Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University discovered that fruit fly eyes can distinguish six types of global motion patterns generated by self-motion. The T4/T5 cell subtypes directly represent complex motion cues rather than uniform directions, matching the fly's actual behavior closely.
Neurobiologist Marion Silies is investigating how various visual systems adapt to specific environments and behavioral conditions. She will use fruit flies as an animal model to understand visual processing mechanisms and their adaptation to differing conditions.
Researchers at Mainz University created artificial hailstones using a 3D printer to study their behavior in a vertical wind tunnel. The experiments revealed that the form of hailstones determines their velocity before impact, which can affect the severity of precipitation events.
A study of 500 ultra-Orthodox Israeli adults during the COVID-19 pandemic found that using digital media, especially for essential purposes, increased compliance with government health regulations. Women and older individuals were more likely to follow guidelines.
Climate change is expected to cause a significant decline in beech forest growth in Europe, particularly in southern regions. Tree ring analyses reveal that tree growth has declined in virtually all regions over the past six decades, with the strongest contrast between northern and southern Europe.
A recent survey of British academics reveals that significant political transformations like Brexit can negatively affect employee wellbeing, particularly when perceived as threatening rather than challenging. The study emphasizes the importance of job security and quality of co-worker relationships in maintaining personal wellbeing.
Researchers at Mainz University will examine algorithm decisions on transparency, fairness, and data protection while optimizing resource use. The project aims to create workable trade-offs for applications and integrates young researcher promotion programs.
Professor Wil Roebroeks receives the 2021 Gutenberg Research Award for his groundbreaking work on Neanderthals and early Eurasian hominins. The award acknowledges his interdisciplinary approach, international collaboration, and devotion to paleoanthropology.
A new method identifies proteins binding to R-loops, revealing the role of DDX41 in regulating R-loop levels and preventing DNA damage. Elevated R-loop levels increase cancer risk.
A collaborative research project on quantum technology has started on the International Space Station (ISS), utilizing ultracold atoms to conduct fundamental research and develop future quantum sensors. The BECCAL experiment is a multi-user platform open to international scientists, allowing them to test their ideas in practice.
Dorothee Dormann and Rosa Rademakers are collaborating on a research project to understand the causes of frontotemporal dementia, a group of brain disorders affecting the frontal and temporal lobes. The researchers aim to identify the role of the FUS protein in this disease and its interactions with other proteins.
A €16 million project, PhotonQ, is developing a photonic quantum processor to process qubits and reduce error rates. The processor will enable rapid scaling to relevant qubit numbers for practical applications.
A worldwide network of optical magnetometers failed to detect dark matter signals over a one-month continuous operation. The researchers were able to formulate constraints on the characteristics of dark matter using the data from nine stations in six countries.
Surveys involving 100,000 participants in 26 countries found a correlation between belief in conspiracies and identification as far-left or far-right. The research suggests that conspiracy theories are more pronounced among those who feel disenfranchised and lack political control.
Researchers from Leiden University and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz discovered that Neanderthals used fire to keep the landscape open, transforming their local environment. The study found evidence of hunter-gatherer activities dating back 2,000 years, challenging previous assumptions about human impact on ecosystems.
The university is coordinating the second funding period of the program, which aims to develop innovative, high-performance molecular materials for various applications. The program will tackle photophysical and photochemical challenges, as well as fundamental questions associated with these materials.
A €35 million German research project is developing a quantum communication network to enhance the security of sensitive information exchange. The network aims to overcome current limitations in transmitting quantum signals over long distances, enabling reliable communication over larger areas.
The ATIQ project aims to develop reliable, user-friendly quantum computing demonstrators based on ion trap technology within 30 months. The consortium will optimize hardware for applications in chemistry and finance, paving the way for new approaches in credit risk assessment.
The German Research Foundation has approved a new Collaborative Research Center (CRC) focused on developing sustainable iron alternatives to replace toxic or rare elements. The CRC will investigate iron's potential as a building block for the future, aiming to enhance its properties and make it more affordable and resource-efficient.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated a strong exchange coupling of thin ferromagnetic layers to the antiferromagnetic compound Mn2Au, enabling large magnetoresistance effects. This breakthrough enables the use of well-established read-out methods in antiferromagnetic spintronics.
A research team analyzed seismic noise recorded over the last decade to better understand volcanic processes at Campi Flegrei. They found that directionality loss in noise data indicates the migration of deep fluids towards the eastern caldera, which triggers earthquakes.
Chemists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed a method to produce cement by milling instead of burning lime, reducing CO2 emissions. The process could be implemented on an industrial scale, but further development is needed.
An international research team has measured neutron form factors with previously unattained precision, filling a blank space on the map. The new data provides a more comprehensive picture of the neutron's size and lifetime, and reveals oscillating patterns in its form factor.
A new study on Bardet-Biedl syndrome reveals that defective primary cilia can broadcast signals that worsen symptoms, including kidney problems and intellectual disabilities. Cilia play a crucial role in regulating intercellular communication, and their malfunctioning is responsible for various inherited disorders.
The Gutenberg Gait Database provides a reference set of data for healthy individuals to diagnose and treat gait disorders. The database, compiled from 350 volunteers aged 11-64, offers processed raw data and ready-to-use data for orthopedic institutes and research organizations.
The study investigates popular music's influence on everyday life and its embedding in cinema, tracing the lives of musicians like Franz Grothe under Nazi rule. It also explores the evolution of marching rhythms and swing elements in German popular music during this period.
