Decoding Psilocybin: “Magical” Enzymatic Pathways to Psychiatric Breakthroughs
New study sheds light on the structure and evolution of an enzyme in psychoactive fungi. The psychoactive substance psilocybin is the most important natural product…
Leibniz Institute News
The Leibniz Institute refers to any one of the research organizations that are part of the Leibniz Association in Germany, an umbrella organization comprising 96 independent research institutes. These institutes conduct research ranging from the natural sciences, engineering, environmental sciences, to economics, spatial and social sciences, and the humanities. They are known for their interdisciplinary focus and application-oriented approach. Named after the philosopher and scientist Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, the association promotes scientific excellence and cooperation among its institutes, which often cooperate with universities, industry, and other research organizations both within and outside Germany. The institutes vary in size and focus, addressing issues of social, economic, and ecological relevance and often providing scientific services to the public and policy-makers.
Final Experiments of the Aeolus Satellite Before Burning Up in Earth’s Atmosphere
TROPOS involvement throughout the Aeolus mission and preparations for the upcoming EarthCARE mission. After completing a very successful mission, ESA’s Aeolus satellite descended from an…
Lost Giants: New Study Uncovers Decline of African Megafauna
Faysal Bibi from the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, and Juan L. Cantalapiedra from the University of Alcalá in Madrid, leveraged thousands of fossil teeth…
Scientists “Revive” Stone Age Molecules From Ancient DNA
In a highly transdisciplinary study, scientists are rebuilding microbial natural products up to 100,000 years old using dental calculus of humans and Neanderthals. Breakthroughs in…
Holes in T Cells: Previously Unknown Function of Immune Cells Revealed
Researchers just discovered that certain T cells can secrete cytokines that are normally part of the innate immune system. They have now revealed several previously…
New COVID Subvariant Resistant to All Therapeutic Antibodies
The findings indicate that new antibody therapies must be developed. Are the currently approved antibody therapies used to treat patients who have a higher risk…
New Class of Unusual Reactive Substances Detected in Atmospheric Chemistry
An international team of researchers has now succeeded in detecting hydrotrioxides (ROOOH) under atmospheric conditions for the first time. Until now, the existence of these…
Previous Research Said Mothers of Twins Are More Fertile – Turns Out They Are Just Lucky
Is it true that women who have twins are more fertile? While prior research concluded they are, a rigorous analysis of more than 100,000 births…
Babbling Baby Bats Sound Strikingly Similar to Human Infants
More than anything else, language defines human nature. Speech, the vocal output of language, requires precise control over our vocal articulators, including the tongue, lips,…
Experiments Show Cryptic Sixth Sense of Orientation of Bats Lies in the Eye
Mammals see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and smell with their nose. But which sense or organ allows them to orient themselves on…
Race for Survival: Retroviruses Are Re-writing the Koala Genome and Causing Cancer
The koala retrovirus (KoRV) is a virus that, like other retroviruses such as HIV, inserts itself into the DNA of an infected cell. At some…
A Microscope for Everyone: Open-Source Optical Toolbox Delivers High-Resolution Images for Tiny Fraction of the Price
The open-source system from the 3D printer delivers high-resolution images like commercial microscopes at hundreds of times the price. Modern microscopes used for biological imaging…
New Findings Call Into Question Current Understanding of Earth’s Sulfur Cycle
Laboratory results from Leipzig question current knowledge on the degradation of dimethyl sulfide within the sulfur cycle. An international research team was able to experimentally…