In a new call for action paper, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany, discuss the importance of scent in human history and address how and why experts might investigate smells from the past.
and motivate us in critical ways – whether to avoid danger
The Herschel Space Observatory catches a glimpse of the minor planet during its rendezvous with Earth
The minor planet does not pose a danger for Earth,
Equality of opportunities: facts & figures
time, the implementation of new categories bears the danger
Leaf beetles fascinate us because of their amazing variety of shapes and rich colouring. Their larvae, however, are dangerous plant pests. Larvae of the leaf beetle Chrysomela lapponica attack two different tree species: willow and birch. To fend off predator attacks, the beetle larvae produce toxic butyric acid esters or salicylaldehyde, whose precursors they ingest with their leafy food. Scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, now found that a fundamental change in the genome has emerged in beetles that have specialized in birch: The activity of the salicylaldehyde producing enzyme salicyl alcohol oxidase (SAO) is missing in these populations, whereas it is present in willow feeders. For birch beetles, the loss of this enzyme and thereby the loss of salicylaldehyde is advantageous: the enzyme is no longer needed because its substrate salicyl alcohol is only present in willow leaves, but not in birch. Birch beetles can therefore save resources instead of costly producing the enzyme. First and foremost, however, the loss of salicylaldehyde also means that birch feeding populations do not betray themselves to their own enemies anymore, who can trace them because of the odorous substance.
function externally and metabolically: In case of danger
Neurobiologists can now activate specific nerve cells to study the association between sensations and negative experiences
flies to learn to associate a potential source of danger
Actresses that work with diverse groups are more successful in their careers.
contrast, the career opportunities for actresses are in danger
Leaf beetles fascinate us because of their amazing variety of shapes and rich colouring. Their larvae, however, are dangerous plant pests. Larvae of the leaf beetle Chrysomela lapponica attack two different tree species: willow and birch. To fend off predator attacks, the beetle larvae produce toxic butyric acid esters or salicylaldehyde, whose precursors they ingest with their leafy food. Scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, now found that a fundamental change in the genome has emerged in beetles that have specialized in birch: The activity of the salicylaldehyde producing enzyme salicyl alcohol oxidase (SAO) is missing in these populations, whereas it is present in willow feeders. For birch beetles, the loss of this enzyme and thereby the loss of salicylaldehyde is advantageous: the enzyme is no longer needed because its substrate salicyl alcohol is only present in willow leaves, but not in birch. Birch beetles can therefore save resources instead of costly producing the enzyme. First and foremost, however, the loss of salicylaldehyde also means that birch feeding populations do not betray themselves to their own enemies anymore, who can trace them because of the odorous substance.
function externally and metabolically: In case of danger
Female chimpanzees’ reproductive success decreases in times of strong territorial conflict with other groups
new index of neighbor pressure that reflects the danger
The future of the Amazon rainforest and its influence on the global climate were the focus of the visit by Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Steffi Lemke to the ATTO – Amazon Tall Tower Observatory in Brazil. The President and the Federal Minister for the Environment visited the German-Brazilian research station, in which the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz participate, on January 2, 2023.
rainforest is our basis for life and this basis is in danger
The case of Cecil shows: With satellite transmitter systems, researchers can determine the cause of death of animals almost in real time.
„In the case of danger, risk-averse individuals first
