https://www.lunduniversity.lu.seWed, 08 Jul 2026 14:55:48 +0000Science & Engineeringhttps://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/blooming-busy-roadsides-can-harm-bumblebeesWed, 08 Jul 2026 14:55:48 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/blooming-busy-roadsides-can-harm-bumblebeesFlower-rich road verges may attract hungry bumblebees, but at the same time they risk being dangerous for the buzzing insects – if the traffic is too heavy. This is shown in a new research study from Lund University in Sweden.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/researchers-mimic-lifes-own-enginesTue, 07 Jul 2026 11:11:34 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/researchers-mimic-lifes-own-enginesThe most advanced engines are not found in airplanes, cars or other machines - they are found in nature. Inside our cells, tiny protein motors power everything from cell division to muscle movement with an efficiency and precision that has fascinated researchers for decades and inspired long-standing efforts to replicate them. Now, scientists have taken an important first step.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/lund-university-joins-major-initiative-autonomous-drone-swarmsWed, 01 Jul 2026 14:04:24 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/lund-university-joins-major-initiative-autonomous-drone-swarmsLund University, Linköping University and Örebro University will together work on developing the next generation of autonomous drone swarms. The initiative has received SEK 60 million in funding from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) over six years and will be coordinated through the newly established Center for Heterogeneous Adaptive Swarm Systems (CHASS).https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/caring-forests-not-always-connected-more-biodiversityTue, 30 Jun 2026 11:23:34 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/caring-forests-not-always-connected-more-biodiversityStrong ties between forest owners and their land does not automatically translate into greater efforts to promote biodiversity. The current system of voluntary protection also risks overlooking the most valuable natural areas, according to a new doctoral thesis from Lund University.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/erc-proof-concept-grant-research-achilles-tendon-rupturesTue, 30 Jun 2026 10:00:06 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/erc-proof-concept-grant-research-achilles-tendon-rupturesProfessor Hanna Isaksson has been awarded an ERC Proof of Concept grant to develop a tool aimed at improving and personalising rehabilitation following an Achilles tendon rupture.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/three-early-career-researchers-receive-sek-45-millionThu, 18 Jun 2026 08:58:00 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/three-early-career-researchers-receive-sek-45-millionThree researchers at Lund University in Sweden have received long-term funding from the Swedish Research Council.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/featherlight-long-distance-fliers-parchment-thin-wingsFri, 12 Jun 2026 12:20:03 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/featherlight-long-distance-fliers-parchment-thin-wingsThey cross oceans, glide on monsoon winds, and can appear in new places after thousands of kilometres in the air. Now a new study from Lund University shows that dragonflies are among nature’s most extreme migrants - and that their journeys may help us understand climate change.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/decentralised-data-crime-solving-bacteria-healthier-food-three-lund-university-projects-ivas-2026Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:09:27 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/decentralised-data-crime-solving-bacteria-healthier-food-three-lund-university-projects-ivas-2026Three Lund University research projects have been selected for the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) 2026 list, which highlights Swedish research with the potential to benefit society.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/tools-turn-young-peoples-climate-related-stress-hopeThu, 21 May 2026 17:54:03 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/tools-turn-young-peoples-climate-related-stress-hopeThose teaching about climate change and sustainability report that students learning about these topics often feel disheartened, anxious and helpless. Researchers at Lund University together with international experts have co-created a set of exercises designed to give teachers and students tools to transform climate-related stress and anxiety into action and hope. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/birds-can-suffer-serious-harm-heatwavesTue, 12 May 2026 11:05:37 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/birds-can-suffer-serious-harm-heatwavesExtreme weather poses a big threat to birds. Yet there is a lack of both knowledge and methods for measuring its negative effects. In a new study, researchers from Lund University in Sweden have identified knowledge gaps and propose practical tools for analysing the risks to birds.