In larger cities, urban green spaces are vital to life, offering everything from fresh air to places for fun and relaxation. But what truly makes them valuable to the people who use them every day? A recent study by the Landscape Ecology Group (Dagmar Haase) explored this question in Zagreb, Croatia, a city celebrated for its abundant greenery. Using an interactive online mapping tool, researchers asked citizens to highlight where and how they experienced both the benefits (like beautiful scenery or cultural connection) and drawbacks (like noise) of their local parks and forests. The findings showed that emotional connections to green spaces are incredibly strong, with large parks and forests being key hubs for activity and positive experiences. Understanding these citizen insights is crucial for urban planners aiming to create more livable and enjoyable cities for everyone. Read the Science of Total Environment Article, if you like to know more about green spaces in cities.

Ever tossed slimy spinach? Then you already know why the battle to preserve African nightshade leaves in sub-Saharan Africa matters – because no one likes perfectly good food going to waste, and this study offers a surprisingly green solution. African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) like African nightshade are crucial for nutrition and income in sub-Saharan Africa. However, their high perishability leads to significant postharvest losses. The Urban Plant Ecology Group (Christian Ulrichs) investigated biodegradable film packaging's effectiveness in preserving the quality and safety of African nightshade leaves. They compared African nightshade leaves stored in biodegradable film packs to unpacked leaves at 6°C and 20°C for seven days. The packaging reduced weight loss and better retained leaf color compared to unpacked samples. It also helped maintain health-promoting compounds. Microbial counts were reduced at 6°C but not at 20°C. Therefore, biodegradable packaging shows promise for extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of African nightshade leaves, potentially reducing food waste and improving nutritional outcomes. If you want to know more about their win-win-win-win discovery, read the full article here.

At what point did we collectively decide that nature's wildness was something to be tamed with a lawnmower and a leaf blower? We've all seen them: the perfectly manicured lawns and meticulously swept paths that dominate our urban greenspaces. While urban rewilding — the practice of allowing city greenspaces to grow more naturally — is increasingly recognized for its benefits to biodiversity, mental well-being, and climate resilience, most urban landscapes still adhere to a elaborately groomed aesthetic. Despite the clear advantages (think thriving butterfly populations and cooler summer temperatures!), a widespread embrace of wilder urban nature remains elusive. The Landscape Ecology Group (Dagmar Haase) delved into the complex reasons behind this resistance, explored the intertwined factors of public expectations, safety concerns, and our ingrained cultural preference for tidiness. Drawing on insights from German city park managers and conservation experts, their research uncovers the barriers preventing cities from "going wild" and identifies the crucial shifts needed to unleash nature's full potential within urban environments. The path to rewilding isn't simply about planting wildflowers; it demands a fundamental rethinking of our perceptions, a significant reduction in mowing, and a redefinition of what constitutes a "beautiful" greenspace. Learn more in their Cities and the Environment (CATE) Article!

What if the key to surviving climate change, pandemics, and political unrest lies right outside your front door? Cities — dense, diverse, and dynamic — aren’t just where most of us live; they’re also the frontlines of today’s most urgent global challenges. As climate extremes intensify and democratic trust erodes, urban areas are uniquely positioned to lead transformative change. In this thought-provoking piece, Dagmar Haase argues that cities must become living laboratories for sustainability, resilience, and equity—places where nature, technology, and society are reimagined together. Drawing on the disruptions of the pandemic and the growing complexity of urban life, she calls for a bold, collaborative rethinking of environmental science, rooted in real people, real data, and real cities. Check out her Frontiers in Environmental Science Opinion piece!

Why are some people better at reading emotions than others—and could social status play a role? Understanding emotions in social interactions is a crucial skill, and recent research has begun to explore how social status influences this ability across cultures. The Social and Organizational Psychology Group (Ursula Hess) examined the link between subjective social status (SSS) and emotion recognition accuracy (ERA) using a novel tool—the Assessment of Contextualized Emotion (ACE)—which emphasizes the role of social context. Participants from the Czech Republic and 12 other cultural groups worldwide completed the ACE, alongside measures of self-construal and SSS. Findings revealed that individuals with higher SSS tended to be more accurate in recognizing emotions, a relationship influenced by cultural factors such as self-construal, long-term orientation, and relational mobility. These results suggest that higher-status individuals may rely more on agentic cognitive strategies, highlighting how socio-cultural environments shape emotional understanding. Learn more in their PloS one Article!

