positive perceptions of ageing also led to better experiences in everyday social interactions.
A new study reveals that European mountain summits are warming, leading to changes in alpine vegetation, but the link between temperature and these changes is surprisingly weak. Long-term monitoring shows that local conditions, such as the presence of warmth-associated species, play a crucial role in shaping vegetation responses.
Researchers at the University of Vienna have developed strategies to measure microbial and host proteins, revealing the microbes' functions and host responses. This breakthrough enables more sensitive and reproducible microbiome research, with potential applications in medicine, environmental science, and biotechnology.
Archaeologists uncover two pottery kilns with working pits and over 100 potential kilns beneath a field in Hannersdorf, producing utilitarian pottery from the mid-1st to mid-2nd century CE. The site's significance suggests a large-scale production centre for the Roman Empire.
Researchers at the University of Vienna discovered that the Notch signalling pathway controls tissue organisation and body axis formation in sea anemones, enabling self-organisation and regeneration of tissues.
An international team led by Juan Diego Soler has produced the sharpest maps ever made of neutral hydrogen in the Orion Nebula, revealing giant expanding shells and mysterious elongated structures. The findings suggest that the Orion Nebula has been shaped by multiple episodes of stellar feedback rather than a single expanding bubble.
A meta-analysis of 140,000 early-career researchers found nearly one in three report elevated psychological distress, including depressive and anxiety symptoms. The study suggests systemic factors, such as fixed-term contracts and publication pressure, contribute to mental health issues among ECRs.
A new machine-learning method incorporating photon energies debunks the Galactic Center Excess, a faint gamma-ray glow around the Milky Way's center. The study finds that dark matter cannot be ruled out as an explanation for the signal.
Researchers at the University of Vienna have achieved a breakthrough in molecular editing, enabling the direct transformation of complex structures without rebuilding. This method opens up new possibilities for modern drug research, allowing for the simple testing of hundreds of variant molecules.
Researchers have developed a new synthesis method that enables precise control over chemical reactions at previously inaccessible sites on molecules. This breakthrough enables targeted modifications to carbon-hydrogen bonds, playing a key role in developing new drugs, functional materials, and more efficient chemical processes.
A new study reveals that human childbirth is not the only mammalian experience with birth difficulties. Research shows that many other mammals, from domestic livestock to wild species, face similar complications and mortality rates. This challenges long-held assumptions about human childbirth being uniquely difficult.
A new study reveals that even gradual environmental change can push populations past a tipping point, beyond which they may suddenly collapse. The ability of species to adapt depends on three measurable factors: rate of change, environmental variation, and genetic drift.
Research team uses 'reverse ecology' approach to identify diverse bacterial groups in human gut, associated with various diseases. The study suggests transmission between people plays a key role in shaping microbiome, enabling more precise therapies.
A study reveals how a tropical tree genus evolved extraordinary photosynthetic strategies, including CAM, through genome duplication and genetic rearrangement. This diversity enables the trees to adapt to different ecological niches, making them ideal models for climate-resilient crops.
Physicists at the University of Vienna have successfully extended the lifetime of magnons, tiny waves in magnetization, to a hundredfold, paving the way for mini quantum computers. The discovery reveals that materials science is key to further progress, rather than fundamental physics.
A study involving nearly 3,000 US participants found that the new CDC statement increased concerns about vaccine safety and decreased willingness to get vaccinated. The researchers recommend transparent and evidence-based communication by health authorities to maintain trust and avoid science denial.
Researchers found that small understory trees can initially buffer climate change more strongly, but their long-term carbon storage capacity could be restricted by phosphorus availability. The study suggests a critical trade-off between short-term growth and long-term sustainability.
A study by the University of Vienna reveals that European colonialism has left a lasting impact on the threat to languages and species. Island regions, such as Oceania and East Asia, are disproportionately affected due to their small size and vulnerable ecosystems.
Research at the University of Vienna found a link between gut bacterial diversity and acute stress response in healthy adults. Higher microbial diversity was associated with stronger hormonal and subjective stress reactivity, suggesting the gut microbiome may play a role in regulating the acute stress response.
