A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology suggests that gene activity in the nervous system is linked to rescue behavior in ants. The researchers found that ants that showed rescue behavior had 15 genes more active in their mushroom bodies, which are involved in learning and behavioral control.
A new drug patch is being developed to promote the repair of damaged myelin sheaths in multiple sclerosis patients. The patch, which delivers a low dose of theophylline, is being tested in a Phase I clinical trial for its safety and tolerability.
Uwe Wolfrum's research on Usher syndrome aims to prevent vision loss in patients with the disorder. His team uses human retinal organoids and pig models to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the disease, paving the way for gene-based therapies.
Scientists at JGU have visualized the interaction of antiferromagnetic skyrmions, showing they move along straight trajectories aligned with the driving current. This reproducibility is crucial for spintronic devices that require reliable motion of multiple skyrmions.
Researchers determined the shape of the fermium-255 nucleus with high precision, revealing it to be strongly prolate like a rugby ball. This breakthrough supports modern theoretical models and opens new possibilities for understanding heavy atomic nuclei.
Researchers have successfully generated atomic quantum gas mixtures with unprecedented particle flux using a highly sophisticated and compact optical system. The miniaturized laser system developed by Mainz physicists enables precise control of atoms under microgravity conditions, opening doors for future space missions.
The discovery of altermagnetism reveals a new symmetry class of matter and has profound implications for quantum materials, condensed matter physics, and future information technologies. Researchers established that nature hosts a third elementary form of collinear magnetism.
A tapeworm alters ants' biology in a targeted way, making workers live longer and less active. The parasite taps into existing signaling pathways, shifting them to promote its own survival.
Theoretical physicists develop new method to order Feynman integrals based on their geometric structure, reducing computation time by a factor of 1,000. This allows for precision predictions in high-energy physics measurements, such as those made at the Large Hadron Collider.
The renowned jazz musician and teacher Terence Blanchard has been awarded the Gutenberg Teaching Award for his exceptional contributions to music education. The award is worth EUR 10,000 and recognizes Blanchard's promotion of an experimental and egalitarian teaching environment.
Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz successfully utilized orbital currents for the first time, eliminating the need for conversion to spin currents. This breakthrough enables the development of large-scale storage media with extremely low energy consumption, paving the way for future memory devices and processors.
Researchers have developed a new manganese-based material that can store data at higher temperatures than existing iron-based materials. This breakthrough in spintronics allows for the creation of more efficient data storage devices.
Researchers Edward Lemke and Andreas Walther from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have been awarded ERC Advanced Grants for their innovative projects, Molecular Shape Microscopy and Protoecologies between Artificial Cells and Mammalian Cells. The grants aim to advance our understanding of protein function in living cells and explor...
Researchers create dataset for Meenzerisch dialect, but find large language models fail to understand and produce the dialect correctly. Accuracy rates as low as 4.24% and 0.56% are reported, highlighting need for linguistic diversity in digital applications.
Bissera Pentcheva, an international scholar of Byzantine and Medieval art history, receives the 2026 Gutenberg Research Award from JGU. Her research explores the interplay between architecture, liturgy, and music, shedding new light on the acoustic dimensions of sacred spaces.
Self-activating catalysts continuously improve during operation due to material reorganization and surface interactions with water and electrodes. The researchers outline future directions to accelerate sustainable hydrogen production, including standardized protocols and new approaches like seawater electrolysis.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have made new constraints on dark matter particles using precision measurements of barium monofluoride molecules. The study found bounds on hypothetical Z' bosons that mediate electron-nucleus interactions, potentially shedding light on dark matter.
The Muon g-2 collaboration has made a significant contribution to the measurement of the muon's anomalous magnetic moment, achieving a precision of 127 parts per billion. The team's international collaboration and innovative methods have enabled them to explore subtle wobbles in the subatomic particle.
The QSEK project aims to develop general standards for the legally sound use of language-mediated evidence, provide targeted training, and support technological innovation. This will enhance investigative efficiency, reduce misinterpretation risk, and strengthen the reliability of forensic evidence.
A study of ancient genomes found that individuals from northern Europe were buried in cemeteries in southern Germany during the late Roman period, suggesting regional mobility. The research team reconstructed family relationships and showed how new structures emerged as people adopted Roman ways of life.
An international research team at the Mainz Microtron MAMI achieved the most precise measurement of hypertriton binding energy to date, revealing it is significantly more strongly bound than earlier experiments suggested. This breakthrough provides new insights into the interaction between hyperons and nucleons.
A recent study reveals that over-abstraction of groundwater and rising sea levels are causing significant changes in coastal groundwater levels globally. The study, which analyzed data from approximately 480,000 wells, found that more than 20% of coastal areas showed significant changes in groundwater levels between 1990 and 2024.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz successfully trapped both electrons and heavy calcium ions in the same apparatus using a new dual-frequency Paul trap. The technology has the potential to synthesize antihydrogen by capturing antiprotons and positrons simultaneously.
Researchers found cut marks on turtle shell fragments suggesting Neanderthals carefully butchered and cleaned the shells, which may have been reused as small containers or scoop-like implements. The study sheds new light on Neanderthal ecological flexibility and survival strategies.
Gravitational waves may have contributed to dark matter formation through stochastic gravitational waves during the early universe's formation. This new mechanism could lead to mass-free or nearly mass-free fermions that would acquire mass and form dark matter particles.
