News

More body awareness than a culture war

In Italy, sex education lessons will in future only be permitted with parental consent, and will be banned entirely in nurseries and primary schools. At the same time, Pride Month highlights why knowledge about the body, relationships, boundaries and diversity is important for young people. A study by the University of Graz shows how important knowledge about the body, contraception, relationship skills and protection against violence is

Noise is the signal: new simulation method enables secure communication

Researchers from Graz, Vienna and Munich have developed a new simulation method that makes it possible to calculate quantum light using classical software – a step towards secure quantum communication.

From one to many: Uni Graz researchers identify a mechanism for the origin of species

When a habitat changes, animals, plants and even humans must adapt to the new environmental conditions. Those who manage this fastest and best will prevail. Over time, new species that are specialised for specific habitats also develop. Zoologist Christian Sturmbauer and his research group at the University of Graz, together with international partners, have now demonstrated that the molecular biological process of “alternative splicing” – contrary to previous assumptions – contributes highly effectively to the formation of new species. Different combinations of parts of the same gene give rise to various, structurally slightly different variants of functional proteins. This leads very rapidly to significant changes. The research findings were published in the renowned journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Building biological bridges: Chemist discovers an ecological tool for the pharmaceutical industry

Building a relationship on a solid foundation is also important in chemistry. To produce medicines, disinfectants or plant protection products, stable bonds between carbon atoms must be formed. Conventional chemical methods rely on environmentally harmful reagents and solvents to carry out the desired reaction. This process also produces unusable by-products. Chemist Lilla Gal has discovered an enzyme that enables the same process to take place efficiently and sustainably. The results of her research were recently published in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie.

Interpreting data: Why studies sometimes get it wrong

Hilmar Brohmer and Ziva Korda from the Institute of Psychology, together with 500 international colleagues, have re-evaluated a hundred scientific publications and have often come to different conclusions.

Achieving climate goals: Researchers highlight need for fair country shares in CO2

As the war in the Middle East is currently reminding us once again, many countries around the world are heavily reliant on oil and gas. Lax climate policy and limited options for removing CO₂ from the atmosphere could cement this dependence for future generations. Scientists at the University of Graz highlight this danger in a new study published in the journal Global Environmental Change. They find that rights to carbon dioxide removal should be distributed across countries just as fairly as emission budgets in order to halt global warming.

Sustainable reforestation: Researchers identify key factors for successful restoration

Natural forests are not only valuable for CO₂ storage, but also reservoirs of biodiversity. For this reason, areas that are no longer used for agriculture are being reforested as part of renaturation projects. To ensure successful forest restoration, there are a number of factors to consider. For example, the combination of early- and late-successional tree species plays a role. At the outset, the correct spacing between seedlings is crucial for the survival of young forest plants. Sarah Bürli, head of the Botanical Garden at the University of Graz, has analysed the results of experiments on forest renaturation together with colleagues in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Her findings on beneficial planting strategies were recently published in the science magazine Ecological Solutions and Evidence.

The dark side of life: new method developed to identify soil organisms

A large number of soil animals are smaller than one millimetre and are therefore difficult to study scientifically. Biologists from the University of Graz have now developed a method to determine both the shape and the DNA of the organisms. The results have been published in the journal Geoderma.

More news

On the trail of the Big Bang: University of Graz receives 1.5 million euros for doctoral programmes

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Teamwork: 100 pupils take part in maths competition at the University of Graz

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Graduated 50 years ago: Golden Doctorate for alumni of the University of Graz

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Bio-plastics and baroque theatre: Awards for two researchers from the University of Graz

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EU supports team led by molecular biologist Brigitte Pertschy with around ten million euro

The European Research Council (ERC) is funding the snoOPERA project with around ten million euros to research the structure of cellular protein…

Maths made easy: how gaming elements motivate children to practise

Where does the six belong on a number line from one to ten? This task is a challenge for children with dyscalculia. For fear of failure, many are…

Sebastian Preissl researches mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases

They are among the most common causes of death worldwide: cardiovascular diseases. Both genetic factors and lifestyle can be responsible for changes…

Preserving natural heritage: International student group learns in open-air laboratory

How can the age of trees be determined? Which plants grow where, and how do satellites and remote sensing sensors help with mapping? How are birdsong…