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The countries participating in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), currently taking place in Brazil, must cancel fossil fuel concessions in order to keep the Paris Agreement alive. This is the main message of a paper published in the journal Nature and signed by experts Martí Orta, Gorka Muñoa and Marcel Llavero, from the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona, and Guillem Rius, from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).

Researchers discover that a porcine coronavirus uses an unexpected route to enter cells An international team led by the Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I²SysBio) - a joint centre of the University of Valencia (UV) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) - together with the Institut Pasteur in Paris, has identified, for the first time, a functional receptor for the porcine haemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus, also known as porcine coronavirus PHEV.

An international study presents, for the first time, a complete system capable of controlling and releasing drugs within the body using magnetic microrobots. The system combines a clinical magnetic field, a precision catheter and biodegradable microcapsules that can be directed exactly to the specific point in the body where the drug needs to act.

Scientists discover how to destroy Teflon and other persistent pollutants at room temperature An international team including a researcher from the University of Valencia has developed a system capable of degrading both Teflon (PTFE) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals", without the need for high temperatures or complex chemical reagents.

The transition from aquatic to terrestrial life has been one of the most significant evolutionary challenges. This decisive process in the evolution of life on Earth required a profound renewal of the genome. But what changes did genomes undergo to facilitate the transition to the terrestrial environment? Now, a study published in the journal Nature reconstructs the key genomic adaptations at different stages of the evolutionary transition to terrestrial ecosystems.

A research team from the INMA Project on childhood and environment - which includes the University of Valencia and the Fisabio Foundation of the Generalitat Valenciana among others - has analysed how pet ownership during the first years of life may be related to aspects of children's emotional and behavioural well-being.

Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol) of the University of Valencia have developed a pioneering method to produce glasses from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in a simple and environmentally friendly way. This breakthrough opens new possibilities for the use of MOFs in fields such as electronics, clean energy and advanced technologies.

The presence of reeds, an exotic and invasive plant capable of altering the ecological balance in the natural environment, could have positive effects on fish populations in rivers. This is according to a study published in the journal Science of The Total Environment and led by Professor Alberto Maceda, member of the Research Group FORESTREAM from the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) at the University of Barcelona.

Researchers reveal a new metabolic mechanism involved in resistance to lung cancer treatments A research team from the University of Valencia (UV) and the La Fe Health Research Institute (IIS La Fe) has identified a mechanism that explains why certain lung tumours with mutations in the EGFR gene stop responding to the most commonly used targeted therapies.

As the body ages, brown adipose tissue activity decreases, fewer calories are burned, and this can contribute to obesity and certain chronic cardiovascular diseases that worsen with age. A study led by the University of Barcelona has identified a key molecular mechanism in the loss of brown fat activity during ageing.

An international team led by ICREA researcher Mark Gieles, from the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), has developed a groundbreaking model that reveals how extremely massive stars (EMS) - with more than 1,000 times the mass of the Sun - have governed the birth and early evolution of the oldest star clusters in the universe.

A study by the UB and IDIBELL shows how the continued use of some antibiotics and drugs damages the cells of the vestibular system of the ear The vestibular system is responsible for the sense of balance in the inner ear. Prolonged use of toxic substances, such as certain antibiotics or anticancer drugs, can damage the hair cells that form part of this system, leading to alterations in balance and other motor skills.

An international collaboration between the University of Valencia and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has achieved an important advance in the study of seasonal and multi-annual sea level changes. By applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, the teams have significantly extended the forecasting timescales of these variations, strengthening coastal planning capabilities and scientific cooperation in ocean research.

Drugs to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases - such as asthma, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis or Chrousos syndrome - act mainly through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). This essential protein regulates vital processes in various tissues, so understanding its structure and function at the molecular level is essential for designing more effective and safer drugs.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common tumours among people over the age of 50. Although it is known to develop from small lesions or polyps, its exact causes are unknown - only a few risk factors are known - and it is usually treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or biological therapies.

A multidisciplinary research team involving the University of Valencia has identified eight coronavirus genomes in bats from different regions of Spain, three of which could represent new viral species. The findings have been published in the journal PLoS Pathogens .

The brain's mechanisms for repairing injuries caused by trauma or degenerative diseases are not yet known in detail. Now, a study by the University of Barcelona describes a new strategy based on stem cell therapy that could enhance neuronal regeneration and neuroplasticity when this vital organ is damaged.

The sequencing of the genomes of a spider from the mainland ( Dysdera catalonica , left) and one from the Canary Islands ( Dysdera tilosensis , left) opens a new perspective for understanding how genome size evolves in similar species, an enigma that has baffled the scientific community for years. In a few million years, the spider Dysdera tilosensis - a species endemic to the Canary Islands - has reduced the size of its genome by half during the process of colonization and adaptation to its natural habitat.

José Luis Araus, professor at the University of Barcelona's Faculty of Biology and member of Agrotecnio - CERCA centre in agrotechnology - participated in a study showing that wheat varieties perform best under ideal conditions (water, nutrients, temperature) also yield more in challenging environmental and agronomic situations, such as excessive heat or drought.