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/how-strange-fruit-fly-became-bloodthirsty-underwater-hunterFri, 08 May 2026 09:09:34 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/how-strange-fruit-fly-became-bloodthirsty-underwater-hunterA carnivorous fruit fly living in bubbling African streams may sound like a fever dream. However, with the help of DNA analysis of a pinned insect from a museum in Zurich, researchers have managed to draw an evolutionary map of a mysterious species that has not been seen since 1981.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/fungi-crucial-recovery-tropical-islandsTue, 05 May 2026 13:59:13 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/fungi-crucial-recovery-tropical-islandsUnderground fungi play a central role in the fragile ecosystems of atoll islands. The unique symbiotic relationship between these fungi and rainforest trees is vital for the restoration of nature and ultimately for the survival of coral reefs. New research shows how fungi help nutrients to move between the forest and the sea.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/nocturnal-migratory-birds-follow-rhythm-moonFri, 01 May 2026 21:26:52 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/nocturnal-migratory-birds-follow-rhythm-moonMoonlight determines when the red-necked nightjar feeds, migrates and raises its young. A groundbreaking long-term study from Lund University shows how the migratory bird’s entire annual cycle follows the moon’s rhythm.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/songbirds-extreme-desert-migration-mappedThu, 23 Apr 2026 08:36:24 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/songbirds-extreme-desert-migration-mappedEvery year a small songbird, no heavier than a letter, crosses the Sahara Desert, the Mediterranean and the Arabian Desert on its migration. New research from Lund University in Sweden now reveals how the tiny bird manages this arduous journey: by flying night after night - and doing nothing during the day.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/battery-technology-takes-markets-adjustWed, 22 Apr 2026 11:17:00 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/battery-technology-takes-markets-adjustThe development of batteries for electric vehicles has progressed much faster than experts and policymakers had anticipated. New research shows that the market is well equipped to cope with both raw material shortages and price increases. This raises questions about which materials are actually critical to the energy transition, according to the researchers.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/lund-university-proposed-receive-funding-six-eight-new-strategic-research-areasTue, 31 Mar 2026 14:23:43 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/lund-university-proposed-receive-funding-six-eight-new-strategic-research-areasThe Swedish Research Council has identified Lund University as a key actor in the next generation of strategic research areas. The university is proposed to be included in six new national research environments.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/aggressive-female-fish-put-stop-mating-may-lead-new-speciesTue, 24 Mar 2026 10:12:24 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/aggressive-female-fish-put-stop-mating-may-lead-new-speciesWhen fish from different habitats meet, it’s not always love at first swim. New research from Lund University in Sweden in collaboration with North Carolina State University shows that aggressive females can actively repel males from the “wrong” environment. This behaviour may ultimately contribute to the emergence of new species.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/how-eu-agriculture-can-meet-climate-targetsMon, 23 Mar 2026 14:04:24 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/how-eu-agriculture-can-meet-climate-targetsThe proposal from the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) would see agricultural subsidies phased out for the activities that cause the most damage to the climate, whilst increasing carbon sequestration and introducing specified pricing for emissions. Five researchers from Lund University in Sweden share their views on whether the EU’s agri-food system can cope with the transition – and what measures such a transition would require.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/old-growth-forests-store-lot-more-carbon-managed-forestsThu, 19 Mar 2026 18:00:03 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/old-growth-forests-store-lot-more-carbon-managed-forestsSwedish old-growth forests store 83 percent more carbon than managed forests, according to a new study from Lund University. The difference is substantially larger than previous estimates and is mainly due to large carbon stocks in the soil.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/industrial-policy-crucial-continued-development-green-steelFri, 06 Mar 2026 08:45:16 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/industrial-policy-crucial-continued-development-green-steelSweden's investments in climate-friendly green steel are a potential driving force for both European competitiveness and energy independence. However, without a sustainable, strategic industrial policy, there is a risk that the technology will instead be commercially exploited in China, according to a new thesis from Lund University in Sweden.