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Newsarchiv: Creating knowledge since 1502
Jahr 2019
Loss of habitat causes double damage to species richness
Loss and fragmentation of habitat are among the main reasons why biodiversity is decreasing in many places worldwide. A research team with participation of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and Martin Luther University has established that the destruction of habitat causes double damage to biodiversity. If habitat patches disappear, not only do the species living there become extinct, but species richness in neighbouring patches also declines, the researchers write in the journal Ecology Letters.
Bullying among adolescents: victims and perpetrators both suffer
Name-calling, hair pulling or cyberbullying: About a tenth of adolescents across the globe have been the victim of psychological or physical violence from classmates at least once in their lives. A new study carried out by researchers at Martin Luther University has shown that victims and their perpetrators both suffer as a result of these attacks: They are more inclined to consume alcohol and tobacco, are more likely to complain of psychosomatic problems and their chances of having problems with their social environment increase, too.
Complete world map of tree diversity
Researchers at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research and Martin Luther University have now succeeded in constructing, from scattered data, a world map of biodiversity showing numbers of tree species. With the new map, the researchers were able to infer what drives the global distribution of tree species richness. The new approach could help to improve global conservation.
Cell division in plants: How cell walls are assembled
Plant researchers at Martin Luther University are providing new insights into basic cell division in plants. The scientists have succeeded in understanding how processes are coordinated that are pivotal in properly separating daughter cells during cell division. In the renowned scientific publication "The EMBO Journal", they describe the tasks of certain membrane building blocks and how plants are impacted when these building blocks are disrupted.
Researchers discover gene that turns bees into social parasites
A small change in the genetic makeup of the South African Cape bee turns the socially organised animal into a fighting parasite. This change ensures that infertile worker bees begin to lay their own eggs and fight other colonies. In the current issue of the journal "Molecular Biology and Evolution", an international research team led by Martin Luther University outlines for the first time the genetic basis for this rare phenomenon.
Cardiovascular diseases and nutrition in Europe
Of the 4.3 million cardiovascular deaths in Europe in 2016, 2.1 million were the result of poor nutrition. Every second to third premature cardiovascular death could be prevented by better nutrition. These were the findings of an international research team led by the Martin Luther University, the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the nutriCARD competence cluster and the University of Washington.
Increasing Impacts of land use on biodiversity
Rapid population and economic growth are destroying biological diversity - especially in the tropics. This was reported by a research team led by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research and the Martin Luther University in Nature Ecology & Evolution. A constantly growing demand for agricultural products requires ever new cultivated areas. Even though technological advances are making agriculture ever more efficient, the growing number of people makes up for these successes.
The German Bundesliga: Are the players worth the money?
Does the talent of footballers dictate their market value? Economists from Martin Luther University investigated this question in a new study. They calculated the relationship between the performance and market value of 493 players in the 1st and 2nd divisions of the German Bundesliga for the 2015/16 season. The study revealed that star players tend to be overvalued, while other players tend to be traded at below market value.
New Max Planck Fellow Dirk Hanschel
Dirk Hanschel, Professor of German, European, and International Public Law at Martin Luther University, will carry out a research programme on "Environmental Rights in Cultural Context" as a Max Planck Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle starting in January 2019. The fellowship position, which is awarded by the Max Planck Society, is connected with a research grant of up to 500,000 euros.
Mere sunlight can be used to eradicate pollutants in water
Advances in environmental technology: You don`t need complex filters and laser systems to destroy persistent pollutants in water. Chemists at Martin Luther University have developed a new process that works using mere sunlight. The process is so simple that it can even be conducted outdoors under the most basic conditions.
Researchers present a unique database on Earth’s vegetation
Which plant species grow where, alongside which others? The diversity of global vegetation can be described based on only a few traits from each species. This has been revealed by a research team led by Martin Luther University and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research. In a new study published in the scientific journal "Nature Ecology & Evolution", they present the world`s first global vegetation database which contains over 1.1 million complete lists of plant species sampled across all Earth`s ecosystems.
Bacteria: Protein researchers decipher resistance mechanism
Worldwide, resistance to antibiotics is on the rise. In order to understand why bacteria are becoming immune to previously well-functioning drugs, scientists are penetrating ever deeper into the molecular structure of cells. A research group at Martin Luther University has now succeeded in isolating a membrane protein from the E. coli bacterium and shed light on its molecular structure. Armed with this information, they have been able to show how the bacterium manages to rid itself of the antibiotic by forcing out the drug.