World Spider Database celebrates anniversary This spider is an ambush predator: Like all jumping spiders, the "Dark Sickleback" doesn't spin webs to catch prey, but instead stalks its victims, pouncing and killing them. Its special eyes help it do this. This spider species, measuring only six millimeters, is native to meadows throughout Europe and is just one of over 50,000 spider species listed in the World Spider Database. Evarcha arcuata, a European jumping spider – and on

Endurance training makes natural killer cells more efficient and effective against inflammation Exercise not only trains our muscles and endurance – our immune system also becomes fitter, as a study has now confirmed. According to this study, regular jogging, cycling, and other endurance sports also "train" the natural killer cells of our immune system. In trained people, these white blood cells release more anti-inflammatory messengers, use cellular energy more efficiently,

The Immune System's David vs. Cancer's Goliath What looks here like an amoeba or a slug crawling along is a deadly enemy – a cancer cell. The much smaller, round immune cell seems powerless against it. But a new immunotherapy could help. It combines an antibody and an inhibitor in such a way that it mobilizes the T-cells of the immune system against cancer – and renders them immune to the cancer's counter-measures. An immune cell attacking a much larger cancer cell. © M. Oegg

Type 2 diabetes affects the energy balance and structure of heart muscle cells Deadly double disease: Doctors have discovered that type 2 diabetes also changes the structure of heart tissue and the energy balance of heart cells. In affected patients, the heart can contract less effectively and pump less blood. This limits cardiac performance and can worsen existing heart failure, as the researchers report. Their findings explain why people with diabetes have a higher risk of

Late caffeine consumption keeps our brain awake even while we sleep A wake-up call even while we sleep: If we drink coffee late in the evening, it has consequences for our brain. A study shows that caffeine alters our sleep and keeps our brain more alert at night. This hinders the recovery of our brain and could also disrupt nighttime memory formation. Researchers found that this stimulating coffee effect is more pronounced in younger people than in older people. Caffeine aff

"Art" from Cancer Cells Wins Endocrine Images Art Competition This bright pink and blue image could probably hang in a modern art museum. But this "art" was created by Mother Nature: It shows cells of an aggressive thyroid cancer subtype. They were brought to light by endocrinologist Sriram Gubbi. The Endocrine Society has now awarded him first place in the Endocrine Images Art Competition for his spectacular photograph. This pink-blue explosion of color shows malignant cance

Reprogrammed Spleen Produces Insulin in Mice and Monkeys Reprogrammed: There is a natural bioreactor in which vital cells can be grown and regenerated directly in the body – the spleen. As a new study demonstrates, the spleen of mice and monkeys can be modified so that it can, for example, replace the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas – essentially acting as a replacement organ within the body. If this becomes possible in humans in the future, it could revolutionize the

Clothes are often not hygienically clean with normal washing machines Nothing like clean: Despite supposedly hygienic wash programs, normal washing machines do not remove all germs, as a study shows. According to the study, bacteria often survive even 60-degree washes and settle in clothing and the machine, including pathogens and antibiotic-resistant germs. This could contribute to the spread of infections. This is particularly problematic when the work clothes of nurses, ca