Research at Sussex

Wednesday 10 September 2025

Welcome back to Research at Sussex, a fortnightly round-up of the latest research news, insights and discoveries at the University of Sussex.

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In this edition:

• Sussex breakthrough helps solve a 30-year DNA puzzle

• What do bare shelves reveal about our brains?

• Which rare species did our hidden cameras uncover in Ecuador?

• How Poland’s president could block liberal reforms

New DNA discovery could lead to

breakthrough in understanding disease

Professor Ulrich Rass, smiling at the camera, wearing a blue jumper and jacket.

Since its discovery 30 years ago, scientists have puzzled over why the enzyme DNA2 is essential in human cells and how its functions relate to disease.

Researchers at Sussex’s Genome Damage and Stability Centre (GDSC) have now provided strong evidence that DNA2 acts as a “gatekeeper” when DNA replication – the process of copying our genetic code – gets stuck.

Their paper, published in Nature, shows that without DNA2, cells turn to a backup system.

That system relies on recombination, a process best known for enhancing diversity by shuffling genetic material. While helpful in small doses, too much recombination creates harmful DNA structures that can cause cells to deteriorate and lead to growth impairment.

Co-author Professor Ulrich Rass said: “This is a breakthrough because the findings open a new perspective on the interplay of DNA replication and DNA recombination.

“It provides a first consistent explanation for the underlying molecular pathology and reveals how patient mutations in DNA2 result in dwarfism.

“It also helps explain why many cancers overexpress DNA2: it protects tumour cells from the high levels of stress they face when copying DNA.”

The GDSC team used cutting-edge CRISPR technology and advanced microscopy to reveal DNA2’s true role. Their discovery opens new possibilities for therapies – from understanding genetic disorders to exploring whether blocking DNA2 could make cancer cells more vulnerable.

Why do empty supermarket shelves make us anxious?

A woman with long blonde hair stands in front of empty supermarket shelves with a sign reading “Out of stock,” holding the handle of a shopping trolley.

Have you ever noticed an empty supermarket shelf and felt uneasy, even if you weren’t planning to buy what was missing? Research led by Dr Dominik Piehlmaier and former MSc Marketing and Consumer Psychology student, Ursula Davila, at the University of Sussex Business School shows you’re not alone.

The study explored how consumers react emotionally to “stockouts”, moments when products are unavailable, and shelves are bare.

The researchers found that just seeing empty shelves can trigger anxiety, regardless of whether shoppers wanted the product in question. As Dr Piehlmaier explains: “Shoppers’ brains may still interpret the empty space as a warning sign.”

This response appears to be a learned association. During recent shocks, such as COVID and Brexit, shoppers repeatedly encountered images of scarcity, which became tied to feelings of stress. For UK consumers, seeing an empty shelf increased their anxiety levels by around 11%.

Dr Piehlmaier says the findings suggest practical changes could ease stress for shoppers: supermarkets could cover empty shelves with images of fully stocked ones, helping to create a calmer shopping environment. The research highlights how even small tweaks to our surroundings can improve everyday wellbeing.

Read the full article in The Conversation.

Wild encounters in Ecuador

Video thumbnail showing a white play button in the centre. Behind it, Professor Fiona Mathews stands in front of a wall of developed wildlife photographs.

What do you get when you mix steep Ecuadorian forest slopes, hidden cameras, and a determined team of researchers? Rare footage of some of the country’s most elusive wildlife, from pumas to the Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin.

Professor Fiona Mathews uncovered a hidden world using camera traps.

“We’re trying to better understand the species that live here and the pressures they face,” said Professor Mathews. “Some are incredibly rare and hard to observe directly. The footage gives us an invaluable glimpse into their world.”

Watch this YouTube Short to see camera trap footage from Professor Mathews’s research.

Poland’s presidential power play:

Karol Nawrocki and the limits of liberal governance

Professor Aleks Szczerbiak smiling at the camera, wearing glasses, a dark blue shirt, and a jacket.

By Aleks Szczerbiak

Karol Nawrocki’s recent election as President of Poland offers a compelling case study in how a constitutionally limited head of state can still wield significant political influence – especially when the government is of a different political persuasion.

In December 2023, Donald Tusk’s liberal-centrist Civic Platform (PO) formed a coalition government, ending eight years of rule by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS).

Nawrocki, a historian and formally independent candidate openly supported by PiS, was sworn in this August for a five-year term.

Although the Polish Constitution assigns day-to-day governance to the government, the president is far from a figurehead. Nawrocki holds key constitutional powers, most notably a legislative veto. Crucially, the Tusk administration lacks the three-fifths parliamentary majority needed to override it. This could severely hinder its ability to deliver on major election pledges – such as reversing PiS’s judicial reforms, liberalising abortion laws, and recognising same-sex civil partnerships.

Even more significantly, Nawrocki’s democratic mandate – secured in a record turnout – gives him political authority unmatched by any other Polish figure. This allows him to shape public debate and shift political dynamics, particularly in areas like international security, where the president is commander-in-chief and approves ambassadorial appointments.

Last week, Nawrocki met with US President Donald Trump, a close ideological ally who endorsed his campaign. The meeting secured a pledge for continued US troop deployment in Poland, signalling Nawrocki’s intent to recalibrate Poland’s transatlantic relations.

What unfolds over the next two years will be a fascinating constitutional experiment. Nawrocki’s presidency may test the limits of Poland’s liberal government – and redefine the role of the head of state in a modern European democracy.

Professor Aleks Szczerbiak is Head of Department and Professor of Politics at the University of Sussex. He writes a blog on Polish politics, and his latest book, Political Parties and Religion in Post-Communist Poland, will be published by Routledge in November 2025.

Sussex in the media

Dr Andres Guadamuz commented on AI company Anthropic’s billion-dollar copyright case, telling The Independent the settlement was inevitable to avoid “catastrophic liability”.

Scientific American reported on research showing that humans and other primates share an innate drive to ‘people-watch’. Professor Gillian Forrester explains that this tendency plays an evolutionary role in survival and reputation.

Immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi shared expert advice with The Times on daily habits that can strengthen the immune system, such as daylight exposure, sleep routines and nutrition.

Finally, The Conversation and other international outlets featured an article by Dr Alex Chepstow-Lusty, drawing on his research into ancient Incan techniques – from terracing to llamas and agroforestry – to inform modern strategies for protecting the Andes from climate change.

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