Science and research news from across Europe. Covers major discoveries, university leadership, disease burden and costs, and research policy in the region.
A recent study by HKU researchers found that ocean circulation in the North Atlantic is at its weakest since the past 1,500 years. The weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is attributed to global warming and associated melt of the Greenland Ice-Sheet, which has significant implications for climate change.
The Flow Focusing technology has increased data acquisition per second in XFEL analysis, allowing for ultra-rapid and powerful X-ray pulses. GDVN technology has enabled the efficient transmission of protein microcrystals, enabling Serial Femtosecond Crystallography and revolutionizing molecular biology research.
The discovery of Lisowicia bojani, a massive four-legged creature from the Late Triassic period, suggests that mammalian ancestors could reach gigantic body sizes and challenge established beliefs about dicynodonts.
A new study predicts that climate change will lead to a decline of 78-100% in European truffle production between 2071 and 2100, with significant economic and social impacts. The study highlights the need for conservational initiatives and management strategies to mitigate soil temperature fluctuations and conserve soil moisture.
A study reveals that European waterbird species shift their wintering areas northeastwards with warmer winters and southwestwards with colder spells. Species preferring deep waters show the fastest long-term changes, while farmland birds like geese exhibit weak responses.
A nationwide Danish study found that depressed individuals have a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation. The study also revealed that antidepressant medication itself is not associated with the development of atrial fibrillation, contradicting previous concerns.
The HOMED project aims to develop a full panel of scientific knowledge and practical solutions for managing emerging native and non-native pests and pathogens threatening European forests. Forest health will be considered broadly, including trees in forests, nurseries, urban, and rural areas.
A powerful new map by the University of Cincinnati illustrates dramatic changes in land use over the last quarter century, showing widespread deforestation and urbanization. The map highlights the devastating effects of climate change on the environment, including the shrinking Aral Sea and growing desertification in the Sahara Desert.
A study of 7,026 patients found that persistent high residual inflammatory risk after percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with a higher risk of death from any cause or myocardial infarction within one year. High sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were used to assess the level of risk.
Healthcare-associated infections persist in the EU/EEA, with 8.9 million cases annually, due to overuse of antimicrobials and varying infection prevention practices. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) calls for continued action to address antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings.
The new guidelines provide an update to the previously published consensus on definition and diagnosis of sarcopenia. They include an easier way to screen for sarcopenia risk using a simple questionnaire, a systematic way to make the sarcopenia diagnosis, and suggestions for practical tools and tests at each step.
Analysis of Alpine ice shows tripled iodine levels since Second World War, partially balancing ozone production. Researchers now call for inclusion of iodine data in climate models to predict future environmental outcomes.
The InHPC-DE project maximizes high-speed data connection between Germany's leading supercomputers, including HLRS, JSC, and LRZ. This upgrade will allow users to transfer large datasets at 2x100 gigabit per second, significantly improving research efficiency.
A new set of generic competencies has been established by ESCMID to guide healthcare professionals in using antibiotics responsibly. The competencies cover three main areas: antimicrobial prescribing, diagnosing infections, and stewardship. This framework aims to harmonize approaches to antibiotic use across Europe.
A new study reveals that early access to high-prestige networks is key to an artist's success, with quality determined by display venues and art history ties rather than work itself. Researchers found a dense community of European and North American institutions exchanging artworks within their own high-prestige circles.
Researchers uncovered genetic adaptations in ancient Andeans, including cardiovascular modifications and a starch-digesting enzyme variant, allowing them to thrive in the harsh environment. The study suggests that these adaptations enabled highlanders to survive European contact with less population decline than lowlanders.
The study estimates that antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause a substantial burden of disease in the EU/EEA, with 75% attributed to healthcare-associated infections. The annual number of deaths due to these infections is comparable to that of influenza, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined.
The Wendelstein 7-X superconducting stellarator successfully completes its first operational phase, demonstrating stable and high-density plasma conditions. The experiment's goal is to achieve temperatures of over 10 million degrees in plasmas using microwaves, a crucial step towards realizing fusion power.
Researchers discovered dairy pastoralism in Mongolia as early as 1300 BC through cultural transmission rather than population replacement or migration. Milk proteins were found in tooth tartar and dental calculus of ancient Mongolians, indicating the livestock were cattle, sheep, and goats introduced by Western Steppe herders.