The German Black Pied (DSN) cattle is a rare dual-purpose breed prized for its rich milk and high-quality meat. As its population continues to decline due to competition from specialized dairy breeds, understanding the genetic basis of its valuable traits is essential for conservation and sustainable breeding. While most research has focused on milk production, this study shifts the spotlight to growth and meat-related traits. By analyzing genomic data from 669 DSN bulls, researchers identified key genetic regions and candidate genes involved in muscle growth, fat metabolism, and immune function across different developmental stages. These insights lay the groundwork for targeted breeding strategies that can help preserve and enhance the unique dual-purpose nature of the DSN breed. Check out their animal Article!

Synchronization, the coordinated behavior of coupled oscillators, is a fundamental phenomenon observed across various scientific disciplines, from biological systems (e.g. circadian rhythms) to physical networks. While well-established theoretical tools exist for analyzing synchronization in deterministic oscillators, the inherent randomness in stochastic oscillators presents significant challenges. The Theory of Complex Systems and Neurophysics Group (Benjamin Lindner) have introduced a novel approach to this problem by employing the Q-function, a mathematical tool derived from the stochastic Koopman operator. Their work offers new insights into defining and analyzing synchronization in coupled stochastic oscillators. The paper addresses the limitations of traditional methods, like phase reduction, when applied to systems where noise complicates the very notion of a well-defined phase. By focusing on the Q-function, the slowest decaying complex mode of the system, the authors propose a new perspective: a synchronized system of coupled stochastic oscillators can be viewed as a single, higher-dimensional stochastic oscillator. This allows for a fresh examination of phenomena like Arnold tongues, which map regions of synchronization. When you are interested about the details, read this article about coupled stochastic oscillators.

How old you feel may matter just as much as how old you are. While feeling younger has been linked to better health and well-being, most research has relied on self-reported health data. The Developmental and Educational Psychology Group (Denis Gerstorf) took a more objective approach by examining the relationship between subjective age and pulmonary function — a key biomarker tied to mortality risk. Using data from nearly 10,000 adults in the German Aging Survey over a 9-year period, they found that people who felt younger tended to have better lung function, and vice versa. These findings suggest a dynamic link between how old we feel and our physical health, with implications for healthy aging and daily well-being. Definitely have a look at their International Journal of Behavioral Development Article!

Recovering from a stroke is a long journey, and staying physically active is vital for long-term health. Yet, many stroke survivors find it incredibly challenging to keep moving. The Developmental and Educational Psychology Group (Denis Gerstorf) examined a powerful, often overlooked, motivator: the romantic partner. They explored how both a survivor's personal drive and the support from their spouse influence daily physical activity. For two weeks, 88 stroke survivors tracked their individual and joint intentions to be active, along with their confidence levels. Their findings show that while individual motivation is important, shared goals and confidence with a partner can significantly boost self-reported physical activity. This offers crucial new insights into how couples can work together to support stroke recovery and improve overall well-being. Check out their Psychology & Health Article!

Our faces and bodies are powerful storytellers, constantly broadcasting our inner world to those around us. A furrowed brow speaks volumes of concern, just as a beaming smile radiates joy. These nonverbal cues are fundamental for connection, allowing us to understand each other's feelings beyond spoken words. While some fundamental facial expressions of emotion like happiness, sadness, anger or fear are recognized across cultures, the intensity, frequency, and context of their display vary significantly. Cultural display rules dictate when, how, and to whom certain emotions can be shown. Furthermore, the interpretation of certain nonverbal cues, such as eye contact, physical touch, and even smiling, differs widely. The Organizational and Social Psychology Group (Ursula Hess) discussed how emotions are expressed through the face and the body, focusing on cross-cultural similarities and differences in emotion expression and the research methods used to study them. They identified three main research approaches: the reporter approach , the enactor approach and the judge approach . For each approach, the authors evaluate the methodology, discuss findings, and offer best practice recommendations. If you want to know more about emotional expressions on face and body, read their book chapter.

