The objective of KNIGHT (Knowledge base for Nile Geo-Hazards Tackling) is to strengthen resilience to geo-hazards and climate challenges along the Nile corridor, increasing the capacity to manage emergencies. It is a project promoted by the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS) that sees participation from the Department of Engineering and Architecture (DIA) at the University of Trieste.

The project, co-financed by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, was officially launched on 20th January. It will last two years and counts among its partners the Municipality of Lignano Sabbiadoro, Cooperative Shoreline, the Faculty of Science at the Damietta University (Egypt) and the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG, Egypt).

KNIGHT is aimed at natural disaster mitigation and emergency management. More specifically, it aims to strengthen the resilience of the natural, economic and cultural heritage along the Nile River and its delta. It does so by supporting the review of the national plan for natural hazard mitigation with data, models and innovative technologies.

Within this highly multi-disciplinary project, a research team from the University of Trieste composed of Chiara Bedon (DIA), Marco Fasan (DIA) and Fabio Romanelli (MIGe) will focus on advanced structural and seismological analysis, also using innovative methods and technologies. Their goal is to characterise and assess the seismic risk and vulnerability of some case-study buildings that will be identified along the course of the Nile. All this will contribute to drawing up natural risk exposure maps, the identification of optimal strategies for the prevention of natural disasters, and the establishment of emergency management procedures.

The collaboration between the partners will allow for the sharing of data that will be analysed, standardised and integrated into a database using a GIS platform, making it possible to identify the areas most subject to anthropic and/or natural stress (and therefore most vulnerable), and to assess natural hazards and possible cascading risks in order to mitigate them.

‘There are three main activities that will be carried out. First of all, work will be done to develop a data and knowledge base for the integrated assessment of geological and environmental risks at selected sites along the Nile, the delta and the surrounding coastal areas. At the same time, new methodologies for integrating multi-hazard scenarios and environmental monitoring will be tested at key sites along the course of the Nile, ranging from the Aswan Dam to the coastal areas of the delta, with a special focus on the area of Damietta, a city of significant economic and social interest. Finally, specialised training, technology transfer, citizen-science and awareness-raising activities will also be carried out,' says Antonella Peresan, seismologist at OGS and coordinator of the project.

‘These activities,’ concludes Peresan, ’will over the 24 months of the project lead to concrete and useful products for the future: the creation of an archive of data and knowledge and the development of shared guidelines to improve the resilience of the natural and environmental heritage in the area of intervention, an area where natural events and climate change can significantly affect socio-economic growth.’

Giuseppe Grimaldi, a research assistant in Cultural Anthropology at the Department of Humanities of the University of Trieste, has been awarded the 2024 prize of the Italian Society of Applied Anthropology (SIAA) for the best collaborative and applied research with the project O.S.A.RE. - Osservatorio Sfruttamento Agricolo e Resistenze (Observatory on Agricultural Exploitation and Resistance).

The objectives achieved by O.S.A.RE. contribute to combating the exploitation and illegal brokerage of workers, providing data on the spread of the phenomenon and best practices for systemic projects that support the fight against these social scourges. According to the SIAA judging committee, the project, which focused on sensitive areas in Campania, stood out for ‘its significant social impact and multi-level interaction, as well as the high degree of visibility and recognition of the anthropological contribution.’

The project presented by the UniTS research assistant demonstrates, according to the SIAA, ‘how the production of ethnographic knowledge can contribute to generating concrete impacts on public and institutional culture, fostering virtuous local policies that are more respectful of fundamental human rights.’

This motivation aligns with the core mission of the Italian Society of Applied Anthropology, active since 2013 with the aim of promoting the social use of anthropological knowledge and practices in the public sphere, the world of work, decision-making processes, and participatory democracy in Italy and abroad.

