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

Frog Hidden Object Game Wins Photo Contest Tonality: This Southeast Asian rice field frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) is barely distinguishable from the bark of the tree it sits on. With its gray-brown color, the frog is almost perfectly camouflaged in this environment. This camouflage protects the approximately four-centimeter-long tiny creature from predators while simultaneously stalking its prey undetected and catching them from behind. Southeast Asian rice-field frog (Fejer

Hemoglobin-like protein absorbs carbon monoxide from the blood Promising antidote: Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal – and so far, it can only be treated in hyperbaric chambers. But a newly developed protein could help treat CO poisoning more easily, quickly, and effectively. The new designer protein is based on a bacterial model, resembles our blood hemoglobin, and, unlike previous approaches, has no side effects. The natural protein RcoM served as a template for the de

Folding helpers organize themselves into specialized units in our cells Piecework: Biologists have discovered that small factories exist in our cells where amino acid chains are folded into functional proteins like an assembly line. According to the researchers, the already known helper proteins, which transform the newly produced proteins into their 3D form, are organized into previously unknown specialized units: droplet-like condensates. If these "factories" are missing, t

How "normal" medications pave the way for pathogens Unexpectedly common side effect: Not only antibiotics, but also a surprisingly large number of other classes of active ingredients weaken our intestinal flora and thus the natural protective function of the intestine. As a result, pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella can more easily colonize there, as researchers report in "Nature." These side effects of common medications have so far been overlooked, but should be taken i

Antibodies against the Epstein-Barr virus indicate risk of multiple sclerosis Biomarker discovered: A new blood test can detect the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) years before the first symptoms appear. The test measures the level of antibodies that bind both the body's own structures and the Epstein-Barr virus, which serve as indicators of MS. This could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment in the future, delaying or preventing the onset of the neurodegenerati

Surgical robots can also perform complex tasks autonomously Learning AI surgeon: A newly developed surgical robot can surgically remove a gallbladder without the assistance of human surgeons. The AI ​​system learned this through videos of operations and targeted feedback during practice surgeries. This allowed the robot surgeon to develop its skills similar to that of a young doctor. The innovative surgical robot can now operate independently and reacts confidently even to un