Imagine a living piece of agricultural history: the German Black Pied (DSN) cattle. This endangered breed, a progenitor of the modern Holstein, offers both excellent milk and high-quality meat. To protect this valuable heritage and ensure its long-term health and productivity, the Breeding Biology and Molecular Genetics Group (Gudrun Brockmann) investigated its genetic foundations. Through a comprehensive genome-wide association study of 1,852 DSN cows, they uncovered specific genes linked to critical conformation traits, including those vital for healthy udders and robust leg structure. These discoveries are crucial for developing targeted breeding programs that will strengthen the DSN breed. Ultimately, this work benefits everyone by fostering sustainable agricultural practices, improving animal welfare, and preserving the vital genetic diversity that underpins our food systems. Find out more in their Genes Article!

Physical activity offers well-documented benefits for older adults; however, this population often does not engage in sufficient levels of activity, a situation that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Developmental and Educational Psychology Group (Denis Gerstorf) investigated the role of social partners in their everyday activity levels.  139 Canadian older adults participated in a daily diary study, reporting their activity and with whom they were active. The results showed less activity alone and more with their chosen close partner compared to other social contacts. These findings underscore the importance of social partners in facilitating physical activity for older adults, especially during stressful times. Find out more about this phenomenon in their Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice Article!

Quantum memories are essential tools for the future of quantum technology. They're needed for things like sending quantum information over long distances (quantum communication) and for building quantum computers. Traditional methods using hollow-core fibers have limitations, making it hard to create compact, efficient, and integrated quantum memories. The Nanooptics Lab (Oliver Benson) explored a new way to create these memories in cooperation with other researchers. They used tiny, 3D-printed structures called “light cages” to store light in a special kind of atomic gas (cesium). The big advantage is that many of these light cage memories can be built onto a single chip. This is important for creating more complex quantum systems. They carefully studied how well the light cages stored the light and how long they could hold onto it. If you want to know more about it, read the Quantum Memory article.

Sustainable urbanization has been a significant topic of scientific discussion in recent decades. A key point of contention is the "compact city" model and its effectiveness in addressing urban sprawl. The concept of a compact city is intricate and contentious, and there is ongoing debate about the best strategies for achieving urban sustainability, especially in different contexts such as developed versus developing countries. The Landscape Ecology Group (Dagmar Haase) investigated the balance of density and open space provision in three big cities together with two other research groups from Leipzig and São Paulo. In more detail, the research explores the relationship between urban density indicators and urban morphology, and how these factors impact the balance of built and open space in high-density residential areas across São Paulo, Brasília and Berlin. It also aims to identify the main morphological and urban density attributes related to the age of urban developments in these residential areas and their temporal context. They found out that high-rise development does not automatically ensure open space and high density. Also, some of the morphologies found in Berlin balanced housing density and Open-Space Ratio (OSR) effectively. That led to the idea that city models with perimetral blocks might be an optimal use of urban space. If you are interested in compact city modeling and research, read the whole article here.

Our daily lives are often structured around pursuing various goals, from simple tasks to more significant aspirations. For older adults, this engagement in everyday goals plays a crucial role in maintaining well-being and a sense of purpose. We often experience a range of emotions as we navigate our days, and it's natural to wonder how these feelings might impact our motivation and effort in pursuing what matters to us. Furthermore, the way we think about our goals – whether we envision them as something we hope to achieve or something we fear not achieving – could also shape our actions. The Developmental and Educational Psychology Group (Denis Gerstorf) investigated the factors that influence how older individuals approach and engage with these daily goals. They further examined the intricate relationship between our everyday emotions, how we mentally frame our goals, and the extent to which we actively pursue them in our later years. Understanding these dynamics can provide valuable insights into the motivational landscape of older adulthood. Find out more in their Communications Psychology Article!