‘O.S.A.RE – explains Dr Giuseppe Grimaldi – was made possible thanks to the support and synergy between public institutions, such as the Campania Region and the University of Salerno, activist groups in Campania – particularly the Ex Canapificio social centre, which was the lead organisation of the project – and a diverse group of residents from the area where the intervention took place, who contributed decisively to its realisation.’

O.S.A.RE involved territories such as the Piana del Sele and the Volturno Castle area, which face challenges related to the fragility of their economic fabric, exacerbated by the presence of criminal organisations that cause poverty and social distress.

The project sought to shed light – through a combination of quantitative analysis and ethnography – on the systemic nature of exploitation in the agricultural sector. Throughout its implementation, it was grounded in co-research (a collaborative method where creating knowledge also builds organisation and autonomy), demonstrating how the experience of those subjected to exploitation is crucial for defining effective countermeasures, both in specific territories and in interactions with institutions.

Over the course of the project, more than 500 people were interviewed. Of these, based on the exploitation indicators outlined in the law against the illegal brokerage of workers, nearly 70% were found to be in conditions of ‘severe worker exploitation.’ The data was presented to institutional forums addressing the illegal brokerage of workers, and the methodology underlying O.S.A.RE was recognised as a best practice used in systemic initiatives to tackle worker exploitation.

‘O.S.A.RE – concludes Grimaldi – highlighted, in particular, how ineffective any approach to combating worker exploitation is if it does not address the legal, economic, and social systems upon which it is founded. A phenomenon that, albeit in different forms depending on the degree of vulnerability, affects all agricultural labourers, regardless of nationality.’

Two professors from the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Trieste, geneticist Alberto Pallavicini and marine zoologist Piero Giulio Giulianini, spent a truly unique Christmas and New Year’s Eve at the Mario Zucchelli Antarctic Station.

Of course, this wasn’t an unconventional holiday in the snow but a mission the two UniTS professors are conducting as part of the DIMANT project, funded by the National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA). The project aims to study the immune mechanisms of marine species in the Ross Sea.

Pallavicini and Giulianini arrived at the Italian scientific base on December 20, after an extended stopover in New Zealand due to adverse weather conditions that prevented a safe landing on the Antarctic continent. The planned activities for the mission follow a rigorous schedule, and even on New Year’s Day, the two researchers conducted a sea excursion to collect samples for analysis.

The DIMANT project focuses on understanding how sponges, anemones, bivalve mollusks, and fish—organisms that play a fundamental role in the Antarctic ecosystem—respond to increasing environmental threats.

The research team is isolating and analyzing immunocytes—cells responsible for immune responses—to understand their reactivity to subzero temperatures and emerging pathogens. The growing human presence in Antarctica, driven by activities such as tourism, scientific research, and fishing, is intensifying the risk of introducing new pathogens and exacerbating the effects of rising global temperatures. This scenario presents a completely new challenge for the local marine fauna, which must rapidly adapt to an increasingly changing environment.

The biological samples collected will later undergo advanced cytological and genetic analyses to identify the molecules and receptors involved in immune defenses. The findings could provide valuable tools for monitoring and predicting the impact of climate change and emerging diseases on the Antarctic marine ecosystem.

Alberto Pallavicini and Piero Giulianini have another four weeks of work ahead of them, surrounded by ice, penguins, and polar birds, before concluding their mission.

Italian missions in Antarctica are conducted within the framework of the National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA), funded by the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) and coordinated by the National Research Council (CNR) for the scientific aspect, ENEA for logistics, and the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS) for managing the icebreaker ship Laura Bassi.

The mission tied to the DIMANT project is part of the 40th Italian expedition to Antarctica, which currently involves approximately 240 researchers and technicians working on various interdisciplinary projects. The research spans fields such as marine biology, climatology, and studies on glacial systems and global climate change. Activities are conducted not only at the Mario Zucchelli Station, currently hosting the two University of Trieste professors, but also at the Concordia Station and aboard the Laura Bassi.

