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Missing species show human impact on biodiversity greater than thought A new global study, published yesterday in Nature , shows that in human-disturbed regions, many native plant species are missing from places where they could grow. Traditional methods of measuring biodiversity-such as simply counting species present-do not give a complete picture.

Nitrogen is a colorless odorless gas in the air. Although nitrogen by itself is not a problem for humans and the environment, it can combine with other elements, such as oxygen and hydrogen. This creates nitrogen oxides and ammonia, which can be harmful. These nitrogen compounds from agriculture, traffic and industry end up in the air and eventually settle on the ground.

What goes on in a horse's head? With a better understanding of horses' emotions, we can improve their well-being. That is the idea behind the project of researchers Ineke Smit and Nikae te Moller , started with financial help from the Veterinary Fire campaign. They measure muscle activity in horses' faces in cooperation with the Swedish University of Agriculture SLU.

If the chicken had a say, what would poultry farms look like? At Herenboeren, chickens are kept in small groups in mobile houses with outdoor runs. Yet even in such an environment there is a risk of damage from feather pecking and damage to foot pads. Can this be prevented with the help of straw, an adjustment in operations that poultry farmers can implement without much effort? That is what master's students in veterinary medicine Koen Riep and Jeroen Imholz are investigating.

Female and male primates often form close bonds, but not purely out of affection. Close relationships usually evolve when there is a clear benefit for both parties, with protection and reproductive control playing key roles. A new study, led by primatologists Liesbeth Sterck from Utrecht University and Julia Ostner from the University of Göttingen, provides theoretical insights in how these bonds are formed.

Taking antibiotics at a young age can make the body more prone to asthma and allergies later in life. This might be preventable by adding a simple supplement, concludes immunologist Olaf Perdijk from Utrecht University. His comprehensive study is published today in the journal Immunity . Antibiotics are essential for eliminating harmful bacteria and have significantly advanced our healthcare.

Some bacteria form colonies that display striking, reflective colours. New genetic insights into the formation of such colours allowed an interdisciplinary, international team of researchers to identify the environments and bacterial groups in which these colours are found. Doing so, the team has made a start in understanding the function of these colours in bacteria.

What if we could find a way to make electric currents flow, without energy loss? A promising approach for this involves using materials known as topological insulators. They are known to exist in one (wire), two (sheet) and three (cube) dimensions; all with different possible applications in electronic devices.

The ocean can store carbon and act as a carbon sink, and it can be a carbon source. The difference in 'age' of the organic carbon already present in the ocean and the carbon that is supplied determines whether the ocean acts as a carbon sink or source. Researchers from Nanjing universities and Utrecht University created the first sink or source world map that can be used when deciding where to invest in organic carbon storage in the ocean.

A group of scientists has developed a model that explains how schedule-based systems, such as supply chains and railways, can be prone to spontaneous explosions of large-scale delays. The researchers recommend system operators to prioritize resilience, alongside efficiency, for better long-term outcomes.

Applying physics to better understand complicated biological processes: that is what Meike Bos did during her PhD. She used computer models to investigate how ciliated cells in the airways move to ensure that mucus can be transported. Her research, culminating in a successful dissertation defense on 29 May, highlights the power of computational modeling in addressing complex biological phenomena.

The assumption that the numbers of smaller predators will decline when large predator populations rise, is not necessarily valid. For mammals in Europe, this relationship appears to exist only in specific cases. Utrecht biologists Thomas van Schaik, Marijke van Kuijk , and Liesbeth Sterck conclude this based on a literature review they conducted, which was recently published in the scientific journal Mammal Review.

Climate change can accelerate due to feedback mechanisms: complex phenomena caused by climate change that in turn can further drive climate change. An example is the extra CO2 emissions from thawing permafrost. Research into the influence of feedback mechanisms in the long term has been ongoing, and modern climate change research is obviously happening as well, but the connection between the two has so far been underemphasized.

A groundbreaking study by an international team of researchers has revealed seaweed forests to be significant contributors to oceanic carbon storage. Their research estimates that the world's seaweed forests transport 56 million tonnes of carbon (between 10 to 170 million tonnes) to deep ocean sinks each year.

In a warmer climate, summers warm much faster than winters in northwestern Europe. That is the conclusion of research into fossil shells by an international team of earth scientists. With this knowledge we can better map the consequences of current global warming in the North Sea area. The researchers measured the chemical composition of fossil shells.

More than 25 researchers from ten different European countries will join Utrecht's first Screenathon, taking place from May 14 to May 17 . At several beautiful, historical sites in Utrecht's city centre, the researchers together will screen more than 10,000 publications to get insights into research activities from all'over the world relevant to the IMPROVE project.

Research challenges therapeutic approaches and ideas about disease backgrounds Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) all'have a unique and diverse set of antibodies that are involved in the development of the disease. Researchers at Utrecht University unveiled the complexity of these antibodies using powerful lab tools capable of analysing our immune system at molecular levels.

Water can be purified using mushroom substrate: the mixture of fungal filaments and horse manure that remains after harvesting mushrooms. The substrate effectively decreases concentrations of pesticides and drugs in contaminated water. Utrecht researchers Brigit van Brenk , Han Wösten , and colleagues demonstrate this in a paper in the scientific journal Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

When you build a dam on a river, less sediment can get to the sea, which makes deltas more susceptible to floods. This idea's been believed for a long time, however new research from Utrecht University shows that the amount of sediment in deltas has actually increased since 2000. This is good news for preserving deltas - like the Netherlands - from sea level rise.

Theoretical physicists at Utrecht University, together with experimental physicists at Sogang University in South Korea, have succeeded in building an artificial synapse. This synapse works with water and salt and provides the first evidence that a system using the same medium as our brains can process complex information.