The urban population is rapidly increasing, with projections estimating that 68% of the global population will reside in urban areas by 2050, compared to 55% in 2018. This surge in urban population and the consequent expansion of urban land contribute to the global extinction crisis, posing a threat to biodiversity and the benefits it offers to people. The Landscape Ecology Group (Dagmar Haase) together with other researchers from Berlin, Hannover, Stuttgart, Zürich and Utrecht wrote a review that discusses the importance of urban biodiversity in an increasingly urbanized world and the challenges it faces as cities expand and densify. Urban biodiversity is people's primary contact with nature and is crucial for mitigating environmental pressures, addressing climate change, and benefiting human health and well-being. However, it is threatened by competition for space, human pressures, and declining engagement of urban residents with nature. The article emphasizes the need for high-quality urban blue-green infrastructure, biodiversity-sensitive urban governance and planning, and cross-sectional urban policies to promote sustainable, biodiverse cities for both humans and nature. If you are interested in urban biodiversity, read the Nature Reviews Biodiversity Article!

Urban environments face increasing challenges from hazards like flooding, heat islands, and air pollution, necessitating innovative solutions to enhance resilience and sustainability. Green infrastructure (GI) offers a multifaceted approach to addressing these issues, yet traditional planning often overlooks the importance of tailoring GI interventions to specific local demands. The Landscape Ecology Group (Dagmar Haase) examined an adaptive framework for GI planning in Zhengzhou, a highly urbanized city, focusing on spatially identifying urban hazards through machine learning and remote sensing. After quantifying the effectiveness of various tree species in mitigating these hazards using the i-Tree Eco model, they employed an adaptive ranking approach to match tree species effectiveness with local hazard demands, revealing significant spatial heterogeneity and the need for targeted interventions. If you want to learn more about this framework which provides a valuable tool for guiding scientific decision-making in urban greening projects and ensures GI effectively addresses the unique challenges of diverse urban landscapes, check out their Urban Forestry & Urban Greening Article!

Collective behaviors in animals are often governed by simple interaction rules and raise a fundamental question: does this mechanistic simplicity translate to functional generality? Specifically, if collective behavior provides anti-predator benefits, does it offer consistent protection against diverse predators? The Collective Information Processing Group (Pawel Romanczuk) examined this question in sulphur-adapted fish populations in Mexico, where schools face predation from various bird species and respond with synchronized 'escape waves.' By observing natural interactions, they found that all bird species delayed attacks in response to increasing wave frequency, both before and after initiating predation. While post-attack wave responses were similar across bird species, pre-attack wave patterns varied, likely due to differences in perceived threat. Simulated bird arrivals confirmed this, revealing that predator size and visibility influence fish perception. This suggests that the fish's generalized collective response and its consistent impact on diverse predators stem from the waves exploiting a common weakness in visual processing, shared across different predators. Find out more in their Royal Society Open Science Article!

The precise regulation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell cycle relies heavily on the orchestrated expression of cyclins, which activate CDK1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1). While many cell cycle-related genes exist as paralogous pairs, they are often assumed to have redundant functions and similar expression patterns. The Theoretical Biophysics Group (Edda Klipp) challenged that notion by employing single-molecule inexpensive fluorescence in situ hybridization (smiFISH) to meticulously analyze the expression of five key paralogous gene pairs across numerous unsynchronized yeast cells. Utilizing a convolutional neural network (CNN) for precise cell cycle phase classification, they revealed significant differences in expression levels, correlation, and temporal profiles among these paralogues. Furthermore, they explored the compensatory mechanisms between paralogues upon gene deletion a functional divergence of cell cycle-related paralogues, suggesting they play distinct roles in the intricate regulation of yeast cell cycle progression. Check out their Cells Article!

The concept of 'entomoponics,' which integrates plant and insect farming, offers a promising approach to sustainable resource management. The Urban Plant Ecophysiology Group (Christian Ulrichs) investigated the feasibility of utilizing vegetative waste from strawberry and common bean plants as a substrate supplement for rearing yellow mealworms (MW), a valuable source of protein. They incorporated these plant wastes, both treated and untreated, into a wheat bran-based feed and assessed the impact on mealworm yield and nutritional composition. They found that certain plant waste incorporations, particularly autoclaved bean waste and strawberry waste regardless of treatment, can maintain or even compensate for yield while influencing the mineral content of the mealworms. If you want to lean more about their valuable insights into the potential of entomoponics to convert plant waste into a nutrient-rich insect biomass which contributes to a more circular and sustainable food production system, check out their Scientific Reports Article!

