A new study reconstructs the evolution of flowers and sheds light on what the earliest flowers might have looked like. The ancestral flower was bisexual, with both female and male parts, and multiple whorls of petal-like organs. This new model offers a plausible scenario to explain the spectacular diversity of floral forms.
Researchers have successfully produced a 'quantum egg-box' with hundreds of thousands of artificially arranged fluxons, enabling stable non-equilibrium states. This breakthrough paves the way for developing fast computer circuits based on fluxons with enhanced speed and reduced heat dissipation.
Scientists at the University of Vienna created a hybrid carbon system with graphene sheets enclosing fullerenes. This setup allows for the observation of fullerene diffusion and rotation within the graphene sandwich, providing new insights into molecular dynamics.
Researchers found that American alligators use vocalizations to signal their body size, which is a common pattern also seen in birds and mammals. This acoustic cue allows individuals to avoid physical confrontations and ensures mating success.
Researchers have developed a new tool called ModelFinder to study the evolution of proteins. The program allows for more accurate scientific estimates of evolutionary processes, which will help unravel the mysteries behind life's diversity on Earth.
Scientists have developed a method to precisely control graphene's electronic transport properties using in-situ Raman spectroscopy. This technique allows for the creation of tailored graphene-based materials with controlled function, enabling their utilization in the semiconductor industry.
Researchers have tested an alternative version of quantum mechanics that uses hyper-complex numbers, predicting new effects and commutation properties. The study found no need for these alternative rules to describe the experiment, but emphasizes the need for further testing.
Physicists use a new measurement technique to observe Alice winning and losing a quantum race simultaneously, verifying superposition. This breakthrough opens up new areas for study in quantum mechanics, including the role of causal relations.
A recent study found that non-breeding ravens form highly dynamic social groups, often meeting at rich food sources and common night roosts. These interactions may have driven brain evolution in ravens, similar to humans who prefer to explore or stay in one place.
Researchers developed a protocol to detect high-precision how, where, and why drugs interact with DNA biomolecules. This method uses X-ray radiation and advanced simulations to rationalize drug preferences, revealing new insights into the mechanism of platinum-based drugs like Pt103.
A study by Katharina Prochazka and Gero Vogl applied a physics-based approach to analyze language movement in Southern Carinthia, Austria. The research found that interaction with other speakers of the same language is the primary driver of language shift, with village-level demographics playing a crucial role.
Researchers demonstrate that clocks placed next to each other necessarily disturb each other, causing a universal limitation on measuring time. This effect is independent of clock mechanism or material, highlighting the need to re-examine our ideas about time in both quantum mechanics and general relativity.
Researchers developed a new theory of cooperation that avoids making moral assessments in specific cases, promoting more effective cooperation. The 'Staying' rule assesses individuals based on their reputation, allowing good cooperators to thrive even among freeloaders.
A new study reveals that RAF1 acts as a negative regulator of hepatocellular carcinoma, while promoting growth in inflammatory cells. This finding highlights the need for a more thorough understanding of the disease at the molecular level to design novel therapies.
A computer model revealed monkeys could easily produce many different sounds, implying a basic form of spoken language could have evolved without changes in vocal anatomy. Monkeys' ability to vocalize was found to be unrelated to their speech capabilities.
Researchers discover that Calcium/Calmodlin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is the main effector behind the adaptation of the circadian clock to geographical environment in marine midges. This protein, also found in humans, may play a role in human chronotypes and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Researchers at the University of Vienna have made significant breakthroughs in transmitting twisted light over long distances, exceeding 100 kilometers. They also demonstrated record-breaking quantum entanglement with 5-digit quantum numbers using a novel technique developed in Australia.
A study on Nitrososphaera viennensis reveals that specific genes and adaptations enable terrestrial archaeal ammonia oxidizers to thrive. The research provides insights into the energy metabolism of Archaea and its implications for agricultural soils and potential medical applications.
Researchers modeled massive star formation using high-performance computers, discovering episodic luminosity bursts that outshine the collective effect of 100,000 Suns. These bursts are thought to be caused by the migration of dense clumps through accretion disks, offering new insights into the birth process of massive stars.
Researchers discover that certain bacteria can fix nitrogen, a limiting nutrient in the ocean. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient marine ecosystems and potentially even 'fertilize' the surrounding habitat.
Researchers at the University of Vienna have made a groundbreaking discovery on how cells regulate autophagy, a vital process for maintaining cellular balance. The study shows that autophagy is tightly controlled in space and time by two independent coordinators, which enables the activation of autophagy when precise requirements are met.
Researchers found that azure-winged magpies provided food to their group members spontaneously and without being asked, showing a high level of prosocial behavior. This suggests that cooperative breeding may have promoted the emergence of prosocial tendencies in these birds.
Scientists at the University of Vienna have developed a new technique to measure isotopes in nanometer-sized areas of materials, revealing atomic-resolution electron microscopes can distinguish between different isotopes of carbon. This method can be extended to other two-dimensional materials and has the potential to improve synthesis.
A newly discovered bacterium divides by orienting its plane parallel to its axis and dividing asynchronously, challenging traditional cell biology theories. This unique method may provide an evolutionary advantage to the symbiont, allowing it to remain faithful to its host.
