news 2025

Cancer: A new gene-editing method enables researchers to more easily determine whether a patient has inherited an increased risk of developing cancer-before any symptoms appear. Researchers at Rigshospitalet have tested the method and believe it has the potential to save lives worldwide. There may be hopeful news ahead for families with a history of breast and ovarian cancer.

A new study reveals that the Australian Bogong moth uses stars, the Milky Way, and Earth's magnetic field to navigate - making it the first known invertebrate to travel long distances using a stellar compass. Every spring, Australia's iconic Bogong moths leave their birthplace in southeastern Australia and set course for a very specific destination they never visited before: dark, cool caves and rocky outcrops in the Snowy Mountains of southern Australia.

Psychology A new global study shows that people in societies characterized by corruption, inequality, poverty, and violence are more likely to develop aversive, "dark" personality characteristics such as selfishness or spitefulness. Why are some people more inclined to cheat, manipulate, or harm others for their own gain? A new, comprehensive study with data from nearly 2 million people across 183 countries and all 50 US states points to an important answer: It is also a matter of the society in which one grows up.

Psychology Jihadists and extremists on the far right may have something in common. Researchers have developed a model consisting of social and psychological factors that explain how violent extremism arises. What makes a person willing to use violence? The complex psychological and social path that leads people to violent extremism has been mapped out in a new model devised by Associate Professor Milan Obaidi from the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with colleagues from Uppsala University, Aarhus University, and the University of Stuttgart.

A transparent coating that prevents growth of algae on underwater solar cells has been developed for the U.S. Navy. DTU researchers have developed an important coating for underwater drones and solar cell platforms. The coating will not adorn the drones in different colours, but rather act as a self-polishing coating that keeps algae and other biofouling away from the drones' built-in solar cells when they are on mission below sea level.

DIABETES Unprecedented insights into insulin resistance could pave the way for better treatments and earlier detection of type 2 diabetes. Scientists have unearthed surprising details about how our bodies handle insulin - the hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar and developing diabetes.

A new study from SDU and OUH shows that cells in atherosclerotic blood vessels grow in a way that resembles tumour development. The discovery provides new biological insights and may pave the way for treatment strategies. Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital have studied tissue from patients with atherosclerosis.

An international research collaboration anchored at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics has shed new light on a rapid and crucial evolutionary arms race unfolding inside the cells of fruit flies. The study reveals how intricate protein networks are constantly adapting to protect fertility by keeping genetic parasites at bay.

The future of farming isn't just about giant tractors and airborne drones. Even the humble seed analysis is now stepping into the digital age. A new study from Aarhus University and the Tystofte Foundation shows how artificial intelligence and image recognition could revolutionise one of agriculture's most manual tasks.

New research from the University of Southern Denmark, the Centre for Suicide Research, and the Centre for Suicide Prevention shows that suicide prevention training for nursing assistant students enhances their ability to support people at risk of suicide. Suicide prevention training is now being tested in residential facilities.

DTU's technologies and innovations must benefit people, society and the planet. The research and solutions must be responsible, and work in society in a way that benefits as many people as possible. DTU wants to create technology for people. Therefore, considerations about how a new technology can affect people - the social impact - must be included in DTU's research designs right from the idea phase.

A new study from the University of Southern Denmark shows that women with gynaecological disorders are more likely to experience depression-both before and after receiving a diagnosis. The findings highlight the need for earlier detection and a more integrated approach to physical and mental healthcare.

A new study from Aarhus University, recently published in the journal PNAS, sheds light on how plants, at a molecular level, recognize and choose between different types of sugars. By comparing two nearly identical transport proteins in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, researchers reveal the minute structural differences that determine which sugars the plant absorbs.

Ancient DNA: Researchers help the Native American Picuris Pueblo people uncovering their history using ancient DNA. Their research connects the Picuris Pueblo not only to their ancestors but also to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Chaco Canyon. Using tiny fragments of bones and teeth dated to between 500 and 700 years ago, along with saliva samples from living members of the Picuris Pueblo, Willerslev and his team at the University of Copenhagen have demonstrated a genetic link between the Picuris Pueblo and the Pueblo Bonito site in Chaco Canyon.

Endangered species The saola, an antelope-like bovine, is one of the world's rarest and most endangered mammals. In fact, it hasn't been observed in over 10 years. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with Vietnamese scientists and an international team of researchers, have for the first time mapped the saola's complete genome, and they have used that knowledge to estimate the chances of saving it - if it still exists.

New research from the University of Southern Denmark shows that healthcare costs are higher for people with fractures if they have type 1 diabetes. Greater focus on prevention could help bring these costs down. It is well established that people with type 1 diabetes are at higher risk of complications when they experience a bone fracture.

Good research is not just about what is discovered; it's equally about how the findings are reached and described. Three researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have assisted in updating the key reporting guidelines in health research. Reporting is describing what you do and why. To ensure the research is credible, it is necessary to account for what was done, the findings and how the experiment was conducted in practice.

Bacteria Scientists have discovered a new type of immune defense in E. coli bacteria that turns viral infection machinery against the virus itself. Named after the Chinese military strategist Kongming-who famously used enemy weapons to defeat them-the system reveals a novel immune signaling pathway.

STEM CELLS The 'super stem cells' perform better than regular stem cells, being able to develop into many different cell types, researchers from the University of Copenhagen find, with many potential applications, including improved IVF treatment. Imagine if reducing your caloric intake could make you younger? This is almost the case with stem cells.

An international team of researchers, including participants from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), has used advanced technology to uncover why only some patients with a hereditary liver disease go on to develop serious illness. The results have now been published in Nature. Although around 2,500 people in Denmark carry the same genetic mutation, only a small number go on to develop severe liver disease.