A medieval skeleton found in Spain's Balearic Islands revealed the first physical evidence of fern plant use for medicinal purposes. The fern leaf was likely used as an infusion to cure conditions such as dandruff, a common cold, and kidney stones.
Scientists discovered Trissolcus japonicus, a parasitoid wasp, in European apple orchards, which could help control the invasive brown marmorated stink bug. The wasp was found to be highly effective in reducing stink bug densities below economic thresholds.
The new guidelines review and update the 2013 European guidance for diagnosing and managing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Key findings include the importance of evaluating bone microstructure and using FRAX tools in fracture risk assessment, as well as the need for long-term dietary intakes and monitoring drug treatment.
The IMPRESSIONS High-end Solutions Information Hub provides a scientifically robust understanding of the nature and scale of extreme climate change. The resource guides decision-makers in adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development with interactive collections of results, recommendations, and methods.
A study by the Pan-European Heat-Shield project found that 7 out of 10 European workers suffer from dehydration due to failure to maintain water balance, negatively impacting cognitive function and motor performance. This threatens both safety and productivity in various occupations.
The European Joint Programme and Goethe University will develop tools to integrate and standardize patient data for rare disease research. The university will receive the largest funding sum of all participating German institutions, with a focus on developing open-source registration platforms.
A study by the University of Leeds highlights inconsistencies in European national diet surveys, leaving many countries' nutrient intakes unknown. The research found that only a third of European countries have robust reporting on child and adolescent nutrient intakes, making it difficult to design and monitor nutritional policies.
Researchers argue that traditional trait-based approaches are insufficient for understanding personality dynamics and variation over time. A new dynamic view of personality traits and disorders may provide more guidance for intervention, helping individuals with personality disorders improve their lives.
A study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that higher vitamin D levels are associated with better exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory fitness. Participants with higher vitamin D levels had a 4.3-fold higher fitness level compared to those with lower levels.
The OpenSuperQ project aims to develop a 100-qubit quantum computer with applications in chemistry and materials science. The consortium will establish close links with European and international research and industry players to maximize the project's impact.
Researchers found biomarkers of nicotine in 1,200-year-old stone pipes from the Columbia River Basin, challenging the idea that bearberry was the main ritual smoke plant. The discovery establishes a history of ritual tobacco use in the interior Pacific Northwest, informing education and smoking abatement programs.
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute will receive funding for projects developing quantum technologies with applications in secure communication, supercomputing, and precision measurements. The EU's Flagship program aims to create a 'quantum internet' with unbreakable communication.
Professor Ted Charsley, a leading authority on thermal analysis, received the prestigious David Dollimore ESTAC Award at the 12th European Symposium on Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. He was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field of thermal analysis and calorimetry.
A new study by Meredith G. F. Worthen explores the relationship between social contact, social distancing, and attitudes towards lesbian, gay, and transgender individuals globally. The research reveals that simple measures of knowing LGT people no longer correlate with supportive attitudes in liberal cultural climates.
The European Research Council has awarded EUR 250 million in Synergy Grants to 27 research groups, bringing together complementary skills and knowledge to address cutting-edge research problems. The grants aim to facilitate transformative research that crosses disciplinary boundaries and yields groundbreaking scientific results.
A new EU-funded project, EXPLO, aims to uncover the dynamics and causes of prehistoric land use change in the cradle of European farming. By integrating underwater archeology with ecological and climate science methods, researchers hope to understand how early farmers adapted to changing environmental conditions.
A new study found that meat and dairy products are responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas emissions from EU diets. Reducing consumption of these food groups can help mitigate climate change.
Research reveals a 6% annual increase in European colorectal cancer incidence rates among adults aged 20-39 years between 2008 and 2016. This trend is driven by increased risk factors such as sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and poor diets.
A global study found microplastics in every single stool sample from eight countries, with up to nine different types identified. The presence of microplastics may affect human health through bioaccumulation and transmission of toxic chemicals.
A study suggests that heart patients should interrupt sedentary time every 20 minutes with a 7 minute bout of light physical activity to expend 770 kcal, associated with a lower risk of premature death. Regular physical activity is key to achieving a healthy life.
