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Life Sciences - Chemistry - 17.05.2022

How faulty mRNA is detected and destroyed
Two similar proteins can stand in for each other in the quality control mechanism of defective mRNA. This has redefined the distribution of protein tasks / publication in 'The EMBO Journal'. Scientists led by Professor Dr Niels Gehring at the Institute for Genetics at the University of Cologne have investigated two similar proteins, UPF3A and UPF3B, which are involved in the quality control mechanism 'nonsense-mediated mRNA decay' (NMD).

Life Sciences - Chemistry - 29.04.2022

Love is in the air
More blood flow to the genitals, an increased pulse and dilated pupils: These physical characteristics reveal that a person is sexually aroused. But lust can also be detected in the breath, as a study of an international research team has now shown. According to the study, a characteristic signature of volatile molecules is found in the breath of sexually aroused people.

Chemistry - Life Sciences - 22.04.2022

How equal charges in enzymes control biochemical reactions
Research team led by Göttingen University describes fundamental principle of enzyme catalysis It is well known in physics and chemistry that equal charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract. It was long assumed that this principle also applies when enzymes - the biological catalysts in all living organisms - form or break chemical bonds.

Chemistry - Computer Science - 06.04.2022

Artificial Intelligence identifies small molecules
A bioinformatics research team from Friedrich Schiller University Jena has won the 2022 Thuringian Research Prize for applied research, Thuringia's Science Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee announced today (06 April) in a video presentation. The prize of 12,500 euros, awarded for the development of machine learning methods for identifying small molecules, went to the team comprising Prof. Sebastian Böcker, Dr Kai Dührkop, Dr Markus Fleischauer, Dr Marcus Ludwig and Martin Hoffmann.

Life Sciences - Chemistry - 05.04.2022

Fitness needs the right timing
Life on Earth runs in 24-hour cycles. From tiny bacteria to human beings, organisms adapt to alterations of day and night.

Physics - Chemistry - 30.03.2022

Less waste from lower enriched Uranium targets
New separation process for key radiodiagnostic agent reduces radioactive waste Nuclear medicine uses technetium-99m among other things for tumor diagnostics. With over 30 million applications worldwide each year, it is the most widely used radioisotope. The precursor material, molybdenum-99, is mainly produced in research reactors.

Materials Science - Chemistry - 24.03.2022

MEET Team presents Toolbox for Analysis of End-of-Life-Batteries
Compared to laboratory cells or aged but still intact commercial cells, shredded battery materials represent an even more complex sample. Active materials of both electrodes, inactive materials and electrolyte residues cannot be easily analysed separately.

Chemistry - 22.03.2022

Catalytic hydrogen generation - without expensive precious metals
A research team from Friedrich Schiller University Jena has developed a molecular photosystem inspired by nature that generates hydrogen under visible light irradiation. In contrast to other existing systems of this type, it functions without the use of precious or heavy metals.

Chemistry - Physics - 21.03.2022

Chemists discover new reactivity of strained molecules
In synthetic organic chemistry, so-called cycloadditions are a particularly important class of reactions. With this type of reaction, ring-shaped molecules can be constructed simply and efficiently by joining ("adding") two compounds that each contain double bonds. A team led by Frank Glorius from the University of Münster has now succeeded in performing an unconventional cycloaddition in which a carbon-carbon double bond reacts with a carbon-carbon single bond.

Chemistry - Computer Science - 17.03.2022

With machine learning to new supramolecular materials
New supramolecular materials can be used in energy production and medical devices. The team of the TUM Innovation Network ARTEMIS aims to identify the best supramolecular materials for use with the help of machine learning. A team of scientists at the TUM Innovation Network ARTEMIS (Artificial Intelligence Powered Multifunctional Material Design), named after the Greek goddess of hunting, are researching supramolecular materials.

Physics - Chemistry - 16.03.2022

Complex pathways influence time delay in ionization of molecules
Study shows how the mechanism of photoionization can be used to gain insights into complex molecular potentials How can researchers use the mechanism of photoionization to gain insight into complex molecular potential? This question has now been answered by a team led by Giuseppe Sansone from the Institute of Physics at the University of Freiburg.

Life Sciences - Chemistry - 09.03.2022

Universal Mechanism of Methane Formation Discovered
Scientists from Heidelberg and Marburg prove that the greenhouse gas is formed chemically in the cells of all organisms The formation of the greenhouse gas methane is based on a universal mechanism. Scientists at Heidelberg University and the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg have made this discovery.

Life Sciences - Chemistry - 08.03.2022

Mushroom genus Cortinarius follows its own metabolic pathway
What proves to be advantageous will be preserved in the long term. Put in very simple terms, this is the principle of evolution whereby organisms adapt to an environment in the best possible way. These adaptation processes often result in similar or the same traits in different groups of organisms, if their environment requires it.

Chemistry - Life Sciences - 03.03.2022

New method to produce chemically modified mRNA developed
In a recent study, the research group at the University of Cologne's Institute of Organic Chemistry led by Professor Dr Stephanie Kath-Schorr describes a novel method for the enzymatic production of synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA). While natural base modifications of mRNA are already being used - for example by BioNTech/Pfizer for the production of their coronavirus vaccine - this newly developed mRNA additionally contains site-specifically introduced, non-natural nucleotides.

Chemistry - Physics - 10.02.2022

How life came to Earth
Researchers from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy have discovered a new clue in the search for the origin of life by showing that peptides can form on dust under conditions such as those prevailing in outer space. These molecules, which are one of the basic building blocks of all life, may therefore not have originated on our planet at all, but possibly in cosmic molecular clouds.

Life Sciences - Chemistry - 10.02.2022

Protection from the Molecular Shredder
Heidelberg plant researchers discover cellular mechanism that extends the life of proteins Plants are tied to one location and need to adjust to their environment, including adverse conditions. Adaptive responses include synthesising new proteins and breaking down those that are no longer needed. For this task, plants use a considerable amount of energy.

Chemistry - Materials Science - 07.02.2022

Columns Designed from Nanographenes
Several layers of nanographenes stacked on top of each other: such functional elements could one day be used in solar cells. Würzburg chemists have paved the way for this. Graphene is a carbon material that forms extremely thin layers. Because of its unusual properties, it is interesting for many technical applications.

Life Sciences - Chemistry - 28.01.2022

Artificial Muscles Made of Proteins
A Freiburg research team has developed the first material made of natural proteins that contracts autonomously Dr. Stefan Schiller and Dr. Matthias Huber from the University of Freiburg's liv MatS Cluster of Excellence have succeeded in developing a muscle solely on the basis of natural proteins.

Chemistry - Materials Science - 20.01.2022

Researchers investigate advantages of sulphur-containing cathodes
MEET Battery Research Center of the University of Münster starts a new research project in 2022: In the joint project -AReLiS-2-, lithium-sulfur batteries (LSB) and thus a potential successor to today's lithium ion batteries are being investigated. The focus of the research is on sulfur-containing cathodes as well as polymer, solid-state and hybrid electrolytes.

Physics - Chemistry - 19.01.2022

Making Quick Processes Visible : Newsroom : Universität Hamburg
When developing environmentally friendly chemicals or innovative material, you must be able to make exceptionally high-resolution images of processes in molecules and nanoparticles. Tais Gorkhover from Universität Hamburg is researching new image-producing procedures as part of her HIGH-Q project and is now receiving funding from the European Research Council.