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Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena


Bacterial toxin with healing effect

A study by the University of Jena found that a toxic substance from Staphylococcus aureus stimulates immune cells to produce anti-inflammatory messenger substances, reducing inflammation and promoting tissue healing. The researchers also demonstrated that these substances promote tissue regeneration in an animal model.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalCell Reports·DateOct 13, 2020

Water trapped in star dust

A research team from Friedrich Schiller University Jena has proven that dust particles and ice are mixed in the interstellar medium. This finding suggests complex organic molecules may be present on dust particles, which can contribute to planetary formation. The study also reveals a hidden reservoir of oxygen in solid-state water.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalNature Astronomy·DateSep 22, 2020

Plastic can be sustainable

A research project at Friedrich Schiller University Jena aims to develop recyclable plastic materials that can be recycled and reused. The team, led by Prof. Ulrich S. Schubert, plans to study fibre-reinforced materials and nanocomposites with potential applications in aircraft, tennis rackets, and other industries.

Self-healing bone cement

Material scientists at Friedrich Schiller University Jena have developed a calcium phosphate cement with added carbon fibers that can seal cracks and promote self-healing. This intrinsic ability could expand the use of bone implants to include load-bearing areas, improving outcomes for patients with fractures or defects.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 10, 2020

Robots popular with older adults

A study by psychologists at Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena found that older people are more open to robots, particularly those resembling humans. The researchers tested participants with varying levels of autistic traits and found that older individuals with stronger autistic tendencies were more accepting of machines.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·DateMar 12, 2020

We can make predictions about relationships - but is this necessary?

German and Canadian psychologists have developed a predictive model for relationship longevity, identifying key features that indicate a successful or unsuccessful partnership. Couples who start with similar needs and maintain individual independence tend to stay together longest, while those with differing happiness levels are more li...

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalDevelopmental Psychology·DateMar 3, 2020

An iron-clad asteroid

Researchers find tiny iron crystals on asteroid Itokawa's surface, formed by space weathering and the release of iron from troilite minerals. The discovery provides insights into weathering processes on other celestial bodies and helps date asteroids.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 28, 2020

Antibiotics from the sea

A team of scientists has discovered 79 new types of bacteria with potential to produce unique antibiotics. The researchers, led by Christian Jogler, found that these Planctomycetes have complex lifestyles and the ability to produce small molecules like antibiotics.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalNature Microbiology·DateNov 18, 2019

Tracking the HI virus

A European research team has developed a method to track the HI virus's spread between living cells using superresolution STED fluorescence microscopy. The study reveals that the HIV pathogen creates a specific lipid environment for replication, providing a potential target for antiviral drugs.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 2, 2019

Care less with helmet

Researchers found that wearing a bike helmet decreases the 'Frontal Midline Theta Power' in brain activity, indicating reduced cognitive control during risk decision-making. This suggests that wearing a helmet can influence behavior through subtle suggestions on a subconscious level.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalPsychophysiology·DateAug 15, 2019

As hot as the sun's interior

Researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena have successfully created plasma using nanowires and long-wavelength ultrashort pulse lasers. The new method achieves higher temperatures than previously thought possible in a laboratory setting, opening up new avenues for studying plasma and its properties.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalPhysical Review X·DateJun 5, 2019

Size is everything

A new method has been developed to predict the vulnerability of ecosystems, focusing on predators' body mass and prey characteristics. The approach enables researchers to determine habitat structure and stability without comprehensive data on all organisms.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMay 20, 2019

Salamanders chew with their palate

Researchers have discovered that salamanders, like the Italian Crested Newt, chew their prey using their palatal teeth, breaking it up with a rhythmic motion. This unique chewing mechanism is similar to that found in ancient mammals and may date back to the early days of land-based vertebrates.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateMar 22, 2019

Reading risk behavior in the brain

Researchers have successfully measured participants' risk behavior while observing their brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG), revealing a key link between anxiety and decision-making. High anxious participants chose the low-risk option more often, and specific brain activity was associated with heightened cognitive control.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalPsychophysiology·DateJun 20, 2018

Tiny structures -- huge impact

Researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena have successfully created tailored surface structures on curved carbon fibers using laser technology, enabling new applications in composite materials and optical devices. The method allows for precise control over the structure's size and shape, opening up possibilities for improving m...

When proteins shake hands

Researchers from Jena University successfully created protein nanofibres with defined properties by combining two different proteins through a self-assembly process. The hybrid fibres can be used as components in biosensors, drug delivery particles, optical probes, or bone cements.

Ambush in a petri dish

A team of researchers from Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology has made a groundbreaking discovery about the chemical communication between algae and bacteria. The study reveals that a specific lipopeptide, orfamide A, plays a central role in this process.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 27, 2017

The oldest 'bad boy' in the world

Researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena reconstructed a 300 million-year-old beetle from Australia, shedding new light on the earliest developments in beetles. The 'Bad Boy' exhibits an unorthodox mix of ancestral and modern characteristics, challenging traditional beetle classification.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalJournal of Systematic Palaeontology·DateJul 24, 2017

Hard shell -- healthy kernel

Researchers from the University of Jena investigate the effects of five types of nuts on colon cancer cells, finding that they activate the body's defences to detoxify reactive oxygen species. Nuts stimulate the activity of protective enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase, inducing programmed cell death in cancer cells.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalMolecular Carcinogenesis·DateFeb 6, 2017