news 2023

Skin blemishes are a problem many people are familiar with. Cold plasma can be a remedy, as shown by studies at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. A Worldfactory start-up is already getting off the ground, too. Cold plasma has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. This is shown by studies conducted by the Chair of Applied Electrodynamics and Plasma Technology at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.

Eight scientists from the University of Freiburg are among the "Highly Cited Researchers" for 2023. A survey by Clarivate Analytics reveals that they are among the most-frequently cited authors worldwide in their fields of research over the past decade. With nine entries - one scientist is recognised for work in two areas - the University of Freiburg holds fifth place among German universities alongside Bonn and Düsseldorf.

Stanley Milgram's groundbreaking "Six Degrees of Separation" experiment demonstrated the surprisingly close connections between us humans back in the 1960s. Now the research team led by Professor Matthias Mann at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany, has shown that the proteins in our cells are equally well connected.

Scientists also recover more than 2,000 seal impressions in the ancient city of Doliche Archaeologists from the Asia Minor Research Center have uncovered the city archives in the ancient city of Doliche in south-eastern Turkey and recovered more than 2,000 seal impressions used to seal documents. The team led by Michael Blömer and Engelbert Winter from the University of Münster thus made a significant discovery: although there were archives for storing contracts in every city, for example, only a handful of archive buildings from the Roman Empire have been identified to date.

GyroTrainer with artificial intelligence Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in cooperation with partner companies have developed a device to provide back muscle training adapted to users' individual fitness levels. With the GyroTrainer, back strengthening exercises are adapted to the strength and ability of the individual user.

The discovery of the phantom touch illusion provides insights into human perception and opens up new perspectives for interaction with virtual reality technology. Virtual reality (VR) is not only a technology for games and entertainment, but also has potential in science and medicine. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have now gained new insights into human perception with the help of VR.

Research on the electrification of agricultural machinery The special requirements placed on trucks and agricultural machinery often make it difficult for engineers to bring them into the electric age. At the Agritechnica agricultural machinery fair researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are now showing what a modular development kit for electric tractors can look like.

Novels and poems often contain descriptions of plants or animals - sometimes more, sometimes less detailed. The extent to which flora and fauna feature in a literary work also depends on who wrote it and under what circumstances. For example, female authors tend to use more species names when they write.

Research for the electrification of agricultural machinery Due to their special performance requirements, trucks and agricultural machinery still do not make it easy for engineers to bring them into the electric age. Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are now demonstrating what a development kit for electric tractors could look like at the Agritechnica agricultural trade fair.

In Germany, 14,000 blood donations are needed every day for operations, accident victims or immunocompromised patients. But how can people be motivated to donate blood? A new study shows how blood donation services can inform donors by text message about the use of their donation - with a positive effect.

A sophisticated device uses radio waves to determine whether states are really complying with nuclear weapons treaties When it comes to nuclear weapons, no state really wants to leave anything to chance. A small movement in nuclear weapons stocks can have a major impact. It is therefore important to monitor nuclear weapons treaties effectively and closely.

Researchers at the University of Bonn take a look behind the scenes of machine learning in drug research Artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise. Until now, AI applications generally have "black box" character: How AI arrives at its results remains hidden. Jürgen Bajorath, a cheminformatics scientist at the University of Bonn, and his team have developed a method that reveals how certain AI applications work in pharmaceutical research.

Fasting interventions, which involve alternating periods of fasting and refeeding, are generally thought to improve health. But these interventions don't work as well in old animals. The question is: Why? By studying the short-lived killifish, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne have shown that older fish deviate from a youthful fasting and refeeding cycle, and instead enter a state of perpetual fasting, even when ingesting food.

For years, researchers have been working to synthetically recreate the genome, or more precisely, the chromosomes of brewer's yeast. Now it has been possible to combine all transfer RNA genes in an artificial chromosome. The result sets a milestone in the development of the first synthetic eukaryotic genome and opens up new avenues for basic research.

How do men and women regulate their emotions under stress? A new study in cognitive psychology that makes use of the socially evaluated cold-pressor test has answered this question. The response to stress varies from person to person. "We're trying to find out which factors may account for these different susceptibilities," explains Dr. Katja Langer, a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Cognitive Psychology.

For many people, science has become a question of faith - the acceptance of research results increasingly depends on whether they fit in with their own world view. This poses new challenges for science communication. Simply preparing content in an appealing and accessible way for the public in order to close gaps in knowledge and present new innovations is no longer enough.

Heidelberg Earth scientists lead research ship METEOR's voyage to the eastern Mediterranean How did climatic and environmental change impact early eastern Mediterranean cultures, and what were the consequences of human settlement on land and marine ecosystems? In order to collect research data to answer these questions, the German research ship METEOR - under the guidance of Earth scientists from Heidelberg University - is embarking on a multi-week expedition to the Aegean and Ionian seas.

In a large-scale research project, the Technische Universität Ilmenau is developing a method for robotic surgery that will enable much more effective treatment of malignant cancerous tumors. With a combination of highly sensitive sensor technology, modern imaging and artificial intelligence, the surgeon can perform the operation more precisely and with less tissue damage than ever before - significantly improving the patient's chances of recovery.

Bad-tempered or laudatory superiors, employees who drink too much alcohol and misbehave, a stiff atmosphere, forced contemplation or a party in a "pub in the middle of nowhere" - there are many factors that can turn the annual Christmas party at work into a disaster. There are a few basic rules that can turn the end of the year with colleagues into an unforgettable joyful event.

Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum have published the first systematic review of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR). Millions of people watch content creators on YouTube and social media platforms such as TikTok as they whisper soothing words, perform simulated role plays such as a visit to the hairdresser, or interact with certain objects such as the keyboard of a computer in a specific rhythm.