Elke Deuerling, a renowned molecular biologist, has been awarded the Sir Hans Krebs Medal 2027 for her groundbreaking research on protein balance and proteostasis. Her work focuses on deciphering the molecular processes that maintain cellular protein levels, ensuring the health and viability of organisms.
A new enzyme, named Pac-Man enzyme, has been discovered in bacteria that can break down certain polyesters and bioplastics, providing a potential solution to plastic pollution. This discovery suggests that microorganisms can adapt to plastic degradation more rapidly than previously thought, offering a turning point in the plastisphere.
A recent study analyzing 3.7 million menu options from 340 German university canteens reveals a significant shift towards more plant-based food environments. Vegan options increased by 275%, while meat-based dishes declined, leading to estimated annual reductions of 8,000 to 40,000 kilograms of CO₂ equivalents.
A study by the University of Konstanz found that AI agents can reach consensus with up to 1,000 individual agents, following a mathematical law similar to magnets. However, this can lead to individual values being disregarded as the majority opinion prevails.
A simple interaction rule inspired by honeybee colonies enables robot swarms to reach a clear consensus quickly, even when some information is faulty or manipulated. This rule, called cross-inhibition, introduces a brief moment of indecision, allowing the swarm to form a clear majority.
A German-American research team developed an educational programme that focuses on universal human values to strengthen social cohesion. The programme, tested in a large-scale pilot study in India, showed significant effects on reducing discriminatory attitudes and promoting pro-social behaviour, civic values, and social engagement.
The Cluster of Excellence 'The Politics of Inequality' investigates how inequality can be reduced through specific political conditions. Research projects focus on rectification for historical injustices, biological ageing processes, and household decisions to prevent perpetuation of inequality.
A new form of physical computing has been demonstrated using a few hundred microscopic particles oscillating in a liquid. The system harnesses collective dynamics to perform computations, reducing the need for precise control and increasing efficiency.
Researchers found that hummingbird hawkmoths prefer one side when extending their proboscis while inspecting flowers. The strength of this preference varies among individuals, but the alignment between the eye and proboscis is maintained even when part of the eye is occluded.
A study by the University of Konstanz found that politicians' views on climate change are more polarized than those of their constituents, particularly on the political fringes. This disparity makes it challenging for elected representatives to accurately represent the interests of their constituents and implement effective climate pol...
Dirk Leuffen will lead the University of Konstanz from spring 2027, focusing on research priorities and expansion. He aims to strengthen the university's profile and research infrastructure.
A new study estimates the global cost of violence to be between $23 and $34 trillion per year. Domestic violence is found to be a major contributor to this cost, with intangible costs such as pain, suffering, and traumatization being significantly higher than the overall cost of collective violence like war and terrorism.
The Konstanz 'Village Lab' project will create an interdisciplinary programme on democracy in rural areas, providing students with hands-on experience. The four-year project aims to prepare students for active roles in shaping democratic processes and strengthening societal dialogue between the university and local regions.
Researchers decode signaling pathway of atypical chemokine receptor ACKR4, revealing its role in internalizing and degrading unnecessary chemokines. This mechanism helps guide immune cells and regulate inflammation, with potential implications for cancer treatment.
Elke Deuerling, a molecular biologist at the University of Konstanz, has been elected as a member of the Leopoldina, the German National Academy of Sciences. Her work on proteostasis, the regulation of cellular protein levels, has significantly contributed to the understanding of protein protection in delicate formation phases.
Research reveals how young fish larvae use green-yellow wavelengths of light to navigate Lake Constance's complex environment, but increasing temperatures and artificial lighting pose threats to their survival. Altering light colors in shore areas could mitigate these effects and help protect the delicate ecosystem.
A Chinese-German research team has reconstructed the genetic processes of re-diploidization in snow carps, revealing the fusion of chromosomes as the first stage. This process, which occurred relatively recently in evolutionary terms, led to an initial fourfold set of chromosomes that eventually reduced to two through asynchronous fusi...
The University of Konstanz has secured significant funding from the Hector Stiftung to advance its world-class research and innovation. The university will focus on promoting its strengths in teaching, internationalization, and transfer, while fostering cutting-edge research in collective behaviour.
Researchers found that consuming sugar before a relaxing massage impairs the body's ability to relax by activating the sympathetic nervous system. The study, published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, involved 94 healthy adults who received either a drink containing glucose or water before undergoing relaxation exercises.
A study by University of Konstanz researcher Lion Kircheis found a consistently elevated violent crime rate in Seattle on days with wildfires, with 3.6% more assaults reported on smoky days compared to regular ones.
Researchers develop method using biomarkers to calculate individual biological age, finding significant differences in age-related changes between men and women. The study also identifies clinically relevant biomarkers linked to biological age, opening up new opportunities for preventive medicine.
A new study published in Nature Communications uses larval zebrafish to uncover the neural mechanisms behind visual integration and decision-making. The findings suggest that the brain uses an additive algorithm to combine sensory inputs from motion, light, and luminance changes, guiding rapid adaptive decisions.
A recent study by the University of Konstanz investigated bumblebee decision-making behaviour, revealing that they take a 'shortcut' in information processing to save time. The insects primarily rely on flower colours to remember good food sources, but also recognize shapes and patterns.
The new center combines large-scale equipment and methods to study individual cells in detail, detecting molecular differences and analyzing reactions to biochemical or genetic changes. This enables new perspectives for medical diagnostics and research, including personalized medicine.