The lancet fluke, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, exhibits a fascinating case of parasitism with a complex life cycle involving multiple hosts. This parasite utilizes herbivores as its definitive hosts, while snails and ants serve as intermediate hosts. In their Biologie in unserer Zeit-BiuZ Review Kai Matuschewski and Richard Lucuis describe the remarkable transition from ant to herbivore, which is achieved through a division of labor within a clone of genetically identical larvae. One larva invades the ant's brain, compelling its host to expose itself on plants during cool night hours, facilitating transmission. This "brain worm's" self-sacrifice for its clone siblings raises questions about the underlying communication mechanisms and the evolutionary advantages of this strategy. Furthermore, the lancet fluke's dependence on specific dry grassland biotopes underscores the importance of nature conservation for preserving both biodiversity and the intricate life cycles of parasites. It's only available in German, but definitely worth reading for anyone who speaks the language!

Tomatoes are a significant source of health-promoting secondary metabolites, including carotenoids and phenolic compounds, which contribute to human well-being. Optimizing the production of these valuable compounds in greenhouse-grown tomatoes is of paramount importance. Traditionally, research has focused on the isolated effects of single environmental factors on metabolite accumulation. However, the Biosystems Engineering Group (Uwe Schmidt) developed a novel approach, leveraging multivariate time series classification of greenhouse sensor data, encompassing climatic conditions, photosynthesis, and transpiration rates, to predict secondary metabolite content. This method is able to accurately predict optimal environmental conditions for maximizing the accumulation of specific metabolites and provides the first comprehensive evidence that a holistic, time-series-based approach, considering the interplay of multiple environmental factors over a growth period, is essential for accurately predicting and optimizing secondary metabolite content in tomatoes, thus offering a powerful tool for growers to enhance the nutritional value of their crops. Find our more in their Frontiers in Plant Science Article!

The link between intelligence and longevity has been a subject of ongoing scientific inquiry. While general intelligence is known to predict survival, the specific contributions of different cognitive abilities in old age remain poorly understood. The Developmental and Educational Psychology Group (Denis Gerstorf) addressed this gap by analyzing longitudinal data from the Berlin Aging Study, focusing on a range of cognitive tasks including perceptual speed, episodic memory, verbal fluency, and verbal knowledge. Using a sophisticated joint multivariate longitudinal survival model, they investigated the unique predictive power of each cognitive ability on mortality risk, while controlling for various demographic and health-related factors. They revealed that, among the diverse cognitive measures, only verbal fluency demonstrated a significant and unique association with survival, suggesting a more salient role for this specific ability in predicting mortality in older adults. Find out more in their Psychological Science Article!

The escalating issue of horticultural waste disposal presents a significant environmental and resource management challenge. In particular, tomato plant residues, a byproduct of greenhouse tomato production, represent a substantial source of untapped nutrients and organic matter. Traditional disposal methods contribute to waste accumulation and environmental burden, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. The Biosystems Engineering Group (Uwe Schmidt) and the Urban Plant Ecophysiology Group (Christian Ulrichs) investigated the potential of composting tomato plant residues as a viable fertilizer and soil amendment for lettuce cultivation. Harnessing the natural decomposition process to transform waste into a nutrient-rich substrate could allow closing nutrient cycles and reducing reliance on conventional fertilizers. Check out their Scientia Horticulturae Article!

Human interaction is a complex dance of signals, both verbal and non-verbal, that shape our attitudes and behaviors.At the heart of this dance lies emotion, a powerful force that can subtly or overtly sway our decisions and responses. In their Research Handbook on Social Influence Chapter Ursula Hess and Shlomo Hareli explore the intricate role of emotions in social influence, moving beyond simplistic notions of persuasion to delve into the nuanced ways in which feelings impact attitude change and compliance, providing a comprehensive understanding of the profound and often overlooked ways in which emotions shape and guide the social landscape. Definitely worth reading!

Human-wildlife conflicts represent a complex and persistent challenge for conservation efforts worldwide. In response, conservation performance payments have emerged as a prominent tool for mitigating these conflicts, aiming to incentivize coexistence by compensating for wildlife-related losses. In Sweden, this approach is exemplified by a payment scheme designed to address the impact of lynx and wolverine predation on reindeer husbandry, a vital practice for Sámi communities. However, the effectiveness of such schemes is often contested, and understanding the challenges and conflicts they generate is crucial for their successful implementation. The Landscape Ecology Group (Dagmar Haase) examined the intricacies of Sweden's performance payment program, employing semi-structured interviews and a systematic literature review to uncover the underlying issues. They determined a 'wicked conflict' setting, characterized by a complex interplay of direct and indirect conflicts, ranging from disputes over predator population estimates and payment adequacy to broader concerns about cumulative environmental impacts and socio-cultural recognition. If you want to gain insights into improving the efficacy of conservation performance payments and fostering more harmonious human-wildlife relationships, check out their People and Nature Article!

