Polish discovery may lead to development of new antiviral therapies
Scientists from the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw have discovered important similarities between the main types of betacoronaviruses, including the deadly viruses SARS-CoV-2 and MERS, as well as the OC43 virus that causes colds.
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Wrocław scientists looking to create ‘penguin sperm bank’ to preserve endangered species
Research is underway on a method of cryopreservation of African penguin sperm. The species is endangered so scientists believe that a sperm bank will help preserve a large gene pool, which will be helpful in the possible reconstruction of the species in the natural environment.
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Lynx orphans can help restore wild populations
Releasing lynx saved from death into the natural environment is a good solution, it supports local populations of these predators, say experts after analysing the fate of 66 lynxes released after rehabilitation. The condition is professional rehabilitation of these wild animals.
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Beech trees synchronize on summer solstice
Many plants, for example beeches, produce seeds irregularly, every few years. The question is how plants across the continent know whether a given year will produce seeds or not. Now researchers - led by a Polish scientist - show that it may depend on the weather around the summer solstice.
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Researchers solve mystery of 'enigmatic' dinosaur Bagaraatan ostromi
Bagaraatan ostromi was an enigmatic predatory dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous that had a complicated combination of features. New research conducted by palaeontologists, including researchers from the Polish Academy of Sciences, shows that the bones of two dinosaurs were mixed up in the skeleton, including bones from a juvenile tyrannosaurid.
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Miscanthus biomass from contaminated soil crops useful in production of biofuels and biomaterials
Fuel and cellulose can be obtained from the giant miscanthus biomass; such cellulose can be used in building materials. Polish, German and British scientists examined the impact of growing this plant on soil quality, biomass production volume and the uptake of pollutants in soils contaminated with heavy metals.
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Global warming and other environmental changes drive antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics are considered one of the greatest achievements of 20th century medicine. Their introduction reduced mortality due to bacterial infections and contributed to the extension of life expectancy. However, the consequence of their mass use in humans and animals is the emergence and spread of strains resistant to these drugs. According to estimates, in 2019, 4.95 million people around the world died due to antibiotic resistance, including nearly a million children.
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Climate emotions can be measured, say scientists
A team of researchers from Poland and Norway has developed a questionnaire to detect and measure the level of emotions related to climate change, the Nencki Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences reports.
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Warm February is the result of global climate change
Warm February is not an ordinary anomaly; it fits into the picture of global warming. This must be taken seriously, Professor Bogdan Chojnicki from the University of Life Sciences in Poznań told PAP. In his opinion, this is a picture of system-wide climate change.
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Polish bats are not afraid of moonlight
Light at night makes bats an easier prey for predators, such as owls. This is such a big threat that in equatorial climates, bats limit their activity during the full moon. Meanwhile, researchers have now shown that bats in Poland are completely unconcerned by the Moon's glow during swarming. Where do these differences come from?