Research finds climate stabilized due to increased rock weathering and erosion, which converts CO2 into insoluble carbonate; this process took 20,000-50,000 years. Lithium isotope analysis supports theory, showing increased weathering and erosion during Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum.
Mainz University has secured first place in the field of Physics and fourth place overall in the natural sciences, receiving EUR 67 million in DFG funding. The university's efforts to invest in life sciences have resulted in significant growth, with Medicine and Biology disciplines experiencing a notable increase in DFG funding.
A study by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz found that genetically diverse ant colonies produce more larvae than those with similar genetic backgrounds. This improved division of labor allows for more efficient task allocation, leading to better colony performance.
FORTHEM, a European University Alliance, has welcomed two new members: the University of Agder in Norway and Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu in Romania. This expansion aims to increase student mobility, create a virtual campus, and merge research programs across member universities.
Researchers at Mainz University have conducted a literature review on cathodic corrosion in electrosynthesis, highlighting the need for new materials and methods to prevent electrode dissolution. The team aims to develop a method to generate plastic precursors from agricultural waste using electrosynthesis.
A study by researchers at Mainz University found that digital presence of service employees improves customer loyalty. The study, published in the Journal of Marketing Research, showed that customers perceive websites with images or videos of service employees as more attractive and memorable, leading to increased customer loyalty.
Membraneless organelles, a new form of cellular compartment, are being studied by Professor Edward Lemke. His team has successfully designed and incorporated these organelles into living cells, enabling innovative functions such as protein engineering and imaging techniques.
Researchers at IMB and JGU developed a method to engineer new cell functionalities by creating film-like organelles that can subdivide cell processes into smaller spaces. This allows for the creation of multiple proteins with unique functions in different areas of the cell.
A team of researchers has successfully computed how atomic nuclei of Calcium behave in collisions with electrons, achieving precise theoretical predictions relevant to future neutrino experiments. The new ab initio method allows for the description of scattering on nuclei and leptons, even for heavy elements like Calcium.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE explores the experience of pure consciousness during meditation, identifying 12 key factors that characterize this state. These findings provide insight into human consciousness and have implications for further research, including potential applications beyond meditation practices.
The EU-funded ADMIRE project aims to develop intelligent adaptive storage systems for high-performance computing, improving application runtime and data access. Fourteen institutions from six European countries are working together to create a scalable and efficient system that can meet the needs of data-intensive applications.
Scientists have identified a dual-control system that regulates the release and recycling of synaptic vesicles, enabling precise signal transmission. Calcium channels Ca2 and Ca1 are spatially segregated, with Ca2 required for exocytosis and Ca1 enhancing endocytosis, demonstrating separate control of these processes.
A geoscientific study suggests that the proliferation of marine animals with silicon skeletons and land plants altered the carbon-silicon cycle, changing Earth's climate regulation. The research used lithium isotope levels to trace the cycle over three billion years.
Researchers have discovered that the Usher syndrome type 1G protein SANS plays a crucial role in regulating splicing process, leading to errors in related genes and disease progression. The study aims to elucidate molecular basis of blindness in Usher syndrome patients.
The Laacher See volcano eruption occurred 13,077 years ago, according to revised dating, providing crucial information about historical climate fluctuations. This revised date coincides with observed temperature drops in Greenland Ice Sheet cores and has significant implications for European climate archives.
Researchers have discovered that a bacterial protein has a similar structure and function as human ESCRT-III proteins, which are responsible for remodeling and rebuilding the cell membrane. The protein, PspA, forms protective structures on the cell membrane to cope with stress, and its structure is essential for its function.
Researchers from Mainz University and Fraunhofer Institute collaborate with Iranian and Iraqi partners to provide drinking water to settlements on the Persian Gulf. The goal is to use temperature-sensitive polymer gels to convert seawater into drinking water, enabling an energy-independent process.
Ant workers infected with a tapeworm live significantly longer than uninfected nest-mates, resembling the lifespan of ant queens. The parasites alter expression of ant genes and release antioxidants, contributing to their extended lifespan.
Researchers studied the 426-kilometer-long Aqueduct of Valens and found that it was cleaned of carbonate deposits just a few decades before abandonment. The double-construction system over 50 kilometers likely enabled constant operation for maintenance, highlighting the ingenuity of ancient engineers.
Researchers develop new technique to hyperpolarize and purify fumarate for MRI, offering cost-effective and convenient way to track metabolism in real-time. The method has potential applications in monitoring tumor responses to therapy and imaging acute kidney injuries.
Researchers at Mainz University discovered how fetuin-B binds to meprin beta, a protein released from cell membranes controlling physiological functions. The binding prevents excessive protein release, potentially treating Alzheimer's and cancer by inhibiting the enzyme.
A team of scientists has demonstrated atom interferometry on a sounding rocket, enabling precise measurements of gravity and potentially detecting gravitational waves. The success of this experiment marks a significant milestone in the field of quantum technologies.
A study on ants found that social isolation alters their behavior, reducing interest in adult colony mates and increasing time spent on brood care. The isolated ants also exhibit downregulated immune system genes, similar to humans experiencing stress and weakened immunity during the pandemic.
The Muon g-2 Collaboration has published the first result of its measurement, revealing a discrepancy of 4.2 standard deviations between experiment and theory. The result strengthens evidence for the existence of new physics, potentially indicating previously unknown particles or forces.