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/lipid-molecules-reorganise-drying-interfacesThu, 26 Feb 2026 11:28:00 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/lipid-molecules-reorganise-drying-interfacesMinor changes in moisture level can promote lipid molecules to reorganise themselves in biomaterial or biomembranes. This can affect how the skin, lungs and tear film protect us from dehydration. A new discovery from Lund University in Sweden could be the inspiration for smart materials and new drug delivery techniques.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/one-eyed-creature-gave-rise-our-modern-eyesWed, 25 Feb 2026 10:57:36 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/one-eyed-creature-gave-rise-our-modern-eyesThere is a tiny cyclops among your oldest ancestors, and humans share these remarkable ancestral roots with all other vertebrates. This according to new, surprising research on the evolution of the eye.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/recycling-strategies-fungi-can-affect-how-forests-store-carbonFri, 13 Feb 2026 09:22:15 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/recycling-strategies-fungi-can-affect-how-forests-store-carbonSome fungi are wasteful, while others recycle – and this can determine how much carbon is stored in a forest. Researchers at Lund University have now revealed how fungi manage their mycelium, the network that builds the structure of fungus. The results could provide new insights into the carbon cycle and climate.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/climate-anxiety-advice-and-misconceptionsWed, 11 Feb 2026 09:54:05 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/climate-anxiety-advice-and-misconceptionsMany people feel anxious about climate change and other trends in the world around us. However, there are constructive ways to cope with one’s emotions. Researcher Marlis Wullenkord sums up the current state of research.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/researchers-create-ai-animals-simulate-evolution-visionTue, 03 Feb 2026 15:49:32 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/researchers-create-ai-animals-simulate-evolution-visionA research team has created artificial animals that over time develop functioning vision from scratch – from simple light sensitivity to the ability to discern objects. This happened despite the fact that the digital creatures weren’t given any instructions. The results show how AI can be used to understand the inner secrets of evolution. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/hulk-lizard-knocks-out-ancient-colour-paletteWed, 21 Jan 2026 08:58:25 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/hulk-lizard-knocks-out-ancient-colour-paletteA myriad of colours that survived millions of years of evolution have disappeared in a short period of time. The culprit? A bright green, aggressive, and sexually dominant wall lizard that has wiped out several colour variants within its species.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/elegant-solution-measuring-ultrashort-laser-pulses-discoveredThu, 18 Dec 2025 10:41:28 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/elegant-solution-measuring-ultrashort-laser-pulses-discoveredUltrashort laser pulses - that are shorter than a millionth of a millionth of a second -have transformed fundamental science, engineering and medicine. Despite this, their ultrashort duration has made them elusive and difficult to measure. About ten years ago, researchers from Lund University and Porto University introduced a tool for measuring pulse duration of ultrafast lasers. The same team has now achieved a breakthrough that enables the measurement of individual laser pulses across a wider parameter range in a more compact setup.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/contaminated-bathing-water-easier-detectMon, 15 Dec 2025 16:09:22 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/contaminated-bathing-water-easier-detectUrbanisation and a warmer climate means that more people want to swim in canals, harbours, and urban beaches. However, this means that they may swimming close to where treated wastewater and stormwater are discharged – including bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that might make people sick. A new method tested in Sweden by Lund University, can provide both faster and more complete answers on whether the water is safe for swimming or not.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/can-europeans-still-dream-about-white-christmasFri, 12 Dec 2025 11:31:32 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/can-europeans-still-dream-about-white-christmasGiven the current warming climate, many of us have wondered if snow around Christmas time is slowly becoming a thing of the past. We asked Alex Vermeulen, Director of the ICOS Carbon Portal at Lund University, what Europeans can expect going forward. Only one thing seems certain: the weather will change in unpredictable ways, with more extreme weather likely.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-technology-reveals-migratory-birds-stunning-precision-flightThu, 11 Dec 2025 10:14:52 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-technology-reveals-migratory-birds-stunning-precision-flightRed-backed shrikes fly thousands of kilometres to reach Africa – and they do so with astonishing precision. Aided by new technology, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have been able to track the birds’ journeys in detail. It turns out that they may have a more complex genetic migration programme than researchers have previously been able to show.