A team led by LMU physicist Dmitri Efetov has developed a new device capable of directly observing hidden electron interactions in graphene at room temperature. The quantum twisting microscope (QTM) enables continuous, dynamic control of the twist angle, bypassing traditional fabrication constraints.
Researchers discover that azacitidine damages RNA, blocking protein synthesis and triggering the integrated stress response. Cells possess a tolerance to low levels of RNA damage, which determines the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
Researchers discovered imported aromatic substances from Africa or Asia in Pompeii's incense burners, indicating a far-reaching trade network. The investigation also found evidence of grape products and native plants used in domestic cult practices.
A recent article advocates for a risk-based approach to food safety, aiming to enhance sustainability and resilience of food systems. The authors argue that current policies leading to 'zero tolerance' are fueling the discard of safe food due to increasingly sensitive detection methods.
Researchers drilled into magma beneath an active volcano and found that gas escapes within five minutes during drilling. This allows them to reconstruct the original conditions and gain insights into the behavior of magma. The findings can improve the safety of geothermal fields on active volcanoes and pave the way for targeted drilling.
LMU researchers have developed a molecular 'anchored net' to stabilize perovskite solar cells against thermal fatigue. The technology achieves efficiencies of over 25 percent and retains 84% of its original efficiency after 16 extreme temperature cycles.
Researchers discovered that intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) retain function through interplay of linear motifs and chemical characteristics, not just conserved sequence blueprints. The study found that short binding motifs and overall chemical context are crucial for protein function.
A study led by Dr. Edward Ricemeyer reveals that the Amazon molly maintains its genome through gene conversion, which helps remove harmful mutations and allows natural selection to keep working in the absence of recombination. This process empowers natural selection in a clonal fish species, maintaining overall genome integrity.
Moons around free-floating planets can keep their water oceans liquid for up to 4.3 billion years due to dense hydrogen atmospheres and tidal heating. This allows for stable habitats for complex life to develop and could significantly broaden the spectrum of possible environments that could harbor life.
LMU Munich has been reaffirmed as a University of Excellence, solidifying its position as one of Europe's leading research universities. The institution's seven Clusters of Excellence, including a new humanities cluster, demonstrate its exceptional academic strength. With a focus on interdisciplinary research and collaboration, LMU aim...
A new study reveals how defective dopamine packaging in neurons triggers toxic processes, leading to Parkinson's disease symptoms. Researchers discovered that delivering energy via ATP can repair packaging and halt damage.
Researchers introduce 'tuberculogenic environment' concept, highlighting interplay between social structures and TB risk. Current efforts overlook broader structural factors sustaining TB epidemic.
Researchers have genetically engineered therapeutic CAR T cells that can destroy solid tumors, overcoming a major obstacle in cancer treatment. By silencing prostaglandin E2 signalling, these new cells can recognize and attack cancer cells without suppressing their own immune function.
Physicists at LMU have successfully tracked the extremely brief formation process of polarons using an ultrafast imaging method, confirming a theory from 1933. The researchers demonstrated that electrons lose energy and gain mass as they form these quasiparticles.
Researchers identified DKK3 as a main cause of radiation-induced skin damage, leading to chronic inflammations and fibroses. Blocking DKK3 may help prevent or reduce long-term skin damage after radiotherapy, improving cancer patients' quality of life.
Researchers deciphered the ionome of chloroplasts in various plant species, revealing similar metal concentrations and a crucial role for iron storage proteins. This study provides a foundation for developing new biotech concepts to improve plant resilience and nutrient content.
A new study shows that people who perceive artificial intelligence as replacing human labor are more dissatisfied with democracy and less politically engaged. This perception is linked to a causal decline in democratic legitimacy, even if AI has only had a limited impact on the jobs market.
Researchers deciphered the function of ion channel TMEM175, showing it conducts potassium ions and protons in lysosomal membranes. This discovery establishes its decisive role in maintaining optimal pH levels, facilitating degradation processes, and may lead to new treatments for Parkinson's disease.
LMU researchers created a tool that combines automated chemical synthesis, high-throughput characterization, and data-driven modeling to control nanocrystal growth. The Synthesizer platform enables precise predictions of material properties, such as color, brightness, or stability, for applications like LEDs, solar cells, and sensors.
A new blood biomarker, brain-derived tau (BD-tau), tracks the extent of brain injury after ischemic stroke over time. It also predicts patient outcomes months to years later and detects differences associated with successful vessel reopening. BD-tau has potential applications for other neurological conditions.
Researchers developed a new system that efficiently transfects targeted immune cells, supports antigen presentation and immune cell maturation, and successfully crosses the mucus barrier in lung models. This breakthrough offers a promising alternative to lipid nanoparticles for next-generation pulmonary mRNA vaccines.
Researchers developed a method using synthetic aperture radar images to automatically detect building destruction in conflict zones without relying on expensive data. The approach successfully reconstructed spatial patterns and timing of destruction in case studies of Beirut port explosion and Mariupol
A study of Western populations found broad public approval for supporting Ukraine to maintain its political and territorial sovereignty. Key findings include a strong endorsement of military support, rejection of Russia's positions on territorial claims, and limitations on public backing due to high casualty numbers and nuclear escalat...
Scientists at LMU developed a method to amplify changes in incoming light, enabling precise measurements of minute shifts and tilts. This breakthrough allows for sensitive applications like atomic force microscopy and could even pick up vibrations in glass caused by conversations.
