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Greenland The Inuit arrived in Greenland several hundred years earlier than previously believed. This is revealed by a genetic mapping of sled dogs, conducted by researchers from institutions including the University of Copenhagen. For many of us, dogs are our best friends, but in Greenland, sled dogs have for centuries been more than just loyal companions: they are an indispensable workforce, contributing to hunting and pulling sleds across the country's icy terrain.

When a research team reached the bottom of a deep-sea trench, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by thousands of unusual animals thriving in the cold, dark deep. "This shows how much more can be discovered when diving with a submersible and directly observing the seabed, rather than only bringing up samples 'blindly'," says deep-sea researcher Ronnie N. Glud, co-author of a new article published in Nature ( find it here ) .

Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) have discovered that jellyfish can be used as a food stabiliser. In the future, the slimy creatures may become an important ingredient in a more sustainable food production system. Food stabiliser. The word might not sound particularly appetising, but without food stabilisers, much of the food we eat would be impossible to make.

Microbiome An international research team led by scientists from the University of Copenhagen has discovered a common gut bacterium that lowers body weight and blood sugar while increasing bone density. The finding could pave the way for a new approach to preventing and treating cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Staphylococcus Goats, horses and cows carry a bacterium that could become an effective weapon against increased antibiotic resistance in society. New research from the University of Copenhagen shows that signaling molecules from this bacterium can treat infections caused by multi-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria in an animal model as effectively as antibiotics.

ANCIENT DNA A new study maps infectious diseases across millennia and offers new insight into how human-animal interactions permanently transformed our health landscape. A research team led by Eske Willerslev, professor at the University of Copenhagen and the University of Cambridge, has recovered ancient DNA from 214 known human pathogens in prehistoric humans from Eurasia.

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.

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.

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.

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.