Science

All things related to science & technology, from Germany and beyond

Science quick read articles →

Gut Bacteria: A 100 Trillion Guests?

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

New research shows that our body chooses which microorganism can live in our gut. The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is home to about 100 trillion symbiotic bacteria, which, seen from their DNA content, amount to more than 150 times the number of genes in the human genome. But, don't worry, many of these GI tract bacteria have beneficial functions. Beneficial gut bacteria ally with your intestinal cells to break down indigestible plant fibers, they also help your immune system protect...

Bigfoot Genome Sequenced, Perhaps

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

"Bigfoot is real, according to genetic analysis." This bold statement appears on the website of a new journal, where its only paper so far claims to have obtained genome sequence of the (still-mythical) creature Sasquatch, also known as Bigfoot.

The research team, led by Dr. Melba Ketchum, announced the analysis of 111 blood, tissue and hair samples of the famous creature. The team also claims to have sequenced portions of mitochondrial DNA (which traces a lineage from the mother side), single...

Unlocking the Secret of Regeneration

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

Newts and salamanders are known for their ability to grow new limbs after injury, yet little is known about the inner workings of this ability. Now, a new study led by researchers from the Max Planck Institute in Germany and the University of Dayton, in Ohio, USA, makes a significant step towards understanding this amazing ability. Their findings, published online on February 20 in the journal Genome Biology, may one day lead the way for new approaches to regenerate limbs or organs in...

How the Whale lost its Hair

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

Scientists identify the genes responsible for the evolution of hairless skin in whales, which evolved from land (and hairy) mammals eons ago. Hair is important, specially if you're a land mammal as it keeps you warm. But for a whale, hair just gets in the way. What matters most in a marine environment is streamlining, improving your ability to catch a prey. Now, a research group from  Nanjing,  Normal University in China, has pinpointed the genes responsible for whale's hairless...

Scientists find new clues on how bacteria resist antibiotics

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

New research shows how some bacteria manage to evade a widely used antibiotic by removing it from their protein factories.

The widespread use of antibiotics over the past decades has led to the emergence of resistant bacteria. Since their discovery in the 1930s, antibiotics have been overused in human medicine and in industrial farms as food supplements to promote animal growth. A shocking 80% of antibiotics produced in the USA are used in farms, despite warnings from the World Health...

Why Dinosaurs got so big?

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

A new study defies previous theories of why dinosaurs got so big. The real reason may not be so clear cut. Just before the dinosaurs died out, giant plant-eating dinosaurs covered in feathers roamed the earth, walking on two legs, with hands carrying huge scythe-like claws. They were called the Therizinosaurs, and they were the terror the Earth's trees. Relatives of meat eating dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus or Velociraptor, they grew to enormous sizes several times in history, and some...

Cancer research: fruit flies take it down a notch

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

You wouldn't think that those pesky flies hovering around your fruit bowl could help scientists understand cancer. Flies don't have cancer, and a fly is, well, just a fly. However, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been one of scientists' favourite animal models for over a century, and is nowadays used to study many human diseases. New research using fruit flies has now uncovered molecular details in tissue overgrowth that explain some long-standing questions in cancer research.

Why...

For These Apes Social Networking is Worth More Than Food

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

Bonobos will share some bread with strangers rather than with old friends, new research shows. The finding, led by Dr. Brian Hare, from Duke University, USA, was published online in the January 2 edition of PLoS ONE. Such behaviour has never been observed in non-human primates before and may help guide our understanding of how certain altruistic and social behaviors evolved in human ancestors.  Bonobos are very social creatures, and researchers think this behaviour may help. "...they're...

Good Genes, Bad Genes, Who Knows...

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

Genetic testing aims to find altered genes that could lead to a disease, and give doctors a head start in finding the best treatment. However, new research now suggest that finding these potentially ill-fated genes may not be such a big deal.

Researchers from Cambridge and Cardiff universities found that a normal person typically has about 400 DNA mutations in potentially important sites in the genome. But the researchers also found that people carrying these disease-causing mutations usually,...

How plants helped us evolve

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

A lesser known hypothesis suggesting that our relationship with fruit may have helped us evolve into humans, gains new support. According to the theory, known as the angiosperm coevolution hypothesis, long ago, our primate ancestors evolved key adaptations like forward-facing eyes, excellent colour vision, rounded, blunt teeth and fingers without claws, all for the purpose of eating and living from fruits.

