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Insects heavily rely on bacteria for essential nutrients that are lacking in their diet. This has allowed insects to access a wide variety of food, leading to remarkable species diversification in some cases, according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden. Insects are crucial for biodiversity and among the most successful species on the planet. However, until now, it has been unclear how

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/bacteria-are-vital-diversity-and-survival-insects - 2025-10-21

Great tits in urban environments have lower levels of stress hormone than those living in woodland habitats. This according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden. Certain animals are able to adjust well to environments that have been created or altered by human activity. We live in an age in which urbanisation is proceeding at an ever-faster rate, something that also affects fauna. The gre

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/urban-great-tits-less-stressed-their-countryside-cousins - 2025-10-21

A new study conducted by researchers in Europe shows that urban great tits have paler plumage than their countryside counterparts. Since the yellow pigment of the breast feathers of great tits comes from the food they eat, the paler yellow plumage of urban birds indicates that the urban environment affects the entire food chain. As urban areas expand, animals increasingly find themselves living in

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/urban-great-tits-have-paler-plumage-their-forest-living-relatives - 2025-10-21

An international group of researchers has been studying a group of microorganisms called Asgard archaea for several years. According to the research, these unique organisms are the origin of all complex life forms that we see around us today. The first life forms that evolved on Earth were called prokaryotes – a group of single-celled organisms that include bacteria. However, between two and three

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/were-all-asgardians-mysterious-microorganisms-unveiled-key-origin-complex-life - 2025-10-21

Why are certain people more severely affected than others by invasive streptococcal infections? According to a new study from Lund University in Sweden, the answer lies in our genome. Carriers of a certain variant of the STING gene are at greater risk, particularly if they encounter the bacterial strains that have increased in the western world since the 1980s. The findings, published in Nature Co

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/why-killer-bacteria-affect-some-people-more-severely - 2025-10-21

The biology researchers from Lund, Milda Pucetaite and Colin Olito, have been awarded starting grants from the European Research Council, ERC. The research projects aim to advance methods in microbiological ecology and map the development of sex chromosomes. Milda Pucetaite, researcher in microbiological ecology, on the project “Tracing single-cell scale chemical signaling between interacting soil

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/two-biology-researchers-receive-generous-starting-grants-european-research-council - 2025-10-21

When humans are ill, we tend to be less active. This also applies to wild animals, but so far, it has not been known how long the reduced activity lasts or which activities are affected the most. New research from Lund University in Sweden shows that birds' activity decreases for up to three weeks when they become ill - something that could mean the difference between life and death. The researche

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/disease-affects-blackbirds-more-previously-thought - 2025-10-21

One result of climate change is that spring is arriving earlier. However, migratory birds are not keeping up with these developments and arrive too late for the peak in food availability when it is time for breeding. By getting the birds to fly a little further north, researchers in Lund, Sweden, and the Netherlands have observed that these birds can give their chicks a better start in life. Globa

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/migratory-birds-can-be-taught-adjust-climate-change - 2025-10-21

Using micro-engineered soil models, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have investigated the effect of tiny polystyrene particles on bacteria and fungi. While these nanoplastics reduced both bacterial and fungal growth, the fungus actually managed to "clean up" their surroundings, thereby easing the effect of the plastics. “Plastic waste is a huge global problem. Whether carelessly discarded

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/vacuum-cleaner-effect-fungi-can-hold-nanoplastics-bay - 2025-10-21

For over 20 years, a research team at Lund University in Sweden has studied the common bluetail damselfly. Females occur in three different colour forms – one with a male-like appearance, something that protects them from mating harassment. In a new study, an international research team found that this genetic colour variation that is shared between several species arose through changes in a speci

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/scientists-have-solved-damselfly-colour-mystery - 2025-10-21

A new study from Lund confirms that pesticides commonly used in farmland significantly harm bumblebees. Data from 106 sites across 8 European countries show that despite tightened pesticide regulations, more needs to be done. Despite claims of the world's most rigorous risk assessment process, the use of approved pesticides in European agricultural landscapes still negatively affects non-target or

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/commonly-used-pesticides-are-still-harming-bees - 2025-10-21

It is now possible to test chemicals and makeup without using products isolated from animals. Researchers from Lund have developed a completely animal-free preparation for cell culture, a medium that can be used to grow human cells, including for cancer research. They believe this is a much sought-after breakthrough, as it solves an ethical dilemma, leads to higher scientific accuracy and thus sav

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/she-has-developed-animal-free-preparation-cell-culture-and-giving-away-recipe - 2025-10-21

The large-eyed bristle worm Vanadis has long been of interest to the world’s vision researchers. But the worm has been difficult to study since it lives in the open sea and is active at night. Now, a research team has succeeded in locating an Italian worm colony and is able to confirm that the worm has a completely unique vision. Bristle worms are a group of annelid worms that mostly live in the s

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/marine-worm-outstanding-vision-fascinates-researchers - 2025-10-21

Body shape, colour and behaviour often evolve together as species adapt to their environment. Researchers from Lund University have studied this phenomenon in a specific type of large, bright green and aggressive common wall lizard found near the Mediterranean. They discovered that a unique cell type might have played a key role in this joint evolution. Adaptation is a genetic change that results

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/incredible-hulk-lizard-provides-clues-understanding-evolution - 2025-10-21

The box tree moth was first found in Sweden in 2016 – the invasive species is increasing very rapidly and could become a major problem in the near future. Box tree moth has so far hit the continent very hard and it will most likely happen in Sweden. Boxwood (or box) is a plant found in many homes and public spaces. The box tree moth will devour much of it. "Soon we risk having the same situation a

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/scientists-reveal-invasive-box-tree-moth-rise-sweden - 2025-10-21

A research team led by Lund University in Sweden has developed an AI tool that traces back the most recent places you have been to. The tool acts like a satellite navigation system, but instead of guiding you to your hotel, it identifies the geographical source of microorganisms. This means you can use bacteria to determine whether someone has just been to the beach, got off the train in the city

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/new-gps-system-microorganisms-could-revolutionise-police-work - 2025-10-21

How credible are research results? A new biology study shows that the same data can give different answers depending on the method of analysis used – raising questions about the stability of scientific conclusions. To strengthen credibility, researchers need to be better at accounting for their methods. Ever since the 17th century, when modern scientific research was born, methods have been refine

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/reliability-scientific-methods-under-scrutiny - 2025-10-21

Roach that migrate between different lakes and water courses have larger pupils and better eyesight than roach that stay in one place. The adaptation makes it easier for the red-eyed freshwater migrants to find food in murky waters. This is shown in a large study from Lund University in Sweden. Animals’ eyes, just like those of humans, are a kind of window to the world. Eyesight controls important

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/migrating-roach-have-sharper-eyesight - 2025-10-21

Humans and animals are not the only ones affected by viruses. Unicellular organisms can also be attacked. In a new study, scientists establish that green algae can carry latent giant virus DNA in their genome. Biology researchers at Lund University in Sweden have spent several years studying microorganisms isolated from Lake Krageholm in Skåne and Lake Örsjön in Småland. During the most recent ele

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/unicellular-green-algae-may-carry-giant-virus-dna-their-genome - 2025-10-21

Øystein Opedal, associate senior lecturer at the Department of Biology, has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant. Congratulations, Øystein! Can you tell us a little about your project?“The project aims to better understand how plants adapt to new pollination environments, such as declining pollinator populations or local changes in the diversity of pollinator species. We know quite a lot about how p

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/biologist-receives-erc-starting-grant - 2025-10-21