International scientific collaboration between IMBB-FORTH Researchers and Scientists at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the University of Oslo, in Norway uncovers the novel role of the DNA base excision repair (BER) pathway in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease.The findings of the study, published today in the premier international scientific journal Cell Reports, reveal a novel molecular mechanism underlying the detrimental effects of BER imbalance in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. IMBB-FORTH Researchers Dr. Konstantinos Palikaras (now Assistant Professor at the Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) and Dr. Nektarios Tavernarakis (Professor at the Medical School, University of Crete, and Chairman of the Board at FORTH), in collaboration with the team of Prof. Hilde Nilsen (University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway), among others, demonstrated that age-dependent imbalance in BER affects the survival of dopaminergic neurons and could serve as a potent modulator of Parkinson’s diseasepathophysiology.

The incorporation of centimetre-size monolayer graphene in polymer nanolaminates, paving the way for the development of effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shields, has been published in Nature Communications.Since its isolation in 2004 by Geim and Novoselov from the University of Manchester (Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010), graphene has been termed as a ‘wonder material’ due to its exceptional properties that have already been exploited in many applications and products. However, the use of graphene in a form of tiny flakes in polymer composites limits the full exploitation of the excellent properties of graphene, thus requiring high filler loadings for achieving satisfactory electrical and mechanical properties.

Atmospheric acidity impacts oceanic ecologyIncreased acidity in the atmosphere is disrupting the ecological balance of the oceans, according to new research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA). The first study to look at acidity’s impact on nutrient transport to the ocean demonstrates that the way nutrients are delivered affects the productivity of the ocean and its ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. The research, ‘Changing atmospheric acidity as a modulator of nutrient deposition and ocean biogeochemistry’, is published today in Science Advances. The analysis was carried out by an international team of experts, sponsored by the United Nations Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP).

The pioneering idea of using graphene for the protection of paintings, paving the way for the development of novel methods in art preservation and restoration, has been published on 1.7.21, in Nature Nanotechnology.The exposure of colors used in artworks to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light in the presence of oxidizing agents, triggers color degradation, fading and yellowing. These degradation mechanisms can lead to irreversible alteration of artworks, which consist of a valuable heritage for humankind.