news 2025

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Proteomics A University of Copenhagen study uncovers intricate details about protein function at the molecular level. The discovery could transform disease diagnostics and treatment. Proteins play a central role in virtually every disease. They are the building blocks of life, serving as essential components in nearly all cellular processes.

Crop farming Sorghum is one of the world's oldest grains and possesses many traits that can benefit food security, climate resilience, and biodiversity. However, the mechanisms behind these traits have long remained a mystery to researchers, which has hindered efficient cultivation. Now, a new technique and a biobank - developed in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen - have made research and breeding possible at an unprecedented pace, paving the way to an effective crop in both the Global North and South.

Evolution New study uncovers the intricate factors that drive the evolution of genomes. Utilizing data from the world's largest bird genome database, it could have implications such as understanding how diseases adapt to human demographics or climate conditions Evolution. Nature's engine, driving and shaping genetic change and the diversity around us.

A newly discovered chemical reaction sheds light on an unexpected source of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, in both marine and freshwater environments. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas about 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO2), and its atmospheric concentration continues to rise.

Population genetics In the most extensive genetic study of the Greenlandic population to date, researchers from Denmark and Greenland have examined new parts of the genome that have never been studied before. The study sheds light on the genetic history and background for health conditions of Greenlanders and could help improve the diagnosis and treatment of genetic metabolic diseases in the future.

Diet New research from Denmark reveals that a mother's diet during pregnancy-characterised by a Western dietary pattern high in fat and sugar and low in fresh ingredients-may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism in children. Researchers see potential for targeted dietary interventions during pregnancy to reduce this risk.

Researchers have studied the lifespans of 1,176 animal species. Among mammals, females usually live the longest - including humans - and scientists believe this pattern will continue. Women live longer than men. This can be observed all'over the world, and it has been true throughout history. But why is that, especially now that living conditions have improved in many places and access to medical care is widely available?

Antibiotic resistance Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have learned that antibiotic resistant DNA can survive on the surface of minerals such as sand or clay, and this may increase the spread of antibiotic resistance from animals to humans. Imagine one of Denmark's many picturesque beaches, the waves lapping against the shore, the golden sand and the smooth pebbles.