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/honeybees-crowd-out-bumblebees-even-flower-rich-heathlandsWed, 10 Dec 2025 13:31:46 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/honeybees-crowd-out-bumblebees-even-flower-rich-heathlandsWhen the late summer sun falls over Ireland’s Wicklow Mountains, the slopes turn purple with blooming heather. Honeybees are moved to the heathlands for the sought-after heather honey, but their presence affects wild bumblebees.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/three-lund-university-researchers-awarded-major-eu-grantTue, 09 Dec 2025 11:00:07 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/three-lund-university-researchers-awarded-major-eu-grantThe evolution of eyesight, how not to disrupt animal flight, and immunotherapies in cancer treatment. Biologists Michael Bok and Cecilia Nilsson, along with medical researcher Paul Bourgine, have been awarded the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant to further study these topics.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/conference-breaking-barriers-climate-solutionsFri, 05 Dec 2025 15:35:38 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/conference-breaking-barriers-climate-solutionsClimate solutions exist – so why isn’t more happening? On 9 December, researchers from University of Cambridge and Lund University will gather in Lund and online to try to find answers to how we can accelerate the climate transition.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-study-challenges-idea-humans-innately-nature-lovingThu, 04 Dec 2025 10:35:14 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-study-challenges-idea-humans-innately-nature-lovingNature is a source of well-being and recovery for many people. However, research shows that there is also a growing number of individuals who experience negative emotions, such as fear, discomfort, or even disgust, toward nature. The phenomenon, called biophobia, is now highlighted in a new study from Lund University.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-guide-making-biggest-climate-differenceMon, 01 Dec 2025 20:04:37 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-guide-making-biggest-climate-differenceA new interactive guide identifies the most effective actions you can take for the climate. The interest has been so great that the server hosting the guide crashed temporarily. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/decision-new-grain-stuck-eus-regulatory-systemMon, 01 Dec 2025 09:03:11 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/decision-new-grain-stuck-eus-regulatory-systemThe EU’s approval process for a novel perennial, eco-friendly grain with the potential to fundamentally change Europe’s agriculture has dragged on for more than six years. This delay, according to researchers at Lund University, is due to an outdated regulatory system. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/how-make-eu-more-digitally-independentThu, 27 Nov 2025 14:23:38 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/how-make-eu-more-digitally-independentUnless Sweden and the EU strengthen their digital autonomy, there is a risk of catastrophic consequences. That is the conclusion of Lund University researcher in computer science, Johan Linåker, who considers that we must begin to think about control and maintenance of digital infrastructure in the same way as critical physical infrastructure such as seaports, airports, roads, and water and power networks.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/old-air-samples-hint-effects-climate-changeWed, 26 Nov 2025 10:03:42 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/old-air-samples-hint-effects-climate-changeThrough the DNA analysis of old air samples collected by the Swedish Armed Forces, researchers at Lund University in Sweden can show that spore dispersal of northern mosses has shifted over the past 35 years. It now starts several weeks earlier, revealing how quickly nature’s calendar can reset in line with a warmer climate.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-research-lifespan-oresund-bridge-can-be-doubledTue, 25 Nov 2025 15:31:36 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-research-lifespan-oresund-bridge-can-be-doubledResearchers at Lund University have developed a new framework that can lead to the Öresund Link, thanks to the right maintenance at the right time and smart monitoring, having a total lifespan of 200 years. This is twice as long as envisaged when the bridge was inaugurated 25 years ago.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/dog-diversity-thousands-years-older-we-thoughtWed, 19 Nov 2025 11:56:36 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/dog-diversity-thousands-years-older-we-thoughtWe tend to attribute today's zoological menagerie of dog breeds to Victorian gentlemen with a penchant for selective breeding. The truth, however, goes back much further. An international study shows that the rich morphological variety among dogs began to take off 11,000 years ago – long before nineteenth century kennel clubs.