A study led by researchers of the University of Bologna analysed for the first time the external three-dimensional shape of the entire heel of Neanderthals, comparing it with that of our species, to show how lifestyle and evolution shaped the skeleton of the foot
In the latest edition of the ranking assessing universities’ sustainability policies and initiatives, the University of Bologna ranks first in Italy and ninth worldwide among the universities most committed to sustainability
This is shown by an analysis based on the longest series of satellite observations ever produced: the loss of ice has raised the global average sea level by more than three centimetres
Engaging citizens, public bodies, businesses and universities in local initiatives: the national picture and the Bologna experience
From Tadej Pogačar’s successes, supported in part by a meticulously planned nutritional strategy, to Jannik Sinner’s difficulties in hot weather: two champions who show just how much energy, nutrition and the environment can influence performance. We discuss this with Professor Cristina Angeloni, Director of the Master Degree Programme in Human Nutrition, Well-being and Health at the University of Bologna
With four new installations in Bologna and Forlì, self-generated electricity rises from 3% to 7% of the University’s total electricity consumption, delivering annual savings of €850,000 and cutting CO₂ emissions by 700 tonnes a year
UniboMagazine spoke to Fabio Sgolastra, Professor at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences and one of the authors of a commentary on the issue published in Science
A series of analyses conducted on the genome of Yakutia’s inhabitants, where low temperatures can reach -70°C, has highlighted certain combinations of genetic variants that can positively regulate physiological functions associated with exposure to cold. And the hybridisation of their ancestors with Neanderthal populations also plays a part
As part of the international BRIDGE project, the University of Bologna organised a training initiative for officials from various Central Asian states to share knowledge and practices on water resource management, precision agriculture and climate change adaptation strategies
With more than 60 million stars, the image could help confirm the existence of exoplanets and measure their masses through variations in starlight
At the University of Bologna, international experts reviewed the current state of knowledge on the exposome, discussing the role of Artificial Intelligence, organoids and European projects on climate, cities and health
The analysis of a fossil humerus preserved in the Geology Collection “Museo Giovanni Capellini” of the University of Bologna documents one of the oldest known cases of healing from a severe fracture in cave lions. The study, led by the University of Padua, provides rare insights into the lives and survival strategies of the great predators of the Pleistocene
These are some of the effects seen where regulation is weak and foreign companies relocate their most polluting operations, with significant environmental costs
A new study suggests that the presence of extraoral soft tissues — labial scales or "lips" for short — was not unique to extant lepidosaur reptiles (lizards, snakes, and tuataras), but rather represents the primitive condition for all reptiles, including archosauromorphs that lived during the Triassic period more than 240 million years ago
A new study reveals that deep within our planet, certain minerals reacting with molecular hydrogen (H₂) can produce water molecules. This has implications for magma formation, seismic activity, and even the search for extraterrestrial life
New frontiers in chemistry to address the challenges of climate, energy and resource scarcity, and research as a shared human effort serving equality and sustainability
From the importance of a global vision for scientific research to studies on extracting water from air, one of the leading figures in contemporary chemistry will address the challenges of climate, energy and resource scarcity for a sustainable planet
There were at least seven individuals, who lived around 100,000 years ago: the study – coordinated by scholars from the University of Bologna – stems from the analysis of ancient mitochondrial DNA from eight teeth found in the Stajnia cave in Poland
A survey of the main databases on the distribution of plant species has revealed that data are available for only 790 of the 2,217 islands considered: a gap that needs to be filled if we are to ensure the conservation of the region’s ecosystems
As part of the European BUZZ LIFE project – in which the University of Bologna is also a partner – a series of initiatives are being launched to ensure the survival and return of bees and pollinators to urban and peri-urban areas across Italy, Cyprus, France and Greece
Rector Giovanni Molari took part in the closing event of the SHARE_Africa project, one of the Transnational Education Initiatives funded by the PNRR. Students from several African universities had the opportunity to take part in mobility programmes and highly specialised academic courses
A large-scale survey of five million births in 33 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and India shows that exposure to high temperatures during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, particularly for male foetuses
The University of Bologna has inaugurated new research infrastructures dedicated to equipment and machinery for precision agriculture, digital systems and innovative solutions for the sustainability of agricultural systems. Over €12 million in investments from PNRR funds, within the national AGRITECH project, will support the testing and development of the agriculture of the future
The programme will bring cutting-edge scientific research to industrial application in the field of energy integration
A new multidisciplinary study, led by researchers at Unibo, Unimore and MUSE – the Trento Museum of Science, has reconstructed the evolutionary history and relationship with the environment of a population of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) that lived in the mountains of Trentino more than 13,000 years ago
Thanks to a University of Bologna project, they will be able to tell visitors about the extraordinary significance of the Bagno dell'Acqua lake, a natural laboratory for the study of extreme environments and possible traces of life beyond Earth
Promoted by the IUGS-IFG and hosted by the University of Bologna, the international, multidisciplinary initiative will be held in Bologna, Italy, in April 2027. The event aims to establish a cohesive, technically grounded framework that serves science, justice and legitimate trade
From renewables to carbon capture and storage: where do we stand with the energy transition in a world cyclically marked by geopolitical crises? UniboMagazine discussed it with Professor Ezio Mesini
Home to thousands of “waste pickers”, Dandora is the largest open-air landfill in East Africa. Here, the University of Bologna works alongside local community organisations to develop innovative projects in sustainable urban agriculture – with the help of a small insect...