A study led by Prof. Luca Cegolon, a professor at the University of Trieste and researcher at ASUGI, in collaboration with Prof. Giuseppe Mastrangelo from the University of Padua, delved into the benefits of saltwater pools compared to traditional freshwater ones for treating skin diseases and rheumatic conditions. Published in the international journal Water, the study emphasizes the significant therapeutic potential of saltwater.

Saltwater has been used for centuries to alleviate various ailments, and today it forms the basis of treatments such as thalassotherapy, which utilizes controlled interaction with marine environments, including exposure to sunlight. This type of therapy is particularly beneficial for individuals suffering from psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or rheumatic conditions such as fibromyalgia.

The combination of exposure to seawater and sunlight – a key component of thalassotherapy – is especially effective in reducing the symptoms of chronic inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, as well as rheumatic conditions like fibromyalgia and ankylosing spondylitis.

For those with psoriasis, the benefits of immersion in seawater combined with sun exposure can last up to three months. Experimental studies have shown that six-week treatments using saltwater and UVB light are more effective than freshwater immersion or UV exposure alone.

Finally, a significant clinical trial involving over 1,200 patients across 102 dermatological clinics confirmed that saltwater baths followed by UVB exposure yield results comparable to established therapies like PUVA baths, traditionally used for treating psoriasis.

The Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics (DEAMS) has collaborated with Mare FVG to publish the first report ‘Observations from the FVG Maritime Sector - Innovation, Sustainability and Skills’. The report provides an analysis of the positioning of the regional maritime sector – made up of 1350 companies – in the Italian, European and international context. It highlights the distribution of companies in maritime supply chains, the value of individual products and services, and their orientation towards innovation and sustainability.

The analysis conducted by DEAMS included the design of a sustainability self-assessment tool based on ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria and nine interviews with companies in the sector, carried out in cooperation with Mare FVG. The interviews delved into crucial topics such as technological and market challenges, skills development and previously explored routes to sustainability.

The results of the survey revealed that a quarter of the companies in the sample were already active in the field of sustainability, distinguishing themselves through certifications, investments, professional skills development and value chain monitoring. More than 40 per cent have embarked on a path towards sustainable development, while around 30 per cent have yet to equip themselves to meet ESG challenges.

A crucial element concerns internal expertise: three quarters of companies have not yet formalised a specific sustainability figure, an element that will be key to addressing the growing focus on these issues in the coming years. Finally, almost 70% of companies have adopted sustainability practices aimed at employees, underlining the crucial role of human resources in company processes and confirming appeal and retention as strategic priorities for the future. The interviews, conducted with both SMEs and large companies, confirm the relevance of environmental issues and attention to people, highlighting the need for an integrated approach to address the challenges of the sector.

The report is the result of a collaboration between mareFVG, Area Science Park and DEAMS – Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics of the University of Trieste, and written thanks to the support of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. To support this study, the data of the M.IND platform (Maritime Industry, by mareFVG) was used, and collected also thanks to the initial contribution of the Chamber of Commerce system and regional employers' associations, the Innovation intelligence FVG platform of Area Science Park and the ModeFinance databases.

The international scientific collaboration Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), which also includes a group of researchers from the University of Trieste, has observed and studied at different wavelengths a spectacular flare from the powerful relativistic jet of the supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87*), the subject of the first ‘photo’ of a black hole. The study, coordinated by the EHT-MWL group and in collaboration with institutions such as INAF (Italian national institute of astrophysics), INFN (Italian national institute of nuclear physics) and ASI (Italian space association), has been accepted for publication in the prestigious journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. 

The event was documented during EHT's second observation mission in April 2018, involving more than 25 ground- and space-based telescopes and collecting data at different wavelengths. For the first time since 2010, a gamma-ray burst at very high energies, up to trillions of electron volts, was detected, lasting about three days. ‘We were fortunate to detect a gamma-ray burst from M87* during the Event Horizon Telescope's multi-wavelength mission. The observations will provide us with further insights and an incredible opportunity to investigate the physics around the supermassive black hole M87*, explaining the connection between the accretion disk and the emitted jet, as well as the origin and mechanisms responsible for the emission of gamma-ray photons,’ comments Giacomo Principe, lead author of the paper, UniTS researcher and INAF and INFN associate. 

