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International meta-analysis synthesises data from 79 studies Social comparisons are increasingly employed as an intervention strategy and have proven effective in changing one's behaviour, also with regard to adopting a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. This is one of the key findings of an international meta-study conducted by a team in the Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Health Psychology research group at the University of Münster, which evaluated data from 79 studies from various behavioural sciences.

Chemists at the University of Münster have developed a method for the hydroamidation of double bonds Nitrogen atoms are essential building blocks in many important chemical structures. Nitrogen-containing organic molecules are indispensable for various applications in such fields as medicine, agriculture and materials science.

New measurements from a large-scale experiment at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) published in the journal Science / Christian Weinheimer from the Institute for Nuclear Physics involved Neutrinos are among the most enigmatic particles in the universe. They are all'around us and yet they rarely interact with matter.

Long-standing problem solved: Researchers discover that misfolding prevents efficient utilisation of so-called split inteins as 'protein glue' Proteins are the building blocks of life. They consist of folded peptide chains, which in turn are made up of a series of amino acids. From stabilising cell structure to catalysing chemical reactions, proteins have many functions.

Team led by plant physiologists Iris Finkemeier and Guillaume Née at the University of Münster discovers molecular basis for balance between seed dormancy and stress resistance To germinate or not to germinate? With plants, the right time to start their life cycle determines their chances of growth.

Japanese-German research team synthesises thiophene-fused nanobelts / Analysis reveals structure and behaviour of the molecules In the search for useful materials, it is worth taking a closer look at the smallest structures: materials in the nanoscale sometimes have unique properties, for example in terms of electrical conductivity.

Physicists analyse glass formation for photonic switches At the Institute of Materials Physics at the University of Münster, researchers investigate materials that can transform their internal structure very rapidly, thereby significantly changing their optical properties. This behaviour is useful, for example, when processing information using photonic waveguides.

Based on their observations, the biologists proposed a model detailing the mechanisms of systemic immune signalling in plants: Triggered by a pathogen, initially a third kinase inside the infected cell triggers the generation of extracellular reactive oxygen species in the cell, which would then diffuse to the surface of neighbouring cells.

Study Reveals for the First Time That Membrane Tension Regulates Cellular Repair One moment of carelessness and bang - you have cut your finger. It bleeds, but after a while the wound heals by itself. Every day, individual cells in our body also suffer "wounds" in their protective layer, the cell membrane, and have to repair them again.

Space mission "BepiColombo" delivers data from the innermost planet in our solar system for the first time On December 1, 2024, the BepiColombo mission flew past Mercury for the fifth time and has now become the first spacecraft to observe the surface in the mid-infrared using the MERTIS ("Mercury Radiometer and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer") infrared spectrometer.

Scientist from the Cluster of Excellence Mathematics Münster proves conjecture from physics String theory aims to explain all fundamental forces and particles in the universe - essentially, how the world operates on the smallest scales. Though it has not yet been experimentally verified, work in string theory has already led to significant advancements in mathematics and theoretical physics.

New study on the toxicity of hydrocarbons The international maritime shipping industry contributes to air pollution, particularly in coastal areas and port cities. The 'International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships' regulates, among other things, air pollution from shipping and sets limits for the sulphur content in fuels.

Motion illusion overrides compensatory mechanism for eye movements The visual perception of optical stimuli demands high performance from the brain. Every second, the eyes absorb more than ten million pieces of information and transmit them to the brain via thousands of nerve fibres. This leads us to perceive the world as stable, even though we are constantly moving our eyes.

A team of biologists from the University of Münster has investigated whether and how the immune system can influence the behaviour of sticklebacks It's a well-known fact that if you don't get enough sleep, you're more likely to get sick. And it has also been observed that people sleep differently when they're infected.

Research team at the University of Münster synthesizes three-dimensional ring structures as a possible alternative to biologically active flat rings Their shape is reminiscent of a cage, and this three-dimensional structure makes them significantly more stable than related flat molecules. Ring-shaped "cage molecules" are therefore a possible alternative to conventional molecular rings from the group of aromatic compounds and are of interest for drug development.

Researchers analyse binding of nucleons in atomic nuclei at the quark-gluon level for the first time / Bridge from nuclear to particle physics In particle physics, quarks are known as the building blocks of nucleons - protons and neutrons - as well as their binding through the strong nuclear force mediated by gluons.

Joint discovery by an Armenian-German team in the ancient city of Artaxata Archaeologists from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the University of Münster have discovered the remains of a previously unknown early Christian church in the ancient city of Artaxata. The find consists of an octagonal building with cruciform extensions.

Thanks to these results, researchers now better understand how α-latrotoxin works. "The toxin mimics the function of the calcium channels of the presynaptic membrane in a highly complex way," explains Christos Gatsogiannis.

The chemical composition triggers upwelling of mantle currents from Earth's interior / Findings published in "Nature Geoscience" journal Researchers around the world investigate the dynamic processes in Earth's deep interior, hundreds to thousands of kilometers below the surface. These processes drive plate movements and volcanism but still keep many secrets.

Mast cells trap and use living neutrophils during allergic reactions Known for their role in allergic reactions, mast cells have long been recognised as key players in our immune system. When they encounter allergens, they release chemicals that trigger typical allergy symptoms such as tissue swelling and inflammation.