A major international study involving more than 7,500 participants across 34 countries shows that people with greater resources are more likely to invest in local mitigation measures and less likely to support broader action to cut emissions—pushing a global solution further out of reach
Rewilding is an environmental management approach that seeks to minimise human intervention as much as possible, allowing natural processes to unfold freely. Examples of this strategy are becoming increasingly common, particularly in Northern Europe, although more or less unintentional cases can also be found in Italy
A study of thirty teeth recovered from the archaeological site in the province of Salerno has reconstructed childhood growth patterns, identified early-life stress events, and traced the dietary habits of ancient inhabitants, revealing the consumption of fermented foods such as bread, wine, and beer
People who are guided mainly by predictive cues risk making ineffective decisions even when experience shows there are better alternatives. This is the mechanism highlighted by a study conducted at the University of Bologna’s Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (Cesena Campus)
Some fossil remains discovered near Casablanca, dating back to around 773,000 years ago, may belong to an African population that lies at the base of the evolutionary trajectory from which the most recent human species, including our own, originated
With four projects and total funding of 11 million euros, the University of Bologna is the Italian university with the highest number of grant holders in the latest ERC Synergy Grants and one of the most successful in the European Union. From the cohabitation between humans and animals on an increasingly fragile planet to the earliest microseconds after the Big Bang; from the ultra-fast processes of the photochemical reactions to the unsolved questions on the universe expansion, the participating researchers will join their forces to address some of the most complex challenges in contemporary science
Thanks to portable technologies, an international team has carried out in situ analyses of silica stromatolites in the Imawarì Yeutà cave, opening up new perspectives for planetary exploration as well. Research groups led by Martina Cappelletti from the University of Bologna and speleologist Francesco Sauro from the University of Padua are among the authors of the study
Emergy analysis is a tool to objectively calculate the environmental and social costs of climate policies, with significant implications on legal proceedings related to climate change
In the new edition of the GreenMetric ranking, the University of Bologna ranks first nationally and ninth worldwide among the most sustainability-conscious universities. A standout among the indicators that make up the ranking is the first place globally in sustainable mobility
The University of Bologna Embraces the Project “Green Library”
As a consequence of climate change, some species will only be able to survive at the highest elevations, while many others – surprisingly – will shift downslope in search of areas with greater precipitation
At the latest edition of the world championship for solar vehicles, the Onda Solare team took third place in the Cruiser Class and also received the CSIRO Innovation Award for its suspension system
At the heart of the new ERC project BELIEFS, led by Professor Emanuele Campiglio of the University of Bologna, is the issue of business expectations regarding ecological transition policies and how these influence their investment decisions. The project aims to create a tool that can provide reliable answers, thereby ensuring a rapid and orderly decarbonisation process
The new Philips Incisive CT scanner was presented at the University of Bologna’s Anatomy Centre: with this unique project, anatomical dissection—one of the oldest scientific practices—merges with cutting-edge digital technologies, generating new knowledge and paving the way for increasingly personalised, safe and effective healthcare and training models
A sequence of supercell thunderstorms caused devastating hailstorms – responsible for hundreds of injuries and millions of euros in damage – and generated the largest hailstorm observed in Europe. A group of scholars observed that the main cause of this extraordinary weather event was the strong flow of moisture at high altitude
The technology used by the University of Bologna is the only one of its kind in Italy. It is being used for the first time in a historic park that is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site
A genomic study of individuals from the Aymara, Quechua and Uros ethnic groups has revealed genetic variants that allow the embryo to develop in low-oxygen conditions. Similar traits have been observed in Asian populations living in the Himalayas: a rare case of 'evolutionary convergence'
The shipwreck that occurred on the night of 19 August 2024 off the coast of Palermo, claiming seven lives, is thought to have been caused by a 'downburst', a phenomenon characterised by downward gusts of wind that can exceed 100 kilometres per hour
Research carried out by the University of Bologna's Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, in collaboration with the Animal and Food Genomics Group and other University departments, has characterised the pig metabolome for the first time, opening up new possibilities for combining genetics and nutrition with applications in biomedicine and animal production