The relativistic jet, extending over dimensions that exceed millions of times those of the black hole's event horizon, has been observed with leading telescopes such as Fermi-LAT, MAGIC and HESS. Francesco Longo, head of the Gamma Astrophysics group for the University and INFN of Trieste, says: ‘Observations made simultaneously at different wavelengths are fundamental for contemporary astrophysics. The availability of an instrument like Fermi-LAT, capable of continuously monitoring the sky in the gamma band, is crucial for detecting rare phenomena, such as the gamma flare from M87. In addition, ground-based gamma-ray instruments, capable of observing the sky at higher energies, allow the emission mechanism of gamma-ray sources to be studied with greater sensitivity'.

The data published in the paper also show a significant variation in the position angle of the ring asymmetry (the so-called ‘event horizon’ of the black hole), helping to solve scientific questions such as the origin of cosmic rays and the formation of relativistic jets. Principe concludes: ‘These observations may shed light on some major astrophysical questions that are still unresolved: how do the powerful relativistic jets observed in some galaxies originate? Where are the particles responsible for gamma-ray emission accelerated? What phenomenon accelerates them to energies of TeV (trillions of electron volts)? What is the origin of cosmic rays?’ 

The full study is available here : “Broadband Multi-wavelength Properties of M87 during the 2018 EHT Campaign including a Very High Energy Flaring Episode”

A group of researchers from the University of Trieste, in collaboration with the CIMeC (Interdepartmental Centre for the Mind and Brain) of the University of Trento, has identified signs of intentional behaviour in insect larvae, traditionally thought to be guided exclusively by reflexes to external stimuli. 

The results of the study, published in Scientific Reports (Nature Group), raise interesting questions about the criteria for attributing intentionality to different animal species, how far we can go - phylogenetically and in terms of the complexity of the neural system - and how far we can recognise forms of volition.

The researchers, in particular, studied larvae of the beetle Tenebrio molitor. Also known as the mealworm, it is the first insect to have been officially approved for marketing in Europe as an affordable, sustainable and advantageous alternative source of protein to traditional ones such as meat and fish.

Cinzia Chiandetti, associate professor of cognitive neuroscience at the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Trieste and head of the Animal Cognition Laboratory: ‘As the results indicate, these animals possess a higher level of cognitive capacity than previously intuited and hypothesised; although they do not imply that all the larvae's behaviour is intentional, they emphasise the complexity of their mental life. They reveal, that is, that these insect larvae - traditionally considered automata, i.e. creatures that would not be able to perform voluntary actions, but would merely respond to external stimuli through reflexes - are capable of articulated decision-making processes, are able to weigh different options, weigh costs and benefits and choose which action to take, demonstrating flexibility to achieve desired results. With a changed and increased sensitivity in the general public to issues such as pollution and environmental impact of intensive livestock farming, anti-speciesism, and animal exploitation, we hope that this discovery will help influence virtuous attitudes in humans.’

In a 3D Y-shaped, specially printed maze (as shown in the figure), the research team trained Tenebrio molitor larvae to prefer one arm to the other in order to gain access to food, observing their ability to learn and, therefore, to head for the side associated with the reward. In the second stage of the study, the researchers applied the so-called ‘reinforcer devaluation paradigm’: i.e. in a different environment, they paired the food with an aversive stimulus, exacerbating it by adding lemon. In a third and final stage, the larvae were tested again in the Y-maze to assess their willingness to choose the target branch where they had received the food reward during initial training. What emerged was that, after devaluation of the reward, the larvae significantly reduced their visits to the target branch: that is, they formed a mental representation of the action-consequence relationship, demonstrating flexible control of actions to obtain desired results and avoid unpleasant ones. 

