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Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz


The water management of ancient Arles

Researchers decoded the complex history of ancient Arles' aqueduct system by analyzing limescale deposits and building materials. The study confirmed that the basin functioned as a header basin upstream of an aqueduct arcade bridge, and revealed the role of large lead pipes in supplying water to different parts of the city.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalGeoarchaeology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 1, 2025

Archaeology in the age of big data

AutArch, an AI-powered software, automatically extracts data from archaeological drawings and photographs, combining it with existing information to answer specific questions about the past. The open-source tool has the potential to fundamentally transform data access and analysis in archaeology.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalJournal of Archaeological Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 11, 2025

New method to produce an extremely heavy hydrogen isotope at the Mainz Microtron accelerator MAMI

Researchers at A1 Collaboration successfully produced hydrogen-6 in an electron scattering experiment, challenging current understanding of multi-nucleon interactions. The measurement revealed a stronger interaction between neutrons within the nucleus than expected, indicating a lower ground-state energy for ⁶H.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 30, 2025

How could artificial intelligence be used globally to increase fairness in the distribution of public social services?

The AI FORA project analyzed how AI-based social assessment varies across nine countries and four continents, highlighting the need for flexible, dynamic, and adaptive systems that reflect social stakeholders' perspectives. The research aims to improve AI in addressing fairness and discrimination issues in public social services.

Self-optimizing catalysts facilitate water-splitting for the green production of hydrogen

Researchers have developed cost-effective and efficient water-splitting catalysts using cobalt and tungsten, which surprisingly increase in performance over time. The unique self-optimization process involves changes in the chemical nature of the catalyzing oxide, leading to improved activity and reduced overpotentials.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateMar 11, 2025

Magnetic whirl simulation in real time

A team of researchers from Mainz University successfully simulated skyrmion dynamics on real-time experimental scales using a novel collaborative approach. By combining theoretical and experimental methods, the researchers were able to accelerate the development of skyrmion-based applications for energy-saving computer architectures.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 30, 2025

Herbivore or carnivore? – A new toolbox for the study of extinct reptiles

Researchers compiled a reference framework of isotope compositions indicating the type of diet for extant reptiles, providing a useful dataset to reconstruct the diet of fossil reptiles. The analysis showed that calcium isotope ratios are higher in insectivorous reptiles and lower in herbivores and carnivores.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateJan 8, 2025

How fruit flies achieve accurate visual behavior despite changing light conditions

Fruit flies have a unique mechanism to maintain stable visual processing even when light levels change rapidly, thanks to the identification of neuronal cell types and algorithms that spatially pool information on luminance. This discovery could provide insights into how visual information is processed in mammals, including humans.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 31, 2024

The expansion of turbid drops in water

A team of researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has developed a new method to study the interior of crystalline drops using monochromatic illumination. This approach exploits the color-dependent scattering of light and reveals the density profile of the drop, including initial rapid expansion due to particle repulsion befo...

Sea surface temperature record in the southwestern Pacific: Coral colony from Fiji reveals warmest temperatures in over 600 years

A coral colony from Fiji has provided a new record of sea surface temperatures in the southwestern Pacific, revealing that 2022 was the warmest year in over 600 years. The reconstruction uses data from the giant coral Diploastrea heliopora, which records long-term climatic and environmental changes.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 18, 2024