Keyword: Press release

People with disabilities continue to face major barriers when seeking oral health care, according to new research that explored the perspectives of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in different countries. The study highlights the need for enhanced training for health care professionals, more accessible services, and stronger support systems to improve equity in dental care for people with disabilities. 

New research reveals that resident forest birds avoid intensive clearcut areas, highlighting the need for more sustainable forestry practices.

The growing demand for sustainable and energy-efficient technologies has increased interest in smart materials that can perform more than one function at the same time. In his doctoral dissertation, MSc Sachin Kochrekar developed materials that can both change colour and store electrical energy. In the future, this technology could be used, for example, in energy-storing, self-tinting smart windows.

Climate change is causing a worldwide decline in biodiversity, but it is also altering energy flow between trophic levels in both brackish waters and the subarctic region. In Lapland, changes in the biomass of small herbivores are rapidly reflected in the reproductive success of the larger animals that feed on them. A recently published longitudinal study conducted at the northernmost region of Finland shows how the biomass of moths, which are a vital food source to insectivorous birds, has changed over the past few decades.

A new study by the University of Turku and partners provides fresh insights into an individual buried near Lake Kitka in Kuusamo, Finland, at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries. DNA and isotope analyses show that the individual, whose grave has been linked to Sámi cultural heritage, had a genetic connection to present-day Sámi populations and spent part of his life outside Finland.
 

A new brain imaging study has found no evidence of widespread brain inflammation in patients suffering from prolonged symptoms after COVID-19 infection. Instead, the most severe long COVID symptoms were associated with increased brain activity in regions involved in mood and emotion.

More than 520 participants from across Europe will take part in the European Campus of City-Universities (EC2U) Forum, with over 460 participants attending in person in Turku. The Forum, taking place May 18–21, is the tenth in the series and is hosted by the University of Turku. The event focuses on the role of high-quality education in building a stronger Europe. 

New research shows how climate change is reshaping protected area management, though more funding and scientific knowledge are needed to facilitate the process.

Professor Benita Heiskanen, who actively analyses political phenomena related to the United States in the media, was presented with the Research Communication Award of the University of Turku. The award was presented for the first time this year.

Euro‑BioImaging, the European research infrastructure network for biological and biomedical imaging headquartered in Turku, has secured substantial funding through the EU’s research and innovation programme Horizon Europe.