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University of Bonn


Climate change is lifting South Africa out of the ocean

A study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth reveals that droughts and associated water loss are the primary cause of South Africa's land uplift. This finding challenges the previously assumed mantle flow explanation and highlights the importance of monitoring groundwater reserves due to climate change.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 23, 2025

How can science benefit from AI?

Researchers warn of misunderstandings in handling AI models, highlighting conditions for confidence in predictions. Explainability methods are crucial to understand algorithmic decisions, but interpreting results requires caution due to AI limitations.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 4, 2025

Simon Stellmer receives ERC Proof of Concept Grant

Professor Simon Stellmer from the University of Bonn is awarded a €150,000 ERC Proof of Concept Grant to improve measurement accuracy and monitor ground motion with high-precision rotation sensors. The technology aims to enhance natural disaster early warning systems and commercialize innovative gyroscope technology.

New training technique for highly efficient AI methods

Researchers at the University of Bonn have developed a new training technique for highly efficient AI methods, inspired by biological neurons that use short voltage pulses to communicate. This approach enables spiking neural networks to be trained using conventional methods, resulting in improved accuracy and reduced energy consumption.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 14, 2025

Colored nuclei reveal cellular key genes

Researchers at the University of Bonn have developed an optical CRISPR screening method called NIS-Seq that allows for the identification of key genes involved in biological processes. This method is faster and more efficient than traditional methods, working in almost all cells and providing results in a matter of days.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateDec 19, 2024

Two ERC Consolidator Grants in medicine

Researchers at the University of Bonn are developing an AI foundation model to improve radiology and detect Parkinson's disease earlier. The 'Re-Start PD' project aims to identify the condition before symptoms appear, with potential applications in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Animal products improve child nutrition in Africa

A recent study by the University of Bonn and CABI Centre in Kenya found that milk, eggs, and fish consumption has a positive effect on childhood development in Africa. The study covered over 32,000 child observations across five African countries and showed that animal products significantly reduce the risk of stunting.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 2, 2024

Study on gene regulation with surprising results

Researchers at the University of Bonn and LMU Munich discovered that enhancers controlling a key gene in fruit flies are not isolated but share extensive DNA regions, blurring previous ideas on their modular nature. This finding has significant implications for understanding evolutionary mechanisms and how traits change over time.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 22, 2024

Rainforest protection reduces the number of respiratory diseases

A study by the University of Bonn and Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais shows that forest protection measures significantly reduce particulate matter in the air, leading to a decrease in hospital stays and deaths due to respiratory diseases. Protective measures are estimated to save around 680 human lives per year.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 15, 2024

How immune cells “sniff out” pathogens

Researchers from the University of Bonn have developed a new method to study immune receptors using a label-free biosensor assay. This approach allows for the detection of specific chemical signals that activate Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which are found on the surface of immune cells and play a crucial role in detecting infections. T...

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 12, 2024

“Allegations of maladaptation harm the poor”

Researchers warn that inadequate funding for climate adaptation measures disproportionately harms vulnerable populations. Maladaptation occurs when strategies backfire and worsen living conditions. Effective funding is crucial to ensure progress in adaptation.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScience·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateNov 8, 2024

A “chemical ChatGPT” for new medications

A team of researchers from the University of Bonn has trained a chemical language model to predict potential active ingredients with special properties. The AI was able to reproduce the chemical structures of compounds with known dual-target activity, which may be effective in treating various diseases.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·DateOct 23, 2024

Swallowing triggers a feeling of elation

A study at the University of Bonn has revealed that fly larvae have special sensors triggered by swallowing, releasing serotonin to continue eating. This control circuit may also exist in humans and could help understand eating disorders such as anorexia or binge eating.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 13, 2024

Researchers create a one-dimensional gas out of light

Physicists at the University of Bonn and Kaiserslautern-Landau created a one-dimensional gas out of light, allowing for the first time to test theoretical predictions about its transition into an exotic state of matter. The method used in the experiment could be used to examine quantum effects.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2024

Researchers create an “imprint” on a super photon

Researchers at the University of Bonn have successfully created a Bose-Einstein condensate on a super photon using tiny nano molds. This allows for the shaping of light into a simple lattice structure, which could be used to make information exchange between multiple participants tap-proof.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 2, 2024

Sugar intake decreasing but still too high

A long-term study analyzing sugar intake among children and adolescents in Germany found a decline in free sugar consumption since 2010, but average daily intake remains high. The study suggests that awareness campaigns may have contributed to the decline, while age groups showed varying levels of sugar intake.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalEuropean Journal of Nutrition·DateAug 14, 2024

Early mammals lived longer

Researchers analyzed fossilized tooth roots of ancient mammals, finding growth rings that revealed lifespans of eight to fourteen years. These early mammals grew more slowly but lived substantially longer than their modern descendants.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 8, 2024

Farmland weeds help to combat pests

A University of Bonn study found that leaving some weeds between crops helps combat pests. Intercropping with wildflowers also attracts beneficial insects, making it harder for weeds to grow and pests to infest the field. The study suggests tolerating residual weeds as a farming practice.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalJournal of Pest Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 25, 2024

AI shows how field crops develop

The University of Bonn has developed an AI software that can simulate the growth of field crops using drone photos. This allows farmers to estimate parameters such as leaf area or yield with high accuracy, and even predict the outcome of certain interventions. The software also focuses on polycultures, which can boost yields by reducin...

