Researchers at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel and the FMI have created the most detailed map yet of the mouse motor cortex. The map reveals 16 distinct subregions and sheds new light on the brain circuits that control movement. The findings could help researchers better understand conditions that affect these circuits, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and dementia.
Brown adipose tissue responds to cold by burning energy to produce heat. As a natural calorie burner, it could play a key role in tackling obesity. Endocrinologist Professor Matthias Betz of the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel explains why such approaches are still needed even in the age of weight-loss drugs and what challenges remain.
How do we perceive our surroundings, and what criteria do we use to evaluate them? The philosopher Antonietta Di Giulio is researching this topic. In this interview, she explains how different concepts of landscape can lead to conflicts and how policymakers can answer them.
Liver cancer is difficult to treat because tumors vary greatly from patient to patient. Researchers at the University of Basel have captured this diversity by creating a collection of mini-tumors, which they use to systematically search for new treatment options. They tested more than 1,600 compounds using these organoids and used the results to develop promising drug combinations.
State elections are coming up in eastern Germany in September. According to polls, the AfD is set to emerge as the largest party. Keeping the right-wing party out of government in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania would likely require an unusually broad coalition. That poses a challenge for the other parties, says political scientist Sophie Suda.
Why does staying awake inevitably make us sleepy? Researchers at the University of Basel have identified neuronal populations in the brain of mice that become activated during prolonged wakefulness and are crucial for sleep drive. Their findings provide new insights on how the brain generates the need for sleep.
What is heat, and what is useful work if a machine consists only of an atom and light particles? In modern quantum technologies, this kind of question connects thermodynamics with quantum physics. Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a theoretical approach that can reconcile both theories.
Forgot to take your pill or did your condom break? For situations like these, there is the “morning-after pill”. A tool that emerged from a research project at the University of Basel is designed to make conversations between pharmacy staff and customers as comfortable as possible and help them make the best possible decision.
A new EU strategy is placing greater emphasis on artificial intelligence in the management of heart disease. Legal researcher Hannah van Kolfschooten believes this is premature. Among other things, she criticizes the fact that no concrete benefit for patients has yet been demonstrated and that there are gaps in the legislation.
