Keyword: Press release

A recently published article studies the mutually beneficial ecological relationships and evolutionary adaptations of tarantulas. The study reveals that the infamous spiders are actually often on friendly terms with amphibians, reptiles, and even army ants, which are known to feed on spiders. The researchers suggest that the dense hair covering tarantulas may have in fact evolved as a defence mechanism against these predatory ants. 

Yuko Mori conducted a large international school survey for her doctoral dissertation in child psychiatry. The research showed that around 5% of young people had attempted suicide. Students who had been victims of both cyberbullying and traditional bullying were the most likely to have attempted suicide. The survey also found that around a third of young people feel unsafe at school and that young people rarely seek professional help for their mental health problems.

Heidi Furu, MD, has been elected Professor of Practice in Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine at the University of Turku. She is a distinguished researcher, occupational health physician and teacher of occupational health physicians. The main role of the Professor of Practice is to promote research in occupational health and medicine and to contribute research knowledge to the societal debate.

Jovana V. Milić, starting as an Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Turku, has received esteemed research funding from the European Research Council (ERC). Milić received the funding for a project that aims to develop a new generation of smart and environmentally friendly materials, such as for more effective use of solar energy in photovoltaics and brain-inspired computing.

During autumn, Rector Marjo Kaartinen will appoint the vice rectors of the University of Turku for the five-year term starting on 1 January 2025. 

A new Finnish study from University of Turku shows that already a 30-minute exercise can increase the proportion of tumor-killing white blood cells in the bloodstream of breast cancer patients.

A large international study conducted at the University of Turku in Finland found that most adolescents do not seek professional help even when they have a high level of mental health problems. This unmet need was prevalent across all eight Asian and European countries involved in this study but especially in lower-income countries.  
 

A recent Finnish study shows that people are commonly given misleading information about depression. According to the researchers, the inaccurate information makes it harder for people to understand the causes of their distress.

Astronomers uncovered that a well-known X-ray binary, whose exact nature has been a mystery to scientists until now, is actually a hidden ultraluminous X-ray source. 

Marjo Kaartinen, who will begin her term as the new Rector in August, will elect vice rectors for a five-year term at the University of Turku.