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPlant Methods·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 17, 2024

Perturbations simplify the study of “super photons”

Researchers at the University of Bonn have demonstrated that photon Bose-Einstein condensates obey a fundamental theorem of physics. By applying gentle and strong perturbations to the condensate, they showed that it responds in the same way as to random fluctuations without a perturbation.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

Roots are a key to drought-tolerant maize

A study led by the University of Bonn analyzed over 9,000 maize varieties to identify their root structures and adaptability to dry conditions. The researchers found that seminal roots, which absorb nutrients rapidly, vary in number depending on the variety's ability to cope with drought.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2024

Plants restrict use of “Tipp-Ex proteins”

A University of Bonn study reveals that plants use special molecules called Tipp-Ex proteins to correct defective gene copies. However, these proteins are only permitted to work in chloroplasts and mitochondria, not in the cytosol where they could cause fatal miscorrections.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalThe Plant Journal·DateMay 17, 2024

Healthy diets for people and the planet

Researchers analyzed diets of 856 schoolchildren in Germany, finding potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by changing eating habits. However, nutrient adequacy was not optimized, highlighting the need for context-related nutritional recommendations.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateMay 16, 2024

AI to make crop production more sustainable

Researchers from the University of Bonn are working on a project to make farming more efficient and environmentally friendly using new technologies and artificial intelligence. They aim to tackle key research questions such as monitoring farmland for nutrient deficiency, weed growth, and pest infestations in real-time.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalEuropean Journal of Agronomy·DateMay 6, 2024

Do some mysterious bones belong to gigantic ichthyosaurs?

Fossilized bone fragments from Western and Central Europe have been identified as belonging to gigantic ichthyosaurs due to their unique microstructure. The discovery sheds new light on an ongoing debate among paleontologists, suggesting that these massive sea creatures could have reached lengths similar to the modern blue whale.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPeerJ·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 9, 2024

Maize genes control little helpers in the soil

Researchers discovered that maize genetic makeup affects which microorganisms cluster around roots, boosting root growth. The study found that specific bacteria, like Massilia, promote lateral root growth when nitrogen is scarce, suggesting a potential breeding strategy for drought-tolerant maize varieties.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Plants·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2024

Shopping study in a virtual supermarket

A recent study by the University of Bonn and TU Munich found that banners with information on animal welfare had no effect on purchasing decisions in a virtual supermarket. Researchers invited test subjects to shop in a simulated environment, but even prominent labeling did not change buying behavior.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalJournal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 12, 2024

New method measures the 3D position of individual atoms

Researchers at the University of Bonn and Bristol have developed a new method to measure the 3D position of individual atoms using a single image. The technique utilizes an ingenious physical principle to determine the vertical position of the atom, allowing for precise control and tracking in quantum mechanics experiments.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhysical Review A·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2024

Turning one into eight

Researchers have developed a straightforward process to create all eight possible variants of polypropionate building blocks from a single starting material. This technique enables the production of high-purity, specific variants needed in drug manufacture, potentially leading to more effective medicines.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateFeb 19, 2024

Why are people climate change deniers?

Researchers from University of Bonn and IZA found that nearly half of people who denied climate change did not use motivated reasoning to justify their stance. Instead, they defined themselves by this belief, which sets them apart from other political groups.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Climate Change·DateFeb 2, 2024

Zebrafish navigate to find their comfortable temperature

Researchers found that zebrafish have a 'thermostat' in their brains that detects deviations from their ideal temperature and guides them towards more comfortable surroundings. The preoptic area and dorsal habenula are activated to regulate body temperature, allowing the fish to efficiently find places with suitable conditions.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 1, 2024

Tracking molecules at turbo speed

University of Bonn researchers devise a method called TARDIS to track molecules at turbo speed, making the high-throughput process five times faster. This enables insights into hitherto unknown cellular functions and the DNA repair mechanism, which is crucial for understanding diseases like cancer.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Methods·DateJan 17, 2024

The two (country) sides of forests

University of Bonn researchers analyzed satellite data to find that national policies have a significant impact on forest coverage. Strict policies and their effective implementation are critical to achieving positive changes in tree populations along country borders.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalGlobal Environmental Change·DateDec 21, 2023

A new possible explanation for the Hubble tension

Researchers from Universities of Bonn and St. Andrews propose an alternative theory of gravity as the cause of the discrepancy in measured values of the Hubble-Lemaitre constant. This 'modified Newtonian dynamics' (MOND) theory predicts the existence of regions with lower matter density, which would explain the observed deviations.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 1, 2023

Variety is key

A University of Bonn study found that nearly half of the world is suitable for diversified farming for sustainable intensification. The study suggests that regions with developed infrastructure near urban centers are particularly promising for profitable diversified farming practices.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·DateNov 29, 2023

I eat what you eat

A study at the University of Bonn found that primary school children are more likely to choose unhealthy snacks when buying with friends or classmates. Conversely, they opted for healthier choices when purchasing alone. This highlights the importance of understanding how social factors influence children's purchasing decisions.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalAppetite·DateNov 23, 2023

Artificial intelligence: Unexpected results

Recent study by University of Bonn researchers reveals that machine learning models in drug discovery research are not as effective as thought, relying heavily on memorized data. The findings suggest that AI applications in this field are overrated and should be supplemented with chemical knowledge and simpler methods.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 13, 2023

The ego-consciousness of the feathered fowl?

A study published in PLOS ONE found that roosters can recognize their mirror image and respond accordingly. The researchers tested 58 roosters and found that they emitted alarm calls when seeing themselves in the mirror, but not when seeing a conspecific. This suggests that roosters may have some level of self-awareness.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2023