Fot. Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki

Fossilized faeces reveal secrets of dinosaur evolution and ecosystems

Scientists from Poland and Sweden have analyzed over 500 fossilized faeces (coprolites) to reconstruct ancient food webs and gain new insights into the evolution of dinosaurs.

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    Earth

    Sunny way to convert 'trivial' methane into more valuable ethane

    Methane, the main component of natural gas, is a major environmental concern due to its role as a potent greenhouse gas.

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    Life

    Where Does Air Pollution in Poland Come From? Understanding the Sources and Solutions

    Air pollution in Poland, particularly in urban areas, remains a significant environmental and public health issue. A substantial portion of the particulate matter suspended in the air is attributed to the combustion of solid fuels in individual heating systems.

  • Professor Aleksandra M. Mirończuk from the Laboratory for Sustainability at the Institute of Environmental Biology of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences. Photo from press release
    Life

    Superworms outshine mealworms in race to digest plastic, researchers find

    Researchers at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences have discovered that superworms are more adept at consuming and digesting plastics than their mealworm counterparts.

  • Tomasz Włodarski, PhD, from the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Photo from private archive.
    Technology

    AlphaFold will not steal jobs from biologists

    In 2024, AlphaFold, an AI model developed by the tech company DeepMind (now a part of Google), received widespread recognition, including a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for its groundbreaking ability to predict protein structures.

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    Health

    Everyday air pollution has stronger impact on health than short-term smog, says expert

    Smog and poor air quality are not the same. Smog situations are high concentrations of pollutants that last for a relatively short time. Although they do have a negative impact on health, air pollution is much more important because it has a long-term, everyday impact, says Dr. Krzysztof Skotak from the Institute of Environmental Protection - National Research Institute.

  • 13.11.2024. Pomorzany Sewage Treatment Plant in Szczecin, where a special, mobile research station to detect and remove additional pollutants from wastewater was presented. PAP/Marcin Bielecki
    Life

    Sewage treatment plant tests research station that removes micropollutants

    The Pomorzany Sewage Treatment Plant is testing a pilot station that detects and removes PFAS compounds and micropollutants. The research results will enable the construction of an effective level 4 treatment installation, in accordance with the new EU urban wastewater treatment directive.

  • Formica polyctena worker. Credit: Marcin Szot
    Life

    Forest anthills are 'environmental islands' for fungi

    Forest anthills can be 'environmental islands' for fungi, say scientists from the Botanical Garden and the Faculty of Biology at the University of Warsaw, who discovered the presence of a specific group of fungi in the hills of the wood ant, different from those in the surrounding forest litter. The presence of anthills can therefore promote local biodiversity.

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    Life

    Children help scientists count Danish tardigrades

    Scientists have counted tardigrades living in Denmark. They recorded a four-fold increase in the number of species, including at least nine previously unknown ones. This was possible thanks to the help of hundreds of children who collected over 8,000 lichens and mosses, even from the most remote areas of Denmark.

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    Human

    Driving children to school increases air pollution, say experts

    The increase in air pollution in cities is related to increased traffic during morning commutes to schools, according to research from the University of Warsaw. Scientists believe that the situation can be improved by changing the habits of children and parents, not by traffic bans.

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  • Fot. Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki

    Fossilized faeces reveal secrets of dinosaur evolution and ecosystems

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Childhood trauma linked to poor eating habits and obesity in adulthood, Polish study finds

New research from Poland suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as emotional neglect, abuse, and family dysfunction, may significantly influence eating behaviors in adulthood, potentially leading to obesity and related health disorders. The study highlights the long-lasting effects of trauma, emphasizing the connection between early-life stress and poor dietary choices.