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/alfa-laval-and-lund-university-strengthen-strategic-partnershipWed, 12 Nov 2025 11:40:11 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/alfa-laval-and-lund-university-strengthen-strategic-partnershipAlfa Laval and Lund University have formalized a new strategic partnership to strengthen collaboration, drive innovation, and address complex global challenges. At the same time, ground breaks for Alfa Lavals upcoming innovation center – a center that will drive the energy transition through, among other things, the development of heat transfer technology and fuel cells.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/researcher-challenges-myth-plant-based-food-saferThu, 06 Nov 2025 08:51:09 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/researcher-challenges-myth-plant-based-food-saferCurrent knowledge of food safety is based on traditional foods that include animal products. Corresponding knowledge of plant-based foods lags behind. “There is a naive belief that plant-based food is safer than animal-based food. Unfortunately, this is not the case,” says Jenny Schelin, a researcher on food safety at Lund University in Sweden. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/warmer-nordic-springs-double-incidence-avian-malariaThu, 23 Oct 2025 10:13:11 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/warmer-nordic-springs-double-incidence-avian-malariaA unique long-term study, in which biological samples were collected from the same population of blue tits over a 30-year period, shows that rising spring temperatures have doubled the incidence of avian malaria in southern Sweden.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-eye-universe-opens-chileTue, 21 Oct 2025 13:55:58 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-eye-universe-opens-chileA new instrument on the four-metre VISTA telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Chile has recently captured its first starlight. This marks the beginning of a new era in astronomy, as researchers prepare to map the sky in unprecedented detail.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-study-reveals-innermost-secrets-spaghettiFri, 17 Oct 2025 07:45:32 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-study-reveals-innermost-secrets-spaghettiWhat keeps spaghetti from disintegrating in boiling water? The answer, according to new research, is gluten. The amount of salt in the water also has an unexpected significance.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/researchers-take-step-towards-improved-antibody-therapyTue, 14 Oct 2025 12:39:25 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/researchers-take-step-towards-improved-antibody-therapyAntibody-based drugs often become too thick to be injected at high concentrations. Now, new research can explain why this happens—knowledge that could eventually lead to easily injectable medications.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/hidden-highways-sky-mappedTue, 07 Oct 2025 13:55:16 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/hidden-highways-sky-mappedHigh above us, the atmosphere is teeming with life. Birds, bats and insects share the airspace, but divide it into different lanes of traffic. New research from Lund University in Sweden reveals how the atmosphere is an ecosystem, with complex ecological processes that affect how animals move between different altitude levels. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/secondary-forests-could-be-key-factor-climate-management-if-we-protect-them-timeFri, 26 Sep 2025 09:37:16 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/secondary-forests-could-be-key-factor-climate-management-if-we-protect-them-timeBy analysing over 100,000 field measurements as well as environmental data, an international research team has created maps that show how and when naturally regrowing forests bind most carbon. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/solar-fuel-conundrum-nears-solutionTue, 23 Sep 2025 09:24:54 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/solar-fuel-conundrum-nears-solutionSolar energy stored in the form of fuel is something scientists hope could partially replace fossil fuels in the future. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden may have solved a long-standing problem that has hindered the development of sustainable solar fuels. If solar energy can be used more efficiently using iron-based systems, this could pave the way for cheaper solar fuels.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/hostile-hoots-make-robins-eat-less-nightMon, 22 Sep 2025 13:29:40 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/hostile-hoots-make-robins-eat-less-nightThe sound of tawny owls makes young European robins eat less during their southward migration. A new study from Lund University in Sweden shows how the threat from nocturnal predators affects the birds’ behaviour – and by extension their survival.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/scientists-solve-astronomical-riddleThu, 18 Sep 2025 10:48:18 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/scientists-solve-astronomical-riddlePacked tightly together like twinkling stellar beehives, these globular clusters are made up of hundreds of thousands of stars. Now, for the first time, a team of scientists can reveal how the ancient and mysterious star systems actually form.