Researchers found that networks based on affiliative behaviors, like preening and sharing food, play a major role in transmitting information among ravens. These social connections, especially between siblings, emphasize the importance of family ties in learning.
Researchers found that pre-assessment of moral free riders can stabilize costly moral systems and promote cooperation. This approach considers a pool account where individuals can contribute in advance, allowing for more efficient detection of those unwilling to pay for justice.
Researchers investigated the Goffin's cockatoo's ability to make flexible decisions about tool use based on the current 'market' situation. The study found that the birds could overcome immediate impulses in favor of future gains, but only when both tools were not offered simultaneously due to limitations in working memory capacity.
Researchers have found a blastoporal organizer in sea anemone embryos, using the same signaling molecules as vertebrate organizers. This principle existed in the common ancestor of vertebrates and sea anemones over 600 million years ago.
Scientists have developed a new method to assemble technologically relevant, non-polymorphic crystals through computer simulations. By tuning the size of polymer additives, researchers can stabilize desired crystal structures against competing polymorphs.
Researchers have made significant discoveries about the RTR complex's role in DNA repair and its connection to cancer development. The study highlights the importance of maintaining genomic stability during reproduction.
Researchers have synthesized micrometer length-scale carbon chains, surpassing previous records by more than one order of magnitude. The discovery confirms the existence of ultra-long linear carbon chains, also known as carbyne, using various advanced spectroscopic and microscopic techniques.
A new study found that autistic and non-autistic adults equally condemn actions requiring harm for the greater good. Researchers identified two facets of autistic personality: increased self-oriented distress and reduced empathy, which counterbalance each other.
Researchers from the University of Vienna have successfully characterised aurone synthase, a catechol oxidase with hydroxylase activity. The study provides insights into the mechanism of plant polyphenol oxidases and has potential applications in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.
Recent study confirms wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics by recreating John Archibald Wheeler's 'great smoky dragon' thought experiment. The research demonstrates that the nature of light is not fixed until observed, with implications for quantum cryptography and computing.
A study by Pavel Kovarik and his team at the University of Vienna reveals that type I interferons play a crucial role in regulating IL-1β levels, preventing excessive inflammation and balance in the immune system.
Researchers have achieved a new milestone in quantum physics by entangling three particles of light in a high-dimensional quantum property. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize quantum encryption and secure communication, enabling multiple parties to share information with unconditional security.
Researchers developed an algorithm called Melvin to design novel quantum experiments, finding unfamiliar solutions without relying on human intuition. The algorithm has led to dozens of new experimental tricks and is being built in laboratories.
Researchers discovered that stars undergo sharp stellar brightening caused by gravitational instabilities in massive gaseous disks, leading to a new understanding of star formation and evolution. The discovery may imply that our Sun experienced several such episodes, affecting the formation of giant planets.
Researchers tested ravens' understanding of 'seeing' as mental state, using their predisposition to compete for hidden food. The birds showed cache protection behaviors when dominants were visible or audible, indicating they mentally integrate information about others' presence and their own visual experience.
Researchers at University of Vienna develop nanomechanical device that converts quantum vibrations to light, paving the way for a future quantum Internet. The device allows for connection between different quantum systems, enabling global exchange of quantum information.
Researchers identify a new type of bacteria, Nitrospira, capable of converting ammonia to nitrate through comammox process, revealing a long-sought organism in the nitrogen cycle. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the environment and wastewater treatment.
A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that listeners' pupils dilate in response to emotional music, reflecting both the music's content and the listener's personal connection. The research used eye trackers to measure pupil size while participants listened to short music excerpts from the Romantic era.
Plant tyrosinase enzyme, responsible for browning of apples and other fruits, has been structurally elucidated by researchers at the University of Vienna. The discovery reveals new insights into the enzyme's function and opens up potential avenues for controlling browning reactions.
Chimpanzees orphaned before age 2 exhibit impaired social behavior as adults, including reduced grooming and partner activity. Decades after maternal deprivation, these individuals show deficits in social relationships within groups.
A recent meta-analysis published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews found a weak association between brain size and IQ, with brain structure and integrity appearing more important as a biological foundation of intelligence. The study also highlights the importance of compensatory mechanisms of cognitive functions.
A recent study by University of Vienna researchers found that ravens can cooperate to achieve common goals, such as sliding a platform with cheese into reach. However, they also exhibit a sophisticated way of keeping their partners honest, detecting and excluding cheaters from future cooperation.
Researchers found that manipulating self-experienced pain affects empathy for pain in others through the endogenous opioid system. The study suggests empathy relies on simulation and is grounded in our own experiences, which may explain why feelings of others can affect us so immediately.
The University of Vienna has created a photorealistic online game, called a 'quantum lab', allowing users to virtually access unique instruments and conduct experiments. The virtual laboratory is designed to make modern science accessible to the general public, university students, and high-school students.
The first new species of millipede is described using high-detail 3D images, providing unprecedented access to anatomical information. The cybertype-enhanced description allows for widespread sharing and study of the digital specimen, enabling researchers to analyze its unique traits without dissecting the original holotype.
Researchers tested Goffin cockatoos' ability to infer by exclusion, a cognitive capacity where animals choose between known and unknown stimuli. More than half of the birds showed evidence of this ability, indicating they could distinguish between rewarded and unrewarded stimuli.