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Full study published in Scientific Reports

Goal-directed behavior in Tenebrio molitor larvae

Five UniTS PhD graduates were awarded € 3,000 each in the inaugural edition of the PHD Innovation Award, the prize designed to celebrate the merit, innovation and creativity of young scientists in the year of the University of Trieste’s 100th Anniversary.

The winners are:

Francesco Armillotta, PhD Course in Physics, with a thesis entitled ‘Mono and Bi-metallic Tetra Pyridyl Porphyrin Monolayers from Uhv to Near - Ambient Conditions’, supervisor Erik Vesselli;

Beatrice Bartolomei, PhD Course in Nanotechnology, with a thesis on ‘Carbon Nanodots: from Purification Strategies to Multifunctional Materials’, supervisor Maurizio Prato and coordinator Alberto Morgante;

Luca Grisetti, PhD Course in Molecular Biomedicine, with a thesis entitled ‘The role of Aurora Kinase A in the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and in the Regulation of Programmed Death - Ligand 1’, supervisors Claudio Tiribelli and Devis Pascut, coordinator Germana Meroni;

Silvia Mauri, PhD Course in Nanontechnology, with a thesis on ‘Operando Soft X - Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Applications for the Investigation of Surface Reactivity of Heterogeneous Catalysts for Methanol Valorization’, supervisor Piero Torelli, coordinator Alberto Mogante;

and

Paola Tesolin, PhD Course in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, with a thesis on ‘Phenotypic High Throughput Screening Highlights Promising Molecules for the Treatment of SLC7A8 Dependent Age - Related Hearing LO’, speakers Paolo Gasparini and Giorgia Girotto, coordinator Paolo Gasparini.

The response from the call for applications for the first PHD Innovation Award was exceptional. Out of 220 eligible applicants, as many as 95 students applied (56% women), demonstrating their self-belief in the excellence of their work. 

The awards ceremony was opened with greetings from the Rector Roberto Di Lenarda, the Director of the UniTS Doctoral School Alessandro Baraldi, and speeches from the three external judges of the award: Maurizio Manzin, Professor at the University of Trento, with a speech on ‘Innovation and technoscience in the post-thinking era’, Silvia Gross, Professor at the University of Padova, with ‘Chemistry between past, present and future: a versatile tool for the green transition' and Anna Cereseto, Professor at the University of Trento, on ‘The genome editing revolution in the life sciences: from advanced therapies to the new agrifood’.

‘In recent years, UniTS has shown a firm commitment to strengthening higher education. Since 2019/2020, we have significantly increased the number of scholarships funded directly by the University, reaching almost 200 places in the latest call for applications for the 13 PhD courses,’ emphasised Prof. Baraldi. ’Not only have we increased the number of places available, but we have also seen an increase in course popularity. This year, for the 40th round of PhD grants, applications exceeded 1,000, marking an increase of 21% over the previous year and 53% over two years ago.’

In the photo: Prof. Alessandro Baraldi with the three winners present at the award ceremony

For the first time, direct evidence of the use of psychotropic substances in ancient Ptolemaic Egyptian rituals has been uncovered: researchers have uncovered details invisible to the naked eye inside a ritual vessel dating back over 2,000 years. 

The study, co-ordinated by Enrico Greco, Professor of Chemistry of the Environment and Cultural Heritage at the University of Trieste, with the collaboration of the Tampa Museum of Art and the University of South Florida, the University of Milan and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, was published in the journal Scientific Reports (Nature Group) and supported by the European Research Infrastructure Consortium CERIC-ERIC.   

Based on direct scientific evidence, the study represents the first documented example of the intentional use of psychedelics in Egyptian rituals to induce dreamlike visions, meditative states and communication with the divine, and demonstrates the ancient Egyptians' sophisticated knowledge of natural resources and their effects on the human mind. Although hypotheses based on iconography and texts have been advanced in the past, this research provides concrete physical evidence. The findings also link these practices to wider Mediterranean and Near Eastern traditions, suggesting cultural exchanges that influenced the ritual and medical knowledge of ancient civilisations.

