The National Science Centre has published the results of the twelfth edition of the OPUS, PRELUDIUM and SONATA programmes, and – for the third time – the list of awardees of the POLONEZ funding opportunity. Researchers conducting basic research under the four schemes have been granted nearly € 111 million.

A new study finds that bears communicate through their feet while walking. By twisting their feet into the ground, bears leave their scent. This scent is produced by foot glands and contains 26 specific compounds that inform other bears, for example about the sex of the animal. This ritual is repeated by other individuals, mostly males, which step exactly in the same places, leaving a trail of smelly holes in the ground. This reveals as an important way for animals with large home ranges to exchange information with their neighbours.