… promotes functional nerve regeneration. Researchers from the University of Cologne have found a new use for Cnicin, a substance produced in blessed thistle. Clinical studies are being planned / publication in ‘Phytomedicine’. Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus) is a plant in the family Asteraceae and also grows in our climate. For centuries, it has been used as a medicinal herb as an extract or tea, e.g. to aid the digestive system. Researchers at the Center for Pharmacology of University Hospital…
Research team develops new idea to improve the properties of ultra-thin materials. Magnetic two-dimensional materials consisting of one or a few atomic layers have only recently become known and promise interesting applications, for example for the electronics of the future. So far, however, it has not been possible to control the magnetic states of these materials well enough. A German-American research team led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and Dresden University of Technology (TUD) is now presenting in the journal…
Researchers have uncovered a remarkable metal alloy that won’t crack at extreme temperatures due to kinking, or bending, of crystals in the alloy at the atomic level. A metal alloy composed of niobium, tantalum, titanium, and hafnium has shocked materials scientists with its impressive strength and toughness at both extremely hot and cold temperatures, a combination of properties that seemed so far to be nearly impossible to achieve. In this context, strength is defined as how much force a material…
Quantum physics needs high-precision sensing techniques to delve deeper into the microscopic properties of materials. From the analog quantum processors that have emerged recently, the so-called quantum-gas microscopes have proven to be powerful tools for understanding quantum systems at the atomic level. These devices produce images of quantum gases with very high resolution: they allow individual atoms to be detected. Now, ICFO researchers (Barcelona, Spain) Sandra Buob, Jonatan Höschele, Dr. Vasiliy Makhalov and Dr. Antonio Rubio-Abadal, led by ICREA Professor…
Scientists have found evidence of an elusive, glassy phase of matter that emerges when a crystal’s perfect internal pattern is disrupted. X-ray technology and machine learning converge to shed light on the nature of complex materials. A dish made of crystal and a dish made of glass might look similar from the outside, but internally, their structures differ significantly. Crystals consist of perfectly ordered, repeating patterns of atoms, while glasses display a more disordered, fluid-like structure. For decades, scientists have…
HKU ecologists revolutionize ecosystem monitoring with novel field-satellite integration. An international team of researchers, led by Professor Jin WU from the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), has made a promising advancement in mapping plant functional traits from space using time-series satellite data. The study, published in Remote Sensing of Environment, showcases the innovative combination of the Sentinel-2 satellite mission and its dynamic time-series capabilities. This innovative approach not only unlocks a deeper understanding of essential…
…enable an increase in the performance of electric drives. Overheating components significantly limit the performance of drivetrains in electric vehicles. Inverters in particular are subject to a high thermal load, which is why they have to be actively cooled. In the Dauerpower project, Fraunhofer IZM is working with project partners from the automotive industry to develop an electric inverter that can work at a lower operating temperature thanks to optimized cooling management, resulting in a lower power loss. In addition…
Joining forces for cancer research: TRON and GSI/FAIR study combination of heavy ion therapy and mRNA vaccine. It could be a new, promising combination of two therapeutic approaches and a key to better combating advanced-stage cancer. Two strong partners have joined forces to explore this possibility: The biopharmaceutical and translational research institute TRON in Mainz with its highly specialized oncology research and the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt with its worldwide unique accelerator facilities and the cancer therapy with…
An international team at the world’s largest X-ray laser European XFEL at Schenefeld near Hamburg has scrutinised the properties of an important nanogel that is often used in medicine to release drugs in a targeted and controlled manner at the desired location in a patient’s body. The team now published the results in the journal Science Advances. An international team led by Felix Lehmkühler from Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY in Hamburg has investigated the temperature induced swelling and collapsing of the…
Adaptation as a strategy for survival: A new study from Jena University shows how microorganisms deal with environmental changes. Environmental changes influence microbial communities, which are crucial for the health of the earth and humans. For instance, altered eating habits with heavily processed foods can lead to disrupted gut flora, or intensive agricultural practices can disturb the carbon cycle in the soil, respectively. A research team from the Cluster of Excellence “Balance of the Microverse” at Friedrich Schiller University Jena…
Green hydrogen is one of the energy sources of the future. In order to produce it in large quantities, store it and convert it back into electrical energy, however, the industry needs efficient and scalable production processes and systems for the required electrolysers and fuel cells. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in Aachen are focusing on both conventional discrete and continuous production processes using roll-to-roll systems (R2R). At the Hannover Messe from April 22 to 26,…
ZMT researcher observes the state of reefs in the eastern tropical Pacific. According to scientists from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), the world’s coral reefs are currently experiencing another global coral bleaching event. Events like this used to be infrequent, but this is now the second of this magnitude in the last 10 years and the fourth since 1982. Dr Sonia Bejarano from the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research…
…are set to revolutionise the construction world. Using bio-based and bio-degradable, recyclable insulation textiles to sustainably insulate heat and reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint – the Aachen-based start-up SA-Dynamics has developed a solution for this dream of many building owners together with industrial partners. SA-Dynamics won the second Innovation Award in the “New Technologies on Sustainability & Recycling” cate-gory at the leading textile trade fairs Techtextil https://techtextil.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en.html and Texprocess https://www.expobeds.com/event/texprocess for this development. The bio-based recyclable insulation textiles…
On April 18, 2024, a large-scale experiment to detect dark matter will be inaugurated in Italy. COSINUS is an international research project in which a team from the Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP) is also involved. The nature of dark matter is still one of the great questions of modern physics. According to current knowledge, invisible dark matter accounts for 85 percent of the total mass in the universe. The COSINUS* experiment goes into operation today at the Italian…
… can now be measured well. Reseachers of Delft University of Technology demonstrated measuring performance properties of ultrathin silicon membranes. Making ever smaller and more powerful chips requires new ultrathin materials: 2D materials that are only 1 atom thick, or even just a couple of atoms. Think about graphene or ultra-thin silicon membrane for instance. Scientists at TU Delft have taken an important step in application of these materials: they can now measure important thermal properties of ultrathin silicon membranes. A…
… to support sustainable development by addressing climate, water, and energy goals holistically. A new study published this week in Nature Energy raises the potential for floating solar photovoltaics (FPV) to supplant planned hydropower in meeting Africa’s energy goals. The study, published in Nature Energy, is among the first to explore the FPV at the continental scale, finding that FPV installed at existing major reservoirs could produce 20-100% of the electricity expected from Africa’s planned hydropower dams. Using a state-of-the-art…
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