news 2020

Psychologists study relationships between humans and machines A world without robots is now almost inconceivable. Not only do they take on important tasks in production processes, they are also increasingly being used in the service sector. For example, machines created to resemble humans - known as androids - are helping to care for elderly people.

Mutations in plasma cells play a key role in light chain amyloidosis Bone marrow plasma cells produce antibodies. These comprise two long and two short protein chains. The pathological proliferation of plasma cells can lead to an overproduction of the short chains. These associate to fibrils and deposit in organs.

Mathematicians show that sound can be used to locate flat surfaces One drone, four microphones and a loudspeaker: nothing more is needed to determine the position of walls and other flat surfaces within a room. This has been mathematically proved by Prof. Gregor Kemper of the Technical University of Munich and Prof. Mireille Boutin of Purdue University in Indiana, USA.

Neurobiologists studied how brain development influences behavioral differences No 051/2020 from Mar 06, 2020 Neurobiologists at Freie Universität Berlin led by Bassem Hassan, Einstein BIH Visiting Fellow, in collaboration with the group led by Robin Hiesinger at the Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy at Freie Universität Berlin, described in a study published in Science why fruit flies display individual behavioral differences despite having the same genotype and being reared in identical environmental conditions.

Computer model shows neuronal activation patterns in the inner ear Research towards improved cochlear implants Cochlear implants restore hearing in deaf people to an amazingly high level. In order to optimize such implants, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a computer model which predicts the neuronal activation patterns that the implant creates in the auditory nerve fibers.

In the quest to harness quantum mechanics for new kinds of materials and new kinds of technologies, physicists are turning to the study of 'quantum materials' where the effects of quantum mechanics give rise to new forms of collective behavior. Normal metals, such as copper, gold or aluminum are well understood in terms of the quantum mechanics of individual electrons, and their resistivity depends linearly on temperature due to scattering of electrons by the vibrations of the lattice of atoms.

University of Jena psychologists study longevity of couples' relationships It has probably never been easier to find a partner who is compatible with you - at least in theory. Internet dating platforms feed algorithms with information about those seeking a relationship in order to find the best match for them.

Mineralogists from Jena and Japan make a surprising discovery on soil samples of the asteroid "Itokawa". Mineralogists from Jena and Japan discover a previously unknown phenomenon in soil samples from the asteroid 'Itokawa': the surface of the celestial body is covered with tiny hair-shaped iron crystals.

Neutrons show the details of the drying process during freeze drying Freeze drying has provided us with tasty dried fruits in muesli, long-life yoghurt cultures and many other important products. For the first time, using neutron beams from the Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) research neutron source, a team of scientists has now been able to show us the drying process in detail.

Biodiversity increases the efficiency of energy use in grasslands Plants obtain their energy from the sun. Other beings rely on eating to survive. Yet how does the energy flow inside ecosystems function and are there differences between ecosystems with many species in comparison to those with few species' Researchers have now examined these questions using a holistic approach by evaluating data gathered through a large-scale biodiversity experiment.

What do we know about the topic of climate change and how great is our trust in our own knowledge? An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Heidelberg University has explored this question in a representative study involving around 500 participants. It turned out that those interviewed mainly were uncertain of their own level of knowledge when confronted with false statements.

How do cells disentangle clumped, and hence non-functional, proteins? A Dutch-German team including researchers from Heidelberg University explored this question. The researchers describe a molecular machine which pulls on exposed loops of the protein chains and extracts them from the protein aggregate.

The reproducibility of research results is one of the fundamental quality criteria in science. The demand for transparency of the scientific knowledge process aims to ensure the repeatability of scientific studies or experiments. The project "Opening Reproducible Research" (o2r) of the Institute for Geoinformatics of the University of Münster and the University and State Library of Münster deals with this topic.

Planetologists from Münster University show that the meteorite contains minerals that formed under the presence of water on small planetesimals in the early history of our solar system. A fireball in the sky, accompanied by a bang, amazed hundreds of eyewitnesses in northern Germany in mid-September last year.

A new study at Freie Universität Berlin shows how body temperature regulates certain enzymes and biological processes No 033/2020 from Feb 13, 2020 Researchers from Freie Universität Berlin's Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry have shown that the activity of a class of enzymes is directly controlled by subtle changes in body temperature.

Molecular switch in bone marrow stem cells helps research into inflammatory processes in the brain Life Macrophages are part of the innate immune system and essential for brain development and function. Using a novel method, scientists from Jena University Hospital, the University of Bonn and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York (USA) succeeded in visualizing macrophages that were formed in the bone marrow.

Transport proteins can switch between microtubule network and actin network Many amphibians and fish are able to change their color in order to better adapt to their environment. Munich-based scientists have now investigated the molecular mechanisms in the cytoskeleton necessary for this and revealed potential evolutionary paths.

The development of a quantum computer that can solve problems, which classical computers can only solve with great effort or not at all - this is the goal currently being pursued by an ever-growing number of research teams worldwide. The reason: Quantum effects, which originate from the world of the smallest particles and structures, enable many new technological applications.

While viruses and bacteria regularly manage to infect the human organism, fungi only very rarely succeed. The reason for this is that the human immune system can recognize them very easily because their cells are surrounded by a solid cell wall of chitin and other complex sugars. Chitin is, so to speak, the alarm signal for our immune system, to which it reacts with a whole arsenal of defensive weapons.

A bumble bee's diet affects survival and reproductive capabilities Are bees dying of malnourishment? Professor Sara Diana Leonhardt examines the interactions between plants and insects with her work group at the TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan. Using behavioral experiments, her team analyzes how bumble bees evaluate the quality of food sources and how foods of various qualities affect their well-being.