https://www.lunduniversity.lu.seWed, 08 Jul 2026 14:55:48 +0000Sciencehttps://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/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/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/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/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/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/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/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/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/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.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/innovative-ideas-and-pioneering-solutions-lund-university-celebratedWed, 10 Sep 2025 13:37:04 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/innovative-ideas-and-pioneering-solutions-lund-university-celebratedAn innovative IVF test and a methane detector – these are some of the future innovation stars developed at Lund University. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/researchers-pinpoint-exact-pace-helps-nightingales-long-journeyFri, 05 Sep 2025 09:58:33 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/researchers-pinpoint-exact-pace-helps-nightingales-long-journeyA new study from Lund University in Sweden shows that migratory birds fly at peak efficiency at a medium pace – precisely the speed they use during their long journeys across the continents.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/surprise-discovery-leads-treatment-common-infectionThu, 04 Sep 2025 13:18:45 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/surprise-discovery-leads-treatment-common-infectionEach year, one in four women suffers from bacterial vaginosis, something that is currently treated with antibiotics. However, recently a gentler, antibiotic-free alternative has been authorised for sale in the EU. The chance discovery behind the innovation was made by a group of researchers from Lund University in Sweden. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/ancient-giant-marine-reptile-relied-stealth-while-hunting-darknessWed, 16 Jul 2025 17:39:52 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/ancient-giant-marine-reptile-relied-stealth-while-hunting-darknessInvestigation of a metre-long front flipper, uniquely preserved with fossilized soft tissues, has revealed that the giant ichthyosaur Temnodontosaurus was equipped with flow control devices that likely served to suppress self-generated noise when foraging in dimly lit pelagic environments about 183 million years ago. Thus, this visually guided megapredator relied on underwater stealth—or ‘silent swimming’—while hunting under the cover of darkness, much like owls on land today.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/moths-use-stars-and-earths-magnetic-field-compassThu, 19 Jun 2025 06:54:40 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/moths-use-stars-and-earths-magnetic-field-compassA groundbreaking study from Lund University in Sweden shows that the Australian Bogong moth uses the stars and the Milky Way as a compass during its annual 1,000-kilometre journey to cool inland caves. It also reveals that the Earth’s magnetic field plays an important role in the enigmatic moth’s navigation.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/nocturnal-pollinators-just-important-their-daytime-colleaguesThu, 22 May 2025 11:57:24 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/nocturnal-pollinators-just-important-their-daytime-colleaguesFor over 60 years, scientists have tried to determine whether plants are pollinated primarily during the day or at night — without reaching a clear conclusion. Now, a major research review from Lund University in Sweden has revealed that nighttime pollinators play just as significant a role as daytime species in 90 percent of the cases studied.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/unicellular-green-algae-may-carry-giant-virus-dna-their-genomeWed, 07 May 2025 14:22:22 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/unicellular-green-algae-may-carry-giant-virus-dna-their-genomeHumans and animals are not the only ones affected by viruses. Unicellular organisms can also be attacked. In a new study, scientists establish that green algae can carry latent giant virus DNA in their genome.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/living-air-scientists-enlist-arctic-bacteria-fight-climate-changeThu, 24 Apr 2025 13:53:36 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/living-air-scientists-enlist-arctic-bacteria-fight-climate-changeWhat if we could fight climate change using bacteria that live on air? That’s the vision behind a newly funded international research project led by scientists from Lund University, the University of Tromsø, and Harvard Medical School. With support from the prestigious Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP), the team aims to explore how an Arctic microbe that can feed exclusively on methane could become a powerful tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/how-animal-life-exploded-earthWed, 09 Apr 2025 10:51:28 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/how-animal-life-exploded-earthAbout 540 million years ago, our planet suddenly erupted with life, filling our oceans with a diversity of complex life. This is known as the Cambrian explosion, and for a long time scientists agreed it was triggered by a rise in oxygen levels in the atmosphere. But new research from Emma Hammarlund at Lund University is turning the tables completely on what scientists thought they knew to be true – for decades. How did Hammarlund end up going down an entirely different path?https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/reptiles-are-brightest-open-habitatsMon, 07 Apr 2025 10:17:47 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/reptiles-are-brightest-open-habitatsReptiles living in open habitats generally have brighter colouration than species living in denser vegetation. This is shown in a new study from Lund University in Sweden. The results suggest that changes in habitat and climate over millions of years have prompted animals to adapt their colouration in order to survive.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/migrating-roach-have-sharper-eyesightThu, 03 Apr 2025 08:19:48 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/migrating-roach-have-sharper-eyesightRoach that migrate between different lakes and water courses have larger pupils and better eyesight than roach that stay in one place. The adaptation makes it easier for the red-eyed freshwater migrants to find food in murky waters. This is shown in a large study from Lund University in Sweden.https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/surprising-number-environmental-pollutants-hedgehogsTue, 01 Apr 2025 08:25:02 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/surprising-number-environmental-pollutants-hedgehogsLead, pesticides, brominated flame retardants, plastic additives, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals. This is what researchers at Lund University in Sweden found when they collected dead hedgehogs to investigate the environmental pollutants found in urban environments. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/lakes-worldwide-are-changing-colour-possibly-due-human-impactFri, 14 Mar 2025 15:16:18 +0000https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/lakes-worldwide-are-changing-colour-possibly-due-human-impactOver the last 40 years, the majority of the world’s lakes have changed colour, according to a new study. The research team analysed 32 million satellite observations from over 67,000 lakes. Major changes in the lake ecosystems are thought to be the cause.