Biology

Find in the alluvial forest: Rare insect species rediscovered

This extremely rare mosquito-repellent was discovered in the Leipzig floodplain forest. (Photo: Lisa Hahn) In the Leipzig floodplain forest, biologists have discovered an insect...

“Everyday species” on the advance

The growth of the already widespread plant species threatens the diversity of plants in many ecosystems in Europe. (Image: Harald Pauli / OeAW) Stinging...

Tropical forests recover quickly

Cleared forest. (Image: University of Innsbruck) Positive surprise: if the trees grow back after the rainforest has been deforested or slashed by fire, this...

Species identification: DNA barcoding for everyone

https://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-021-01141-x The biodiversity on our planet is huge, but how many and which species there are is only known to a fraction. One of...

Less animal experiments through brain models

So far, many laboratory animals have had to suffer for studies and drug tests in brain research. (Image: filo / iStock) Organoids instead of...

Herring stocks collapsed 500 years ago

Autumn spawning Baltic herring. (Image: Aquarium GEOMAR / Jan Steffen) Overfishing is now threatening herring and cod stocks, and in parts of the Baltic...

Apple trees pass on their microbiome

Red Gala variety apple tree. (Image: Jules_Kitano / iStock) Just like humans and animals, plants also have their own microbiome: Microorganisms such as fungi...

Giant Eagle: Rabid and yet vulture-like

Artist's impression of the Haastadler, which became extinct in the 15th century. (Image: Katrina Kenny) With a wingspan of three meters, the Haastadler circled...

Microplastics: corals as garbage disposal

A coral has dark microplastic built into its skeleton. (Image: Jessica Reichert) The tiny particles of microplastics not only collect in the water and...

Intestinal bacteria sharpen bumblebee memory

Certain representatives of the lactobacilli apparently promote memory in bumblebees. (Image: DanielaAgius / iStock) Microbial masterminds in their sights: Even in insects, the intestinal...

A bizarre figure in the spotlight

The insect of the year 2022: the black-necked camel-neck fly (Image: Harald Bruckner) A long neck and crystal-clear wings: the black-necked camel-neck fly will take...

The CO2 budget at a glance

When it comes to climate protection, the following applies: Humankind only has a limited CO2 budget at its disposal. A video from the...

Race at the expense of the planet

More sustainability is needed. (Image: amriphoto / iStock) For a country, sustainable growth means meeting the basic needs of the population without overexploiting the...

Tortoises in need of the world!

One example among many: the range of the great Asian river turtle Batagur trivittata has shrunk dramatically. (Image: Rick Hudson) “Turtles of the World”:...

How auxin grows plants

Growing young plant. (Image: RomoloTavani / iStock) In plants, solid cell walls form a stable framework that supports and holds the cells together and...

“Green Wall” is also worthwhile economically

A Sahel village near Timbuktu on the "Green Wall". (Image: FAO) A “green wall” is intended to protect the landscape of the Sahel zone...

How shy are bats?

It is no longer just the moon and stars that illuminate the bats' habitat. (Image: slowmotiongli / iSock) Animals of the night in the...

Stop catching to help European eel

Acutely threatened: the European eel. (Image: Reinhold Hanel / Thünen Institute) The European eel has long been a popular food fish, but is now...

Looking for a place for the rarest sea lions

New Zealand sea lions cubs sleeping in the forest. (Image: Amélie Augé) For a long time New Zealand sea lions were only found on...

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