Enrico Greco, Professor of Chemistry of the Environment and Cultural Heritage at the University of Trieste and coordinator of the study, emphasises: ‘This discovery was only possible thanks to a highly multidisciplinary approach: by combining state-of-the-art scientific techniques with cultural, linguistic and historical analysis, we obtained information that traditional archaeology alone could not have provided. This underlines the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in solving the mysteries of antiquity.’

The research was carried out using advanced scientific techniques: proteomics, metabolomics, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy coupled to synchrotron light (SR µ-FTIR) and metabarcoding of plant DNA. Chiaramaria Stani, CERIC-ERIC researcher at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste's SISSI unit, emphasises: ‘These analyses made it possible to identify the ceremonial content of the vase, although the residual traces were minimal, but well preserved in the porosity of the pottery.’  

I The vase is decorated with the head of the Egyptian god Bes, a grotesque but benevolent deity often used as a protective amulet for the home. Study has also allowed the deity to be attributed a mystical role, linked to altered states of consciousness and divinatory rituals. There are about twelve other vases depicting the god Bes. 

Traces of Peganum harmala (Syrian rue), Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea (blue water lily) and a plant of the genus Cleome, all known for their psychotropic or medicinal properties, were detected in the mixture analysed. These substances were combined with fermented liquids or other ingredients such as honey or royal jelly. Furthermore, analysis revealed the presence of human fluids, such as blood and mucous membrane proteins, suggesting that the jar was used in symbolic and transformative rituals, probably related to female fertility, through the attainment of altered states of consciousness.
 

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Study published in Scientific Reports

Multianalytical investigation reveals psychotropic substances in a ptolemaic Egyptian vase

Davide Tanasi1, Branko F. van Oppen de Ruiter2, Fiorella Florian3, Radmila Pavlovic4,5, Luca Maria Chiesa4, Igor Fochi6, Chiaramaria Stani7, Lisa Vaccari8, Dale Chaput9, Giorgio Samorini10, Alberto Pallavicini3, Sabrina Semeraro11, Anastasia Serena Gaetano11, Sabina Licen11, Pierluigi Barbieri11 & Enrico Greco11

1. Department of History, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, 33620, US
2. Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL, 33602, US
3. Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Licio Giorgieri 5, Trieste, 34127, Italy
4. Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, via dell’Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy
5. ProMeFa, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via dell’Olgettina 60, Milan, 20132, Italy
6. Thermo Fisher Scientific S.p.A., Rodano, Milan, 20090, Italy
7. CERIC-ERIC, S. S. 14 - km 163,5 in AREA Science Park, Basovizza, Trieste, 34149, Italy
8. Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., S.S. 14 - km 163,5 in AREA Science Park, Basovizza, Trieste, 34149, Italy
9. Department Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
10. Independent Researcher, Bologna, Italy
11. Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, via Licio Giorgieri 1, Trieste, 34127, Italy

The MODERN project ('Advanced SeisMic InterferOmetry MethoDs and TechnologiEs for EngineeRiNg Seismology') has officially started. Funded by the Italian Fund for Applied Sciences (FISA), the project is led by Professor Stefano Parolai from the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Geosciences (MIGE) at the University of Trieste.

MODERN aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application in the field of seismic interferometry, developing innovative tools and real-time analysis technologies for industry professionals, small and medium-sized enterprises, and the broader industry. Key objectives include enhancing existing approaches, with a particular focus on real-time earthquake impact assessment and the monitoring of buildings and infrastructures, as well as designing ad hoc devices for more accessible and practical solutions.

The project brings together a network of distinguished partners, including the University of Catania, the University of Naples Federico II, the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS), the National Research Council (CNR-IMAA), and the companies Ad.eL s.r.l. and TME s.r.l.