Elena Tello-García | Shrub encroachment influences root traits and mycorrhization in subalpine grasslands – Functional Ecologists

In this ‘Behind the Paper blog post, author Elena Tello-García – a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Innsbruck – discusses “Shrub encroachment influences root traits and mycorrhization in subalpine…

Growing animal muscle and fat cells inside rice grains and calling it beef: One of numerous genetically engineered products shaking up our ecosystem

Perhaps the most audacious biotechnology breakthrough of recent years is cultured beef rice, a hybrid food that literally grows animal muscle and fat cells inside rice grains. Korean scientists add…

GLP-1’s Reduce Binge Eating Symptoms

Summary: Findings revealed a profound therapeutic benefit: GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide) do not merely drive physical weight reduction. Instead, they actively downregulate the core behavioral…

Widespread M1 Receptor Deficits in Schizophrenia Found

Summary: Researchers delivered the world’s first in vivo (in a living organism) evidence of widespread muscarinic acetylcholine M1 receptor deficits in schizophrenia. Utilizing a pioneering, highly selective PET radiotracer, the…

Gene Therapy Reverses Severe Traits of Fragile X Syndrome

Summary: Utilizing specialized adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors to deliver functional human FMR1 directly into the central nervous system, the team successfully restored FMRP production within key cortical and subcortical regions…

Loneliness Directly Causes Poor Mental Health

Summary: By combining standard observational tracking with rigorous sibling comparisons and genetics-based Mendelian randomization, an international team of researchers proved that loneliness carries a direct, independent causal grip on decaying…

Which among war, weather and cyber attacks is the biggest world threat? None of the above. It’s misinformation, and here’s why.

The UN and the World Economic Forum have identified misinformation and disinformation as top global risks—ranking them as higher short-term threats than extreme weather, state-based armed conflict, and cyber insecurity.1,2 Although…

Study Maps Brain Stem Networks to Help Patients Regulate PTSD

Summary: A new study combines rodent circuitry mapping with ultra-high-field 7T human fMRI to investigate periaqueductal gray (PAG) regulation. By identifying the upstream brain regions that govern this core midbrain…

Brain Scans Reveal a Network Origin Point for Schizophrenia

Summary: A new study utilized specialized Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging to measure synaptic connections in the living human brain. Evaluating one of the largest clinical cohorts of its kind…

Journal update | Meet our new Associate Editors! – Functional Ecologists

Following or latest open call, we are excited to announce that we have welcomed 47 new Associate Editors to Functional Ecology’s editorial board! Our new editors join us from 18…