Physicists Guido Burkard and Joris Kattemölle from the University of Konstanz have developed a method to simplify quantum simulations by harnessing symmetry, streamlining the calculation process for complex systems. By using recurring patterns in the quantum systems, they significantly reduce the required computational effort.
A new study by the University of Konstanz and University of Lucerne reveals that locals view foreign employees who live in Switzerland as members of society, leading to increased acceptance. In contrast, cross-border commuters are perceived less positively due to concerns about job competition and fairness.
Research team led by biologist Joost Woltering discovers how ancient genes from fish midline fins were 'redeployed' to establish the dorsal-ventral axis in human limbs, allowing for complex limb differentiation and adaptation for life on land.
Couzin's research focuses on quantitative behavioural biology, using advanced technology to study collective motion and decision-making. He has challenged conventional views of collective motion and influenced fields like robotics and the social sciences with his widely cited publications.
Researchers at the University of Konstanz found that fruit fly larvae detect peers through multiple senses and adjust their behavior accordingly. The team used a genetically tractable system to study how brains process social information, revealing fundamental principles of decision-making across species.
Researchers found that meerkats use soft-spoken sunning calls to stay socially connected and manage group hierarchies without direct physical contact. Subordinate meerkats responded more strongly to dominant calls, suggesting vocal exchanges help stabilize weak social relationships.
A study by neuroethologists at the University of Konstanz reveals that insect brains process complex light stimuli in different layers of the lamina, enabling efficient signal processing and improved image resolution. The research found that cells in the lamina can perform multiple tasks depending on their location within the layer.
A US acquisition of Greenland would compromise national security and NATO solidarity, according to political scientist Gabriella Gricius. The Nordic countries must reorient their policies to strengthen security cooperation and adapt to hybrid threats in the Arctic.
Researchers discovered that pūkeko combine individual sound elements to create complex call sequences, expanding their range of expression. The team found that certain sound elements have specific roles in calls and sequence combinations, allowing for nuanced communication about context, state of arousal, and more.
Researchers at the University of Konstanz have developed a method to control the frequency of collective magnetic oscillations in materials, known as magnons. By applying laser pulses and a weak magnetic field, they can increase or decrease frequencies by up to 40%, enabling faster data writing and transfer.
A new method harnesses differences in surface tension to efficiently transport liquids off microscopic surfaces, enabling efficient production of micro- and nanomaterials without damaging them. The technique uses a contact-free approach to steer fluid currents in the desired direction.
The NAC protein complex regulates protein synthesis by slowing down the early stages of protein formation to ensure a smooth process. This optimization allows for reduced risk of collision and coordinates subsequent folding and logistics processes.
Tiny particles can coordinate motion and internal rhythms to exhibit complex collective behavior, similar to biological systems. The swarmalator model has potential applications in autonomous robotics and explores the emergence of complex dynamics from simple interactions.
Researchers can explore higher-dimensional effects within real laboratory systems using synthetic dimensions. Oded Zilberberg's ERC project aims to advance this field by introducing strong many-body interactions into synthetic-dimension platforms, potentially guiding the design of novel quantum materials and devices.
A new study found that negative media coverage of people with a migration background can lead to group-specific discrimination in administration practices, such as reduced credibility for applications. Researchers suggest targeted measures like media literacy training and balanced reporting can mitigate these effects.
The German Research Foundation has granted funding for two new Collaborative Research Centres at the University of Konstanz, exploring cellular trigger responses and language signal interference. Researchers aim to unravel molecular mechanisms behind cell perception and processing, and develop innovative tools for biotechnological appl...
Researchers at the University of Konstanz develop a mechanistic model to predict biological community composition in different ecosystems. Their study confirms the high predictive capacity of the model, which can be applied to various situations involving competing organisms.
Professor Iain Couzin has been included on the prestigious Global Highly Cited Researchers list seven times since 2018. His work combines behavioral biology, physics, computer science, and neuroscience to understand collective phenomena, earning him recognition for his contributions to the field of collective behaviour.
A new study by the Cluster of Excellence at the University of Konstanz and King's College London reveals that working from home can contribute to a fairer division of care work between men and women. In families with progressive views on gender roles, remote work actually helps to reduce existing inequalities in household tasks.
Researchers uncover genetic and cellular mechanisms behind seahorse male pregnancy, revealing the role of androgens and unusual immune tolerance strategies. The brood pouch provides a structure similar to a mammalian placenta, supporting embryonic development without typical female hormones.
A framework was introduced to test animal signals for their alerting function, applied to rock hyraxes' introductory notes. Wails were found to meet several criteria for an alerting component, including stability over medium distances and association with increased response rates.
A study of Brazilian fishers revealed that synchronization of heart rates during fishing is mainly shaped by internal group dynamics, with no significant impact from external influences. The researchers found a negative association between high synchronized behavior and the amount of fish caught.
Researchers propose that neural activity in each animal becomes linked through perception, allowing individuals to maintain bearings towards others relative to stable features in the environment. This synchronization gives rise to spontaneous alignment and collective movement.
A recent study found that Baltic diatom populations experienced accelerated genetic changes in response to human activity, but remained stable for millennia. The research team extracted ancient DNA from sediment cores and sequenced the genetic material of two cell organelles to analyze changes over 8,000 years.
A study by the University of Konstanz found that plant species which have expanded rapidly in their European home regions are more likely to become widely naturalized globally. The researchers identified common characteristics among these successful plant species, including being tall, ecologically versatile and highly competitive
Researchers at the University of Konstanz are developing new methods to modify natural substances using enzymes, with potential applications in pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, ecologist Catalina Chaparro-Pedraza is studying how organisms adapt to environmental changes and their impact on ecological resilience.