The gut-brain pathway has been the center of many studies in the past few years, but the mechanisms driving this interaction are still poorly understood. In our work we reveal how parts of a bacterium’s cell wall are able to reach the brain and decrease the activity of certain neurons controlling appetite.

Our cells are filled with proteins. These proteins usually have a specific structure which help them to make the specific interactions we need to live. But how do short, floppy regions of proteins make such tight and specific interactions despite lacking any structure?

The characteristics of an astronomical site limits the performance of telescopes. “Seeing”, the blurring of stellar images by atmospheric turbulence, is a key factor. Our measurements confirm that Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau, has the best seeing conditions on the earth. A telescope at Dome A could observe the universe both clearer and deeper than other ground telescopes.

Crop diseases are currently on the rise worldwide due to changes in global climate and farming techniques. We have discovered what is hidden in the cereal plants’ seeds, and how it makes them more resistant to infection by bacterial pathogens. This opens up a new way to improve disease resistance or sustainable agricultural production.