Researchers have identified the Foxf2 gene as a key factor in cerebral small vessel disease, leading to impaired blood flow and increased risk of stroke and dementia. A new therapy targeting the impaired function of small cerebral vessels has shown promise in restoring vascular health.
Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München identify two mechanisms of chemical interface damping, crucial for determining plasmon energy loss. The study opens opportunities for light-driven catalysis, sensing technologies, and energy-efficient chemical processes.
Researchers at LMU developed a new approach to molecular design for perovskite-silicon tandem cells, achieving an efficiency of 31.4%. The breakthrough involves using brominated molecules to neutralize defects and improve charge transport on rough surfaces, leading to higher efficiencies and increased stability.
A new study estimates that the Amazon rainforest could lose up to 38% of its area by the end of the 21st century due to land use changes and climate change. The research, published in PNAS, suggests that abrupt transitions from dense forest coverage to savannah-like landscapes pose a significant risk to the ecosystem.
Five LMU researchers have been awarded Consolidator Grants by the European Research Council to tackle various research challenges. Professor Sophia Stoecklein's project CONNECT aims to develop a functional connectivity MRI tool for cancer diagnostics, while Professor Matthias Garschagen's GOALT project focuses on establishing a theoret...
Researchers have developed a new concept describing how equilibrium-like laws can arise from non-equilibrium processes, enabling the creation of lasting patterns in biological systems. This breakthrough expands our understanding of pattern formation and offers new paths for designing synthetic active matter.
A survey of UK journalists found that most (56%) use AI weekly, while 27% use it daily. However, concerns remain, with 62% viewing AI as a threat to journalism. The study also revealed a gap between independent and large corporate media outlets in their adoption of AI.
Researchers found that recalling memories is facilitated when breathing cues are presented during inhalation, with actual memory retrieval happening during exhalation. The study suggests that respiration acts as a natural pacemaker for memory processes, highlighting the close interaction between the brain and body.
Researchers at LMU uncovered two crucial proteins controlling the assembly of Toxoplasma gondii's invasion machinery. The discovery provides a promising avenue for developing targeted therapies against toxoplasmosis.
A research team developed a computational framework called Bits2Bonds to design and optimize polymeric RNA carriers. The tool combines molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning to rapidly screen thousands of potential molecules before experimental validation.
Researchers at LMU München demonstrate how delayed supply of building blocks facilitates the self-assembly of complex structures in compartmentalized systems. The new model shows that a slow supply from a reservoir increases yield and shortens assembly time, preventing resource competition among growing structures.
A study reveals that competition for biotin, a vital vitamin, drives interactions between harmful Staphylococcus aureus and harmless commensal bacteria. This resource scarcity could lead to new strategies for fighting multi-resistant germs.
A team of scientists has identified key mechanisms behind the triggering of the ribotoxic stress response, a protective program initiated in cells to remove damage or initiate cell death. The researchers found that protein ZAK plays a crucial role in mediating this stress response by recognizing collided ribosomes.
LMU has secured funding for two large research networks: one on neurovascular diseases and the other on desmosomes. The CRC on neurovascular diseases aims to uncover the causes of these diseases and develop novel therapeutic strategies, while the SFB/Transregio on desmosomes investigates their functions in epithelial barriers.
Researchers have identified a neural pathway for processing magnetic information in the pigeon brain, located in the inner ear. The study reveals specialized circuits that process magnetic information, allowing pigeons to use the Earth's magnetic field as a natural GPS.
A genomic study shows that diverse Eurasian cultures kept and spread genetically distinct dog populations over the last 10,000 years. The research highlights the deeply rooted cultural importance of dogs, with a tight link between human and dog genetics showing they were an integral part of society.
A team of researchers from LMU München investigated why CO2 fluxes from land use are uncertain and how they can be estimated more accurately in the future. They found that differences in definitions, data sources, and model assumptions lead to substantial discrepancies and uncertainties.
Researchers have discovered that European cuckoos' egg colors are determined by maternal genes on the W chromosome and autosomal genes. This adaptation enables the species to lay eggs matching its host's coloration without causing speciation.
A 99-million-year-old fossil discovery sheds light on the evolutionary history of mosquitoes. The ancient larva shares modern species' morphology, challenging previous assumptions about their early evolution.
A study found that vitamin D levels fell significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among older women and urban populations. The researchers analyzed data from over 292,000 patients and discovered a 26% decrease in mean serum vitamin D levels, accompanied by a 35.2% increase in deficiency rates.
Researchers have developed a novel imaging technique to visualize Toxoplasma's endocytosis process. The parasite actively recycles its membrane by absorbing parts through micropores and reusing them for daughter cells.
Researchers discovered calcarins, proteins that play an important role in calcification, and found similarities with galaxins involved in coral skeleton formation. This study provides insights into the early evolution of biomineralization in sponges, revealing convergent evolution with corals.
A team of researchers has created a reliable method for accurately recording greenhouse gas emissions from corporate sustainability reports. The dataset, published in Scientific Data, provides a rigorous and transparent foundation for evaluating automated approaches to sustainability reporting.
A new study found that genetic variants in the IL6 gene are associated with a reduced lifetime risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. These variants also reduce the risk of pneumonia and sepsis, countering fears about impaired immune response.
In the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2025, LMU ranks 42nd globally and fourth in the EU. The university maintains its top spot in Germany, reflecting its strong research focus.
A new study reveals that human influence has reduced global natural land carbon stocks by 24%, equivalent to 344 billion metric tons of carbon, mainly due to expanded pasture and croplands, as well as forest management.