Researchers have confirmed the Standard Model of particle physics with unprecedented accuracy, solving the proton radius puzzle and verifying predictions up to the 13th decimal place. The new results set a new benchmark in measuring the energy levels of hydrogen atoms.
Researchers at JGU developed a novel three-component catalyst for pulsed electrolysis, achieving more than 50% higher ammonia yields. Additionally, they simultaneously produce formic acid as an additional product, reducing waste and increasing efficiency.
JGU researchers found that specific neurons' synapses lose function with age, leading to a decline in the fly's ability to escape predators. This discovery highlights the trade-off between neural plasticity and vulnerability during aging.
The new process generates formate and hydrogen from glycerol through electrolysis, producing only CO2-neutral formates when powered by green electricity. The method uses an innovative copper-palladium catalyst, which could contribute to the electrification of the chemical industry.
A new study finds that short-term digital disconnection improves well-being, with participants reporting more positive effects and feeling more energetic. However, these changes are relatively small and tend to dissipate after two to three hours.
Researchers found that the bathing water in Pompeii's Republican Baths was contaminated with lead, zinc, and copper, compromising hygiene standards. The team also discovered cyclical patterns in carbonate deposits suggesting volcanic activity before the AD 79 eruption.
Four Mainz University researchers have been awarded prestigious ERC Consolidator Grants to develop new treatments and understand complex biological processes. The grants will support research projects focused on signal specificity, racialization, and socialist Red Cross societies.
A new international study found that people with central vision loss can judge the motion of vehicles almost as accurately as those with normal vision. When both visual and auditory information were available, the two groups showed comparable accuracy in estimating the arrival time of approaching vehicles. The research, published in PL...
Researchers from UCLA, LMU, and JGU have successfully excited the atomic nucleus of thorium-229 using laser light in a non-transparent host material. This achievement opens up new avenues for nucleus-based quantum technologies.
Two new studies show how climate shapes the behavior, communication, and genome evolution of ants and their social parasites, leading to adaptation in this long-standing conflict. Climate influences aggression, chemical profiles, and genetic strategies in both hosts and parasites, with varying responses across different climates.
A team of physicists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has taken an important step toward answering the question of why lead behaves differently from other atomic nuclei when struck by electrons. The new measurement reveals unexpected behaviour in heavy nuclei, intensifying a long-standing puzzle that current theory cannot explain.
Terence Blanchard, a renowned jazz musician and composer, has received the 2025 Gutenberg Teaching Award for his exceptional teaching and mentorship. He will be visiting Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz to accept the award and participate in various events.
Large language models systematically rate speakers of German dialects less favorably than those using Standard German, associating dialects with negative traits. The bias grows when dialects are explicitly mentioned, and larger models display even stronger biases.
Contrails predominantly form within existing ice clouds, with over 80% of persistent contrails occurring within natural cirrus clouds. This has significant implications for climate impact, as artificial clouds can contribute to warming or cooling depending on their environment.
Researchers have made significant progress in pulsed electrolysis, a method that uses excess nitrogen from air and water to produce valuable compounds like ammonia and urea. This energy-efficient process has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable agriculture.
Scientists have detected tremor signals at the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania, revealing details about magma movement and volcanic activity. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of magma movement and offer a step forward for volcano seismology.
Scientists successfully created three-dimensional skyrmion tubes in synthetic antiferromagnets, which move differently than two-dimensional counterparts. This breakthrough enables the potential for a third dimension of data storage, essential for brain-inspired computing and quantum computing.
The TORF Research Unit studies medieval North Frisia's tidal flats, revealing archaeological remains and understanding human-environment interactions. Researchers aim to reconstruct the region's complex history and raise public awareness of coastline risks.
A recent study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology has found that video meetings are not more fatiguing than in-person meetings. Researchers analyzed data from 945 meetings and found that shorter online meetings were actually less exhausting, challenging the long-held notion of 'zoom fatigue'.
A research team led by Professor Shikha Dhiman has discovered that the speed of receptors in model cell membranes plays a crucial role in binding to biomaterials. When ligands move at similar speeds, they can bind to receptors, enabling effective tissue engineering and medical applications.
The WMO report reveals that 2024 was marked by severe drought in the Amazon basin and Southern Africa, while Central Europe experienced excessive rainfall, leading to devastating floods. Glaciers globally lost 450 billion metric tons of ice, accelerating climate change impacts.
Dr. Vasily Sotnikov has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant to develop new computational methods for particle scattering calculations at the LHC, enabling precise predictions for Higgs boson interactions and testing electroweak symmetry breaking.
A novel manganese(I) complex has been developed, combining a record-breaking excited-state lifetime with simple synthesis, offering a powerful and sustainable alternative to noble metal complexes. The complex exhibits strong absorption and overcomes the challenges of tedious synthesis and short lifetimes of excited states.
A study by JGU researchers finds that indirect interactions between species can profoundly influence each other's evolution. The research demonstrated that land-based aphids influenced the evolution of aquatic Daphnia crustaceans, highlighting a crucial evolutionary mechanism.
Researchers at JGU and HIM develop a novel method for atomic structure investigation, discovering new samarium absorption lines with enhanced multichannel DCS approach. The technique enables high-resolution, broadband spectroscopy with improved signal-to-noise ratio.