Microbiology 2023.11.24 RNA trickery disarms the antiviral CRISPR defenses of bacteria Bacteria-attacking viruses, known as bacteriophages, use small RNAs to disarm the CRISPR-Cas immune systems of bacteria. This discovery has now been documented by researchers at the University of Copenhagen. The…
Species 2023.11.21 The genomic secrets to how the muskox mastered living on the edge At the end of the last Ice Age, many iconic species became extinct - including the steppe bison, the woolly rhinoceros, the Irish elk, and the dire wolf. However, one Ice Age relict, perfectly adapted to the harsh…
Resistance to antibiotics 2023.11.07 Closer to understanding how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics Haemophilus influenzae stands out as a significant bacterial culprit, notorious for causing severe respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia. It has remarkably developed resistance to a plethora of drugs,…
Fungi 2023.10.23 Fungal evolution discovered: Mycena can now invade living hosts Biologists have long known mushrooms of the genus Mycena, commonly known as bonnet mushrooms, as fungi that live off of dead trees and plants. New research from the University of Copenhagen demonstrates that bonnets can…
2023.10.03 Villum Synergy: Interdisciplinary research Although solutions to major challenges usually require cross-disciplinary collaboration, researchers seldom cross disciplinary boundaries in their research. The Synergy programme from the Velux Foundation, however,…
THE BRAIN 2023.09.22 Jellyfish are smarter than you think Jellyfish are more advanced than once thought. A new study from the University of Copenhagen has demonstrated that Caribbean box jellyfish can learn at a much more complex level than ever imagined – despite only having…
Funding 2023.09.22 The unorthodox research ideas still have golden days at the Department of Biology This year's 49 Villum Experiment grant recipients have been selected from a strong field of over 400 applicants. 11 of the grants went to researchers from SCIENCE, and of these, BIO accounts for an impressive 5: Deyon…
Funding 2023.09.08 New Horizon Europe funding to BIO and ICMM researchers Professor Lotte Bang Pedersen, Søren Tvorup Christensen (Section of Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology), and Lars Allan Larsen (Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, the Panum Institute) have…
Biodiversity 2023.09.02 Three out of four populations of rare butterflies have been lost In just 26 years, the distribution of rare butterflies has plummeted by 72% in Eastern Denmark. Several species are threatened with extinction, yet the conservation actions aiming to safeguard species have proved…
Animals 2023.08.14 Denmark is crawling with the world's most resilient creature They’re found on Mount Everest, in the deep seas, aboard the International Space Station and thousands of them have even crash landed and been spilled onto the moon. The microscopic water bear has a nearly unfathomable…
VIRUS 2023.07.05 Danish researchers solve the mystery of how deadly virus hide in humans With a new method for examining virus samples researchers from the University of Copenhagen have solved an old riddle about how Hepatitis C virus avoids the human body's immune defenses. The result may have an impact on…
Health 2023.05.31 Could this explain why childhood obesity leads to early puberty? Puberty often begins early for children who are obese. While there is nothing new about this fact, a scientific explanation has been elusive. Now, a team of scientists at the University of Copenhagen offers what may be …
Seadragon 2023.05.30 Study finds weedy seadragons genetically connected across the Great Southern Reef Common, or weedy, seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) are iconic fish in their native waters of the Great Southern Reef, the southern coastline of Australia. They are beloved by SCUBA divers and aquarium visitors…
Dissemination Award 2023.05.09 Spaghetti-armed egghead strives to move people with facts Hans Henrik Bruun is an especially active voice of reason in public discourse about the present and future of Danish nature. Whenever engaging, he often greets strong emotions with facts. This year's recipient of…
Diseases 2023.05.03 High-throughput experiments might ensure a better diagnosis of hereditary diseases All human beings are genetically very similar, sharing approx. 99.9% of the DNA code. The remaining 0.1% explains the natural differences between people, including our predisposition to hereditary diseases. Although…
Prize 2023.04.28 British Ecological Society journal prize winner: Aya Permin The British Ecological Society (BES) has announced the winners of its journal prizes for research published in 2022. One of the winner is Aya Permin from our department, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
Insects 2023.03.22 Researchers get to the “bottom” of how beetles use their butts to stay hydrated Beetles are champions at surviving in extremely dry environments. In part, this property is due to their ability to suck water from the air with their rear ends. A new collaborative study by researchers from the…
Sustainability 2023.01.18 Sustainability: A dirty game Sustainability is a concept that can be hard to understand and even harder to implement. What if you could play your part, by quite literally playing a boardgame? A team of five young researchers from four European…