A new study reveals that human transformations in land cover have a substantially greater influence on landslide fatalities than physical factors, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income nations. This research highlights how increasing human pressure on nature worsens the vulnerability of socioeconomically disadvantaged people.
A team at the University of Vienna has cooled a levitated silica nanorotor to its quantum ground state in two rotational degrees of freedom, reaching the fundamental limit set by quantum uncertainty. This achievement is an important milestone towards rotational matter-wave interferometry and ultra-sensitive quantum torque sensing.
Research finds global hotspots of plant invasion risk will shift geographically, with temperate regions facing increasing risks, while subtropical areas may see declining risks. The study projects significant changes in alien species composition and expected impacts on native biota and human well-being.
Polymers with segments of varying intensities spontaneously develop directional motion when densely packed, driving forces that push the entire chain forward. This finding has relevance to chromatin and could lead to new materials with spontaneous transport properties.
A 70-year study by the University of Vienna reveals that imbalances in soil nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can harm mycorrhizal symbiosis between plants and fungi. This affects plant health, pest resistance, and water management, highlighting the need for sustainable agricultural practices.
A new study by the University of Vienna found that moving in together with a new partner significantly increases life satisfaction in older adults, regardless of whether they marry at the same time. In contrast, relationship breakdowns do not lead to a measurable decline in well-being.
Researchers at the University of Vienna developed a novel protocol that samples only a subset of generated quantum states, enabling efficient real-time verification. The new method uses optical switches to randomly capture states, allowing for non-destructive certification and paving the way for robust quantum computing and networks.
A long-term study with over 700 participants shows that focusing on the strength of people with depression increases their self-confidence and enables them to better achieve personal goals. Reflecting on their strengths also leads to improved progress towards set goals.
Researchers diagnosed a rare genetic disease, acromesomelic dysplasia, in two prehistoric individuals from southern Italy using ancient DNA analysis. The study provides new insight into the history of rare diseases in humans and suggests sustained care within the community may have contributed to one individual's survival.
A new study shows that perceiving AI as a 'job killer' negatively influences attitudes towards democracy, leading to decreased trust in institutions and reduced political engagement. The research highlights the importance of targeted communication in shaping public perceptions of artificial intelligence.
A research team at the University of Vienna demonstrates that massive metallic nanoparticles follow quantum mechanics rules, creating a 'Schrödinger's cat state' and breaking existing records for macroscopic scale tests. The experiment shows that even large objects can exhibit wave-like behavior.
A new study by the University of Vienna estimates that over 20 times more microplastic particles are emitted on land than from the ocean, contrary to previous assumptions. The research was conducted using global measurement data and model simulations, and found significant discrepancies between emission estimates and measurements.
Scientists reconstructed ancient genomes of Human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B from archaeological human remains, confirming their integration into the human genome thousands of years ago. The findings suggest that HHV-6A lost its ability to integrate into human DNA over time.
Researchers used eye-tracking methods to investigate the influence of pointing gestures on viewers' gaze in Old Master paintings. The study shows that depicted pointing fingers shape visual attention by increasing curiosity about the faces of pointing figures and reshaping narrative connections. Viewers also drew their gaze toward the ...
Researchers at the University of Vienna directly observed an exotic phase of matter, known as the hexatic phase, in atomically thin crystals of silver iodide. The new findings contradict previous predictions and provide surprising insights into atomic-scale melting processes.
A new study by linguist Theresa Matzinger found that the sound quality of words influences how beautiful they are perceived to be and how easily they can be learned. Researchers tested artificial pseudowords with no meaning and found that words with pleasing sounds were also more memorable.
A study has created an atlas of Denmark's environmental microbiomes, showing the nationwide abundance distribution of key players like nitrifiers and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. This could lead to more precise and sustainable agriculture practices.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that adult marine bristleworms have a ring of neural stem cells that actively divide when growing their eyes, driven by environmental light. The research also shows that these stem cells are regulated by a c-opsin molecule, similar to those found in vertebrate retinas.
A study published in iScience has decoded the vampire squid genome, revealing that modern octopuses evolved from squid-like ancestors with a conserved chromosomal architecture. The researchers found that the vampire squid retains key genomic features with squids and cuttlefish, occupying an intermediate position between these lineages.