More than 215 million years ago, a large amphibian species lived in floodplains in southwestern Poland: Metoposaurus krasiejowensis. On one of these fossils, Polish and American scientists, with the participation of researchers from the University of Bonn, detected bone cancer for the first time. The results have now been published in the journal BMC Ecology and Evolution.

The Christ Child arrived a few days early this year at the field laboratories of Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Bonn: the Rectorate had invested significantly and approved four new large vehicles for a total of more than 500,000 euros for the sites essential for agricultural research. Only last week, the last of the ordered tractors was delivered and could now be handed over to the users by Provost Holger Gottschalk. In the future, the tractors will benefit research and teaching, and in particular the PhenoRob cluster of excellence.

Nerve cells need a lot of energy and oxygen. They receive both through the blood. This is why nerve tissue is usually crisscrossed by a large number of blood vessels. But what prevents neurons and vascular cells from getting in each other's way as they grow? Researchers at the Universities of Heidelberg and Bonn, together with international partners, have identified a mechanism that takes care of this. The results have now appeared in the journal Neuron. 

Programs supporting refugees at the University of Bonn are not only being continued, but expanded. Thanks to financing from the Ministry of Culture and Science (MKW) of NRW as well as the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), funding has been secured for three essential grant programs. “NRWays into Studying” (NRWege ins Studium) and “Integra,” two existing programs, can continue their work. Together they form the foundation for the University of Bonn's existing “Academic Integration for Refugees” (Förderung der Integration ins Studium, FdIS) project, which helps refugees interested in attending university prepare for their studies. This includes intensive language courses, workshops, and excursions.

People with chronic epilepsy often experience impaired memory. Researchers at the University of Bonn have now found a mechanism in mice that could explain these deficits. The German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) was also involved in the study. The results are published in the journal Brain, but a preliminary version is already available online.

NeurotechEU—the European University of Brain and Technology—held its fourth Board of Rectors meeting in Spain. The partners of this university alliance take turns organizing this semi-annual meeting, attended by the university rectors and several other staff members involved in the project. This time the organizer was the Universitas Miguel Hernández in Alicante, Spain.

Cleft lip and palate are among the most common congenital malformations, which are mainly due to genetic causes. It is not yet known exactly which genes are affected. A study led by the University of Bonn has now uncovered new correlations: New mutations near known genes such as SPRY1 could contribute to the increase in disease risk. There is also evidence that the transcription factor Musculin is causally involved. The results have now been published online in advance in the journal Human Genetics and Genomics Advances. The final version will follow soon.

Two librarians and a publisher from Ukraine have been reporting on their experiences in a discussion held at the University of Bonn, organized by the Bonn University and State Library (USL) together with RWTH Aachen University.