A study found huge variations in time between European countries to reach health technology assessment decisions on new cancer drugs, with some taking over a year. The average decision time was longer than one year in England and Scotland compared to Germany and France.
People who daily commute through natural environments show improved mental health, with active commuting showing stronger benefits. The study, PHENOTYPE, analyzed over 3,600 participants from Europe, finding a 2.74-point higher score for those commuting daily.
A University of Kent study compared Democratic Republic Congo and Nepal's experiences with Security Sector Reform (SSR) policies based on European templates. The findings highlight the need to acknowledge context-specific factors for successful SSR policies.
Research finds a strong correlation between time spent under communism and increased alcohol intake, particularly among women. Long-term effects of communist regimes on drinking habits persist even after the Soviet Union's collapse.
The study found that Andean populations adapted to agriculture and high-altitude environments differently from other global populations. They experienced significant population reduction after European contact, while also showing selection for immune-related genes.
A recent study reveals that TB resistance mutations evolved independently in various regions multiple times, with little international dissemination. This finding has significant implications for tuberculosis management and treatment, suggesting localized efforts could be successful.
A new study reveals that Lineage 4 TB emerged in Europe around 1,000 years ago and spread globally with European explorers and colonialists. The study found that drug-resistant strains of Lineage 4 TB have hardly spread beyond their country of origin, suggesting a regional challenge to control.
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has launched a global initiative to integrate supportive and palliative care into cancer treatment. Twenty new institutions from Japan, Denmark, Estonia, and Qatar have been recognized as Designated Centres of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care.
A new study published in Nature found that sustainable forest management can only provide modest, local benefits rather than a significant impact on the global climate. Forests themselves will need to be adapted to climate change to sustain their ecological and social services.
Century-scale climate variability was enhanced when the Earth was warmer during the Last Interglacial period compared to current interglacial conditions. The study reveals series of century-scale arid events in southern Europe and cold water-mass expansions in the North Atlantic.
A new study finds that regular physical activity improves lung function in current smokers, regardless of air pollution levels. The study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, analyzed data from over 4,500 people and found that physical activity benefits even in areas with high air pollution.
Only one in three Chinese acute coronary syndrome patients receive cardiac rehabilitation guidance before discharge from hospital. Men are more likely to receive advice than women, but all heart attack patients need cardiac rehabilitation, and targeted efforts are needed to improve provision.
A new study by Duke University and the University of York estimates that long-term ozone exposure in Europe, the USA, and China led to 266,000 premature mortalities in 2015. The research uses observed air quality data instead of chemical transport models, finding smaller human-health impacts compared to prior modeling results.
A ground-breaking UK Biobank paper describes the release of whole genome genetic data from 500,000 participants. This will enable researchers to understand the underlying genetics of disease and interactions between genetic and lifestyle factors.
A European consortium has successfully tested a cutting-edge millimeter wave wireless technology, transmitting data at speeds of up to 10 Gigabit per second in real-world environment. The breakthrough addresses two major 5G challenges: wirelessly connecting new small cells networks and bridging the digital divide in rural areas.
A study found that post-Brexit immigration restrictions would significantly damage the UK's science output and international research reputation. The research also revealed a substantial contribution of European doctors to the UK's healthcare system.
New research shows promise with simulated nerve agents and potentially deadly toxins - the 'molecular baskets' can find and trap them for safe removal, paving the way for future medical applications.
The European Problematic Use of the Internet (EU-PUI) Research Network has identified nine main areas of research to address issues such as problem use, health effects, and cultural influences. The network aims to develop evidence-based proposals for improving prevention and treatment strategies.
Researchers have developed a new technique to measure the magnetic field in the atmosphere, 100 km above the planet, using ground-based lasers. The method provides new insights into space weather and atomic processes.
The ESMO 2018 Congress will feature a wide range of topics including immunotherapy, biomarkers, and prevention. The event will also host the annual congress of the European Oncology Nursing Society and a patient advocacy track emphasizing the central role of patients in securing access to optimal cancer care.
Fossil teeth from Italy's Fontana Fanuccio and Visogliano sites show Neanderthal dental features emerged by 450,000 years ago, adding to the understanding of a period of complex human evolution. The discovery supports an early divergence of the Neanderthal lineage and suggests multiple human lineages inhabited the region.