In the majority of insects, metamorphosis fosters completely different looking larval and adult stages. For example, adult butterflies are completely different from their larval counterparts, termed caterpillars. This “decoupling” of life stages is thought to allow for adaptation to different environments. Researchers of the University of Bonn now falsified this text book knowledge of evolutionary theory for stoneflies. They found that the ecology of the larvae largely determines the morphology of the adults by investigating 219 earwig and stonefly species at high-resolution particle accelerators. The study has now been published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

An international team of researchers led by the University of Bonn has identified the cause of a rare, severe muscle disease. According to these findings, a single spontaneously occurring mutation results in the muscle cells no longer being able to correctly break down defective proteins. As a result, the cells perish. The condition causes severe heart failure in children, accompanied by skeletal and respiratory muscle damage. Those affected rarely live beyond the age of 20. The study also highlights experimental approaches for potential treatment. Whether this hope will be fulfilled, however, will only become clear in a few years. The results are published in the journal Nature Communications.

Gruenderspot.de is the new internet platform for founders in Bonn-Rhein-Sieg an part of a joint start-up project by the University of Bonn, University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg and DIGITALHUB.DE. The information and communication platform provides expertise on offers for those interested in founding and serves as a virtual exchange and meeting place for the regional startup scene. "Gruenderspot.de establishes uncomplicated access to our network with the goal of bringing together the region's bright minds and making their startup ideas known," says Benita Schuba, deputy department head of the Transfer Center enaCom, whose startup consultants manage the platform for the university.

How do elites emerge? Do they exercise power independently or only 'by order'? How is domination transmitted and perpetuated? These and many other questions will be transculturally addressed by researchers from June 17 to 19 during the digital conference "Rulers and Elites between Symbiosis and Antagonism. Communicating in Premodern Hegemonic Structures". All those interested are invited to attend. The free event will be held via the Zoom conference system.

The so-called Plexin-A1 gene seems to play a more extensive role in brain development than previously assumed. This is shown by a current study led by the University Hospital Bonn and the Institute of Anatomy of the University of Bonn with more than 60 international partners. The gene is also interesting for another reason: Its mutations are inherited either dominantly or recessively, depending on which part of the gene is affected. The results of the study are now published in the journal "Genetics in Medicine".

University of Bonn Rector Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Hoch has for a second time been named “Rector of the Year” by the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV) for his exemplary performance in office. The distinction was awarded on the basis of an online survey of the Association’s 33,000 members. The awarding was announced today at the German Academics Gala organized by the DHV and Deutsche Universitätsstiftung, conducted online due to the pandemic.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be an important tool for sustainable development to minimize energy usage in large factories or to predict natural disasters before they happen. However, these uses can also have a social and ethical downside. For example, training and tuning AI models produces carbon emissions that harm the environment. Or there are power asymmetries between people when not everyone gets access to the technology. At the world's first conference on the sustainability of artificial intelligence, researchers will discuss environmental, social and economic costs of designing, developing, and using AI from June 15 to 17. The virtual conference is launched by AI ethicist Prof. Aimee van Wynsberghe, Humboldt Professor at the University of Bonn. The conference is supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Institute for Science and Ethics at the University of Bonn.

The latest edition of the widely respected “Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2021” recognized the University of Bonn as Germany's top-ranking university for Mathematics and Economics, whose Agricultural Sciences and Physics departments furthermore rank third nationwide. And many other Bonn departments are following close behind.