The most widely accepted hypothesis proposed to explain how primates evolved from other...

Licence to die?

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

The first time on an airplane is one of those experiences that leave a stamp on your memory. My first plane trip was about 20 years ago, and I would have great recollections of that flight if not only for what happened after the 'no smoking' lights went out. Shortly after the 'ding', a cloud of cigarette smoke filled the air cabin. For hours on end, I was crammed with over hundred other people in a small, enclosed space breathing recycled smoke-infested air. Not a pleasant memory.

As appalling...

How to Make a Black Dahlia

April 22, 2025 • 03:00 PM

New research uncovers the secret of how a flower gets its famous color. Dahlias (Dahlia variabilis) are very popular garden flowers, with almost 20,000 varieties bred in a wide range of shapes, sizes and colors. As far as color goes, you can find Dahlias  in white, yellow, many shades of red, orange and pink. There is also a very rare variety: the black Dahlia. About a dozen Black Dahlias exist, known by creative names such as "Arabian Knight", "Chat Noir", and, oddly, "Charles de...

German PKV Insurance

German Private Health Insurance

Health Insurance in Germany is compulsory and sometimes complicated, not to mention expensive. As an expat, you are required to navigate this landscape within weeks of arriving, so check our FAQ on PKV. For our guide on resources and access to agents who can give you a competitive quote, try our PKV Cost comparison tool.

Hospitals

Hospital and Clinic Directory

Germany is famous for its medical expertise and extensive number of hospitals and clinics. See this comprehensive directory of hospitals and clinics across the country, complete with links to their websites, addresses, contact info, and specializations/services.

Events

Upcoming Events

Christoph Scheuerecker: ,,Ereignis: Erzählung"

Join us at the Kunstraum in der Au for the exhibition titled ,,Ereignis: Erzählung" by Christoph Scheuerecker, focusing on the captivating world of bees. This exhibition invites visitors to explore the intricate relationship between bees and their environment through various artistic expressions,...

More News...

Dominik Krause has been elected Munich's first openly gay Lord Mayor, ending over 70 years of SPD rule. Full results, biography and what comes next.
Green Party candidate wins 22 March run-off with 56.4% of the vote, ending decades of SPD dominance...
The Tabi: From Japanese Tradition to a Fashion Icon
Long before it became one of the most recognisable shoes in contemporary fashion, the tabi was a...
Ukrainian Diplomat Calls for Stronger Security Commitments Beyond NATO-Style Guarantees
The Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations has emphasized the necessity for more robust and...
Vivienne Westwood, The Punk Who Made Fashion Think
There are fashion designers, and then there's Vivienne Westwood, the woman who proved that a dress...
Halloween but make it fashion: 16 costumes inspired by runways
From ghostly gowns to bloodied brides, designers have long turned the macabre into couture magic....
Revolutionising Websites for Cafés, Restaurants, and Bars Across Europe
In today's digital-first world, a strong online presence is no longer a luxury for cafés,...
Power Outage at Chernobyl Following Russian Airstrike
A recent airstrike by the Russian Air Force has resulted in a significant power outage in Chernobyl,...
Lana Del Rey Marries Nostalgia and Modernity
Lana Del Rey has always embodied a world of cinematic nostalgia, so it came as no surprise that her...

IT Job Opportunities

Frontend Developer, Vue / Node
Join a leading global record label in the vibrant city of Cologne as a Frontend Developer specializing in Vue and...
UX Designer
We are seeking a talented UX Designer to become a vital part of our expanding Digital team, based in Manhattan Beach,...
Software Test Engineer
As a leading telehealth solution provider, Caregility is on the forefront of connecting care through innovative...
Project Manager
We are seeking a highly skilled Project Manager responsible for the successful planning, scheduling, and execution of...
Machine Learning Engineer
We are looking for a skilled Machine Learning Engineer to join our team and contribute to the development of...
DevOps Engineer
We are looking for a skilled DevOps Engineer to join our dynamic team in Downingtown, PA. In this role, you will be...
Data Engineer I
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Data Engineer I to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will be...
Information Security Analyst
We are seeking an Information Security Analyst who will play a crucial role in safeguarding information security...