17-02-2025 (Room 2‘049, CSMB (IRIS) Building, Zum Großen Windkanal 2, Adlershof)

In his talk 'Diamond Nanophotonics and Electronics' Mario Agio took us into the world of diamonds, which have emerged as a promising platform for quantum science and technology in virtue of the unique properties of its color centers. The efficient interrogation of such centers optically and electrically remains a fundamental aspect towards quantum applications. He discussed this group's recent work on the silicon and nitrogen vacancy color centers, where both nano-optics and electronics are taken into play. Specifically, he focused on ultrafast single-photon emission, electroluminescence, nanoscale temperature sensing and vector magnetometry.

14-02-2025 (Humboldt-Kabinettl, Campus Adlershof)

The time has finally come! Today was our IZ LIST Day! We had a few presentations about exciting projects that we want to tackle in the future, provided we receive the funding. Additionally, we took plenty of time for exchange, idea creation and future planning…

The ability to efficiently deliver cargo into living cells is a cornerstone of advancements across chemistry, biology, and medicine. From gene therapy to drug delivery, the potential applications are vast. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have emerged as promising tools for this purpose, offering a relatively non-invasive method for transporting molecules across cellular membranes. However, optimizing CPPs for specific applications often requires enhancing their delivery efficiency and targeting capabilities. One strategy involves the conjugation of additional functional units, such as boronic acid modules, which can interact with cell surface glycans to facilitate internalization. The Bioorganic Synthesis Group (Oliver Seitz) investigated the potential of boronic acid conjugation to transform non-CPP peptides into functional delivery vehicles. If you want to know more about boronic acid-mediated CPPs and their potential for targeted cellular delivery, check out their Chembiochem: a European journal of chemical biology Article!

Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating the development of effective vaccines. A promising approach involves the use of genetically attenuated (GA) Plasmodium falciparum parasites. These modified parasites are designed to be metabolically active but unable to progress fully through the parasite's life cycle, thus stimulating an immune response without causing disease. Together with Julius Hafalla and Steffen Borrmann, Kai Matuschewski has summarized recent advances made by Lamers et al. and Roozen et al. which you can read in their Trends in Parasitology Spotlight Article!

Genetic improvement in livestock offers significant potential for enhancing traits like milk production, meat quality, disease resistance and generally better health, contributing to more sustainable and profitable farming practices. The Breeding Biology and Molecular Genetics Group (Gudrun Brockmann) investigated single-step genomic prediction in the German Black Pied cattle breed, focusing on key traits like protein percentage, fat-to-protein ratio, and stature. They compared the performance of a breed-specific SNP chip with a commercially available one, and explored the impact of these predictions on ongoing optimum genetic contribution selection, aiming to maximize genetic gain while maintaining genetic diversity. They also examined the influence of inbreeding and optimized selection strategies to improve overall breeding index. If you want to learn more about their finding, check out their Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Article!

Hemp waste is a byproduct of hemp cultivation, but presents a potential resource for insect-based bioconversion, offering a sustainable approach to waste management and protein production. However, the nutritional profile of hemp waste may not be optimal for insect growth, and the presence of bioactive compounds like cannabinoids can pose challenges. Solid-state fermentation (SSF), utilizing fungi, offers a promising strategy to enhance the nutritional value of such substrates. The Urban Plant Ecophysiology Group (Christian Ulrichs) investigated the impact of SSF with various fungal species on hemp waste, examining its effects on black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) growth and the fate of hemp cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes. If you want to know more about how different fungal species can tailor the properties of hemp waste, improving its suitability as a BSFL feed and potentially modulating the levels of valuable or undesirable compounds, check out their Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology Article!

