Nieuws /en en Fri, 24 Oct 2025 03:39:14 +0200 Thu, 23 Oct 25 12:37:00 +0200 The tomato of the future may not need a plant /en/news/the-tomato-of-the-future-may-not-need-a-plant Tomatoes that grow without a plant may sound like science fiction. Yet the idea could profoundly transform our food production, making it more sustainable and resilient. Researchers present their vision of this future today in the journal Trends in Biotechnology. 153163 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:37:00 +0200 Nieuws Han Wösten wins Huibregtsen Prize 2025 /en/news/han-wosten-wins-huibregtsen-prize-2025 Microbiologist Han Wösten has been awarded the prestigious Huibregtsen Prize 2025. The prize recognises Wösten's innovative and fundamental research into new sustainable materials from fungi-based compounds. 153011 Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:20:00 +0200 Nieuws Biologist Jason Gardiner secures €1 million grant to study how flowers make patterns /en/news/biologist-jason-gardiner-secures-eu1-million-grant-to-study-how-flowers-make-patterns A new project aims to build fundamental knowledge about flower pigmentation, with real-world applications. This may help breeders create more stable flowers, fruits, and vegetables. The grant is awarded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). 152123 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 15:04:00 +0200 Nieuws In orangutans, masculine male faces also draw the most attention /en/news/in-orangutans-masculine-male-faces-also-draw-the-most-attention “This shows that our attention system has deep evolutionary roots,” says Utrecht ľϸӰ behavioral biologist Tom Roth. 151483 Tue, 02 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0200 Nieuws How does the zombie ant parasite reprogram the biological clock of its host? /en/news/how-does-the-zombie-ant-parasite-reprogram-the-biological-clock-of-its-host Joana Dopp recently received an EMBO Fellowship to find out more on exactly how the the zombie ant parasite adjusts its host’s clock. 151237 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0200 Nieuws Higher plant diversity keeps small soil animals active during droughts /en/news/higher-plant-diversity-keeps-small-soil-animals-active-during-droughts The study is the first publication based on data collected in the long-term Utrecht ľϸӰ Biodiversity and Climate Variability Experiment (UU BioCliVE). 151206 Mon, 04 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0200 Nieuws A pointless fashion trend? Chimpanzees wear blades of grass in their ears and rears /en/news/a-pointless-fashion-trend-chimpanzees-wear-blades-of-grass-in-their-ears-and-rears Edwin van Leeuwen: "This may offer insights into the evolutionary roots of human culture.” 150670 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0200 Nieuws Mushrooms get sick too, but how does their immune system work? /en/news/mushrooms-get-sick-too-but-how-does-their-immune-system-work Erik Beijen explored the immune system of mushrooms for his PhD project. Today, he defends his dissertation. 150104 Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0200 Nieuws Three Open Competition ENW-M grants awarded to Utrecht ľϸӰ researchers /en/news/three-open-competition-enw-m-grants-awarded-to-utrecht-university-researchers Three researchers at Utrecht ľϸӰ’s Faculty of Science receive grants of up to €400,000 each from the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The grants are part of NWO’s Open Competition Domain Science-M programme, which aims to initiate new, innovative, and fundamental research projects. 150027 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:36:00 +0200 Nieuws Lecturer Silvia Coolen tracks down insects on weekends to keep her research going /en/news/lecturer-silvia-coolen-tracks-down-insects-on-weekends-to-keep-her-research-going After spending some time working in industry, Silvia Coolen now teaches biology students in Utrecht, where she also studied and earned her PhD. 149193 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:00:00 +0200 Nieuws New plaque honours microbiologist Johanna Westerdijk /en/news/new-plaque-honours-microbiologist-johanna-westerdijk Johanna Westerdijk, the first female professor in the Netherlands, is now honoured with a commemorative plaque celebrating her legacy. The plaque was unveiled at the Cantonspark in Baarn. 149116 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 11:34:00 +0200 Nieuws Call for participants: Public Engagement Academy 2025 /en/news/call-for-participants-public-engagement-academy-2025 Apply now for the Public Engagement Academy: a training programme specifically targeted at postdocs and other early-career researchers at the Faculty of Science. 148686 Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:16:00 +0200 Nieuws Patrick Jansen appointed professor of Wildlife Ecology and Nature Restoration /en/news/patrick-jansen-appointed-professor-of-wildlife-ecology-and-nature-restoration Jansen and his team aim to bridge the gap between fundamental ecological research and practical challenges in nature conservation and restoration. 147947 Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0100 Nieuws Gorillas match chimpanzees in self-awareness study /en/news/gorillas-match-chimpanzees-in-self-awareness-study Gorillas may have greater self-awareness than scientists previously thought. A new study finds that gorillas perform just as well as chimpanzees in tests that require awareness of their own bodies. Researchers now encourage using different types of tests to better understand self-awareness in animals. 147830 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +0100 Nieuws Bonobos and chimpanzees use sex to ease social tensions, too /en/news/bonobos-and-chimpanzees-use-sex-to-ease-social-tensions-too The findings support the idea that sex was already being used for social purposes by the last common ancestor of humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees. 147738 Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:00:00 +0100 Nieuws Jonas Lembrechts and his students chart biodiversity across the Netherlands /en/news/jonas-lembrechts-and-his-students-chart-biodiversity-across-the-netherlands The plan is to continue monitoring for years. Lembrechts: “By measuring continuously over the long term, we can get a clear picture of biodiversity variation." 147023 Mon, 24 Feb 2025 10:24:00 +0100 Nieuws Parasites are biodiversity too /en/news/parasites-are-biodiversity-too Parasites are often overlooked in biodiversity research and conservation efforts. That needs to change, says zombie ant researcher Charissa de Bekker. 147179 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0100 Nieuws The same dataset analysed by different researchers does not always lead to the same conclusions /en/news/the-same-dataset-analysed-by-different-researchers-does-not-always-lead-to-the-same-conclusions Due to the use of different methods, there was considerable variation in the conclusions drawn. Jonas Lembrechts was one of the participants of the study. 146909 Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:57:00 +0100 Nieuws From biology student to plant professor at Utrecht ľϸӰ /en/news/from-biology-student-to-plant-professor-at-utrecht-university Saskia van Wees studied biology at Utrecht ľϸӰ and eventually became a professor at the same university. What drew her back to Utrecht? 146671 Tue, 04 Feb 2025 09:00:00 +0100 Nieuws Smart farming: AI predicts potato growth potential /en/news/smart-farming-ai-predicts-potato-growth-potential A new AI tool can now predict how well seed potatoes will grow into healthy potato plants. "This marks the beginning of a new era in farming, where microbiology and AI come together to enhance agriculture." 146013 Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:17:00 +0100 Nieuws