New Study: Bivalves May Hold the Secret to a Longer Life
For hundreds of years, the pursuit of the legendary “fountain of youth” symbolized humanity’s desire for longevity. In modern times, this quest has found new…
University of Bologna News
Arch Rivals: How Human Feet Differ From Our Primate Cousins – “Masterpiece of Evolution”
A comprehensive study reveals new insights into the evolution and complexity of the human foot, focusing on the medial longitudinal arch and its significance in…
Drink To Forget? Excessive Drinking May Accelerate Alzheimer’s Progression
Scientists from Scripps Research and the University of Bologna have demonstrated that increased alcohol intake in animals can accelerate cognitive deterioration in those genetically susceptible…
“UFOs” – The Ultra-Fast Space Winds That Shape the Evolution of Galaxies
They are called UFOs, but aliens have nothing to do with them. They are the ultra-fast outflows: space winds that emerge from the surroundings of…
First Measurement of Electron Spin in Kagome Quantum Materials
An international research team has succeeded for the first time in measuring the electron spin in matter — i.e., the curvature of space in which…
Ancient Bones Reveal Their Secrets With Cutting-Edge Hyperspectral Imaging
Protecting the cultural heritage of ancient bone artifacts is now possible. Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging and radiocarbon dating together to make the invisible visible. An innovative…
A Key Heart-Repair Gene Has Been Discovered
A crucial hormone for heart repair has been identified. The University of Bologna’s researchers, who are part of an international study team, have discovered a…
East Asian Lineages in Europe 45,000 Years Ago Explained by Population Hub Out of Africa
The ancient human remains unearthed in the Bacho Kiro cave (in present-day Bulgaria) and recently genetically described were surprisingly reported to be more closely related…
Earth May Have 9,000 Tree Species That Haven’t Been Discovered Yet
Our planet might be hosting approximately 9,000 tree species yet to be discovered. A third of these are rare species with a population that is…
Incredible Dinosaur Treasure Trove in Italy Rewrites History, Geography, and Evolution
A dinosaur trove in Italy rewrites the history, geography, and evolution of the ancient Mediterranean area. Italy is not exactly renowned for dinosaurs. In comparison…
3.4 Billion-Year-Old Fossils of Methane-Cycling Microbes Expand Frontiers of Habitability on Early Earth
A team of international researchers, led by the University of Bologna, has discovered the fossilized remains of methane-cycling microbes that lived in a hydrothermal system…
New COVID-19 “Mexican Variant” Identified: Increasingly Spreading Across North America
It has recently become prominent in Mexico and, similarly to other variants, presents a mutation in the Spike protein of the coronavirus. The “Mexican variant”…
Molecular Machines: NanoGear – Mechanics of the Infinitely Small
Gears and mechanical transmissions are at home in the Emilia-Romagna region, the Motor Valley of northern Italy. A team of researchers from the University of…
Some Coronaviruses Can Steal Their Host’s Genes to Elude Their Immune System
Some coronaviruses can add to their genetic pool some genes belonging to the host they infected. In this way, they can blend in and be…
Analyzing Ancient DNA From 50,000-Year-Old Poop Reveals Secrets of Neanderthals’ Gut Microbiota
Neanderthals’ gut microbiota already included some beneficial micro-organisms that are also found in our own intestines. An international research group led by the University of…
Bulge Fossil Fragments: Astrophysicists Discover Primordial Clumps of Gas and Stars Around the Center of the Milky Way
Just as archaeologists dig hoping to find traces of the past, an international group of astrophysicists managed to get into the thick cloud of dust…