Our working memory, which is our ability to hold information in mind for short periods, is known to be limited. While previous research has demonstrated that recalling similar items becomes less precise as the number of items increases, it remains unclear how the diversity of information, particularly across different senses and features, affects recall. The Distributed Cognition and Memory Group (Thomas Christophel) investigated how varying the types of items held in working memory—specifically focusing on modality (e.g., visual vs. auditory) and feature (e.g., orientation, pitch, color)—impacts recall precision. Examining these effects in two different experiments, they observed a surprising advantage for cross-modal and certain cross-feature combinations, suggesting that working memory organization is more nuanced than previously thought and dependent on modality, feature, and even the strategies used to encode information. If you want to learn more about this fascinating results, check out their Journal of Vision Article!

Understanding how crop varieties perform across different environments and management practices is essential for improving agricultural productivity and resilience. Multi-environmental trials (METs) provide valuable data for dissecting these complex genotype-environment-management (GxExM) interactions. The Intensive Food Plant Systems Group (Tsu-Wei Chen) generated a comprehensive MET dataset for winter wheat in Germany, spanning six years, six locations, and nine different management scenarios. This rich dataset, encompassing over half a million data points and 24 traits – including yield, agronomic characteristics, baking quality, and disease indices – offers a powerful resource for addressing key agronomic questions, informing breeding strategies, and developing decision support tools for sustainable agriculture. Find out more about their discoveries in their Scientific Data Article!

Rapid urbanization often comes at the cost of diminished green spaces and weakened ecosystem services, creating a potential conflict between ecological health and socio-economic development. Finding a balance between these competing priorities is crucial for sustainable urban growth. The Landscape Ecology Group (Dagmar Haase) established a novel framework for quantifying this urban-ecological trade-off, using a return-on-investment perspective that links degraded ecological conditions with urban land use efficiency.Focusing on the rapidly expanding city of Zhengzhou, China, they assess four key ecological conditions – urban heat island effect, flood regulation, habitat quality, and carbon sequestration – alongside land use efficiency at a fine spatial scale. By analyzing these factors over two decades, they explored the dynamics of the urban-ecological trade-off to the key drivers influencing it and ultimately proposing adaptive management strategies to guide sustainable urban planning. Check out their Remote Sensing Article!

Emotional mimicry - the mirroring of another person's facial expressions - is a key component of empathy and social interaction.While it's generally understood that we mimic the emotions of those we're engaging with, it's less clear how our brains handle emotional information that's present but not directly relevant to the task at hand. The Social and Organizational Psychology Group (Ursula Hess) investigated whether we mimic emotions from faces we are instructed to ignore, even though those faces are still visually processed. If you are interested whether task-irrelevant faces are simply not processed or if their presence has a more nuanced effect on our empathic responses, check out their Frontiers in Psychology Article!

Working memory (WM) is a fundamental cognitive function, and while genetic studies have identified numerous associated variations, the role of gene expression in WM remains largely unexplored. The Molecular Psychology Group (Sebastian Markett) developed a novel approach to investigate the genetic basis of WM by integrating connectome, transcriptome, and genome data. Using a high-quality dataset of 481 Chinese adults, they identified WM-related brain regions, then determined differentially expressed genes within those regions using the Allen Human Brain Atlas. These findings could subsequently be validated in two independent, large-scale datasets. If you want to know more about this powerful method check out their Human Brain MappingArticle!

Visual working memory is the cognitive system that allows us to temporarily hold and manipulate visual information in mind. Verbal storage is the component of working memory that holds and manipulates information in a phonological (sound-based) form, such as words or numbers. Typically the two elements are studied as separate cognitive functions. However, the act of naming visual stimuli may influence performance on visual working memory tasks, with some research suggesting benefits and other research indicating potential biases.The Distributed Cognition and Memory Group (Thomas Christophel) investigated the verbal labels people naturally associate with simple visual-spatial stimuli and how these labels relate to recall accuracy in a subsequent working memory task. Focusing on orientation and location stimuli, their research investigates the diversity of labels used and their impact on known biases in visual working memory, such as the cardinal direction bias, the phenomenon where people tend to remember orientations or locations closer to cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) more accurately than those in between. If you want to know more about the potential shared cognitive resources underlying both visual-spatial and verbal memory, check out their Journal of Cognition Article!