News 2024 from the Faculty of Science

• 02.05.2024

  Launch of the Translational Cancer Hub

  The Translational Cancer Hub (TCH) in Odense, is a unique initiative that aims to significantly advance and bridge clinical and basic cancer research.

• 30.04.2024

  Data shortage makes it difficult to identify hormone-disrupting substances

  A lack of data from the chemical industry in the EU makes it impossible to determine whether substances, used in consumer products, are hormone-disrupting. Researchers from DTU Food Institute and SDU recommend that the information requirements in EU legislation be updated and simultaneously suggest methods for assessing chemical substances so that available information is utilized to the fullest.

• 29.04.2024

  Can Brown Fat Help in the Fight Against Obesity?

  Unlike the body’s white fat, brown fat is considered healthy because it helps us burn calories. As a consequence, research interest in brown fat is significant, and now a Danish-German research team reports a new discovery.

• 03.04.2024

  Sex is Evolution's Greatest Success

  The ability to reproduce is considered as evolution's greatest success. But why does it have to be so complicated, exhausting, and sometimes even life-threatening to reproduce? And do virgin births actually exist?

• 22.03.2024

  Global warming: Animals mate more in warmer weather

  Do climate changes make it easier or harder for animals and plants to reproduce? There is no simple answer, but several studies suggest that animals mate more frequently in warmer weather. However, that doesn't necessarily mean they have more offspring, or that the offspring's chances of survival are good. How does that add up?

• 11.03.2024

  New study: How Proteins Control Genes to Prevent our Cells from Maldeveloping

  If our cells would replicate 100% accurately when they need replacing, we would be without a wide range of diseases. However, they don’t; errors occur during replication, leading to illness. A new study takes us deep into the cell's machinery, where the genes in our DNA are regulated.

• 07.03.2024

  New insights into the growth and spread of cancer cells

  In most cancer patients, there is an overactivity of the protein MYC in cancer cells. Now, a Danish research team has discovered an unnoticed function of MYC that could potentially be inhibited to weaken cancer cells

• 05.03.2024

  A Larger Area of Arctic Seafloor is Exposed to Sunlight

  Most of the sunlight reaching the Arctic Ocean is reflected by sea ice, shielding ocean ecosystems from light. As Arctic sea ice continues to melt, larger areas of the ocean and seafloor become exposed to sunlight, potentially allowing more photosynthesis to occur and making the Arctic Ocean more productive. However, this does not seem to be occurring uniformly across the Arctic Ocean.

• 26.02.2024

  True and false about obesity

  Professor Jan-Wilhelm Kornfeld is an expert on the molecular biology of obesity. Here are his answers to five common obesity statements

• 26.02.2024

  Researchers move obesity up into the brain

  As the world becomes more and more obese, research increasingly suggests that obesity can be a result of activity in the brain's reward centers, leading to satisfaction through eating palatable foods. These are the same reward centers activated by substances of abuse like cocaine and amphetamines.

• 26.02.2024

  Elite Research Award for SDU researcher with a penchant for microbes

  Amelia-Elena Rotaru, professor at the Department of Biology, SDU, is one of five young researchers of outstanding international repute to receive the prestigious Elite Research Award from the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.

• 21.02.2024

  Baleen whales evolved a unique larynx to communicate but cannot escape human noise

  The iconic baleen whales, such as the blue, gray and humpback whale, depend on sound for communication in the vast marine environment where they live. Now researchers have for the first time found that baleen whales evolved novel structures in their larynx to make their vast array of underwater songs.

• 09.02.2024

  Surprising behaviour in one of the least studied mammals in the world

  Beaked whales are among the least studied mammals in the world. Now, a new study reveals surprising information about the Baird's beaked whale species.

• 06.02.2024

  Collaboration on Odense Fjord and Funen to inspire other EU countries

  Several researchers from SDU are involved in a new EU project seeking effective solutions for improving water quality and climate adaptation across Europe.

• 18.01.2024

  A new image of a black hole captivates astrophysicists

  In 2019, the world saw the first-ever image of a black hole. Now, researchers present a new image of the same black hole, and they are thrilled to observe the similarities between the images.

• 16.01.2024

  Despite intensive scientific analyses, this head remains a mystery

  For almost 200 years, archaeologists have been puzzled by a mysterious brown stain on the ancient Greek Parthenon temple in Greece. Now, researchers from SDU have conducted new scientific analyses, and their verdict is clear: The mystery remains.

• 09.01.2024

  The search for a good match

  New drugs, like good partnerships, are built on a good match. Finding a good match between chemical substances and their targets is a typical starting point in the development of new drugs. Stefan Vogel aims to accelerate this development with a NERD grant of DKK 14 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

• 02.01.2024

  Intermittent fasting itself will not make your extra kilos disappear

  Intermittent fasting is popular. However, you should not expect to lose weight unless you also restrict your caloric intake. But there are still many important health benefits to intermittent fasting.