News

New findings provide basis for innovative material development

If we strive for ever thinner materials, we eventually reach the two-dimensional (2D) limit, where the material is only a few atoms or even just one atom thin. These materials acquire unique mechanical, electronic and optical properties that hold great potential for innovative technologies, for example for energy conversion and storage. Physicists from the University of Graz and Forschungszentrum Jülich have now achieved a breakthrough in the development and characterisation of so-called 2D-MOFs, a special type of two-dimensional material. The scientists published their results in the renowned journals ACS Nano and Advanced Science.

Healthy ageing with fasting: Spermidine is the key to success

In most parts of the world, life expectancy has risen significantly in recent decades. At the same time, various age-related diseases have increased. Fasting appears to be a promising preventative measure. A few years ago, scientists in Graz were able to prove its health-promoting effects. Now an international research team led by Sebastian Hofer and Frank Madeo from the University of Graz has discovered which molecular mechanisms underlie the positive effects: During fasting, the concentration of the substance spermidine increases in the body, which triggers autophagy, a cellular cleansing process. The current study was published in the renowned scientific journal Nature Cell Biology.

Even greener: University of Graz researchers improve the chemical industry

Durable bioplastics, rapidly available medicines or cosmetics without toxic waste materials: chemists have long relied on enzymes, i.e. proteins from nature, as biocatalysts for environmentally friendly production. Researchers from the University of Graz and the Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology, together with BASF, have now discovered how they can determine the ideal conditions for production to make it even more sustainable. The results have been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Invasion: American oak lace bug is spreading in Styria

They may be tiny, but there are many, many of them. Oak lace bugs imported from North America are currently flooding Styria by the billions. Some media have already reported on the explosive multiplication of the little creatures, which are only three millimetres in size. Gernot Kunz, an insect researcher at the University of Graz, has been observing and documenting their spread and the damage they cause to native oak trees for four years.

Arqus Teaching Excellence Award for Sabine Bergner

The teaching prize of the European University Alliance Arqus went this year to a psychologist from the University of Graz. Sabine Bergner was honored for her seminar "Psychological Principles of Negotiation, Persuasion and Influencing". The international award ceremony took place on July 3, 2024 as part of the Arqus annual conference at the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal.

Bacteria in chain mail: Lactobacilli protect themselves with a lattice of proteins

We know them from the advertising for yoghurts or other probiotic foods: lactobacilli. They play an important role in the gut, but also in the microbiome of mucous membranes in other regions of our body. Researchers at the University of Graz have now succeeded for the first time in elucidating the three-dimensional structure of the protein layer on the surface of lactobacilli. It protects the bacteria like chain mail against external attacks. This knowledge is valuable. It opens up new possibilities for the treatment of intestinal diseases and for better drug delivery systems. The new findings were published in the scientific journal PNAS.

On the 180th anniversary of Ludwig Boltzmann's birth: Physics building receives award

The physics building at Universitätsplatz 5 received a special distinction: it was included as number 75 in the "Historic Sites" of the European Physical Society. And this just in the 180th year of the birth of the University of Graz researcher Ludwig Boltzmann

Spatenstich für das „Graz Center of Physics“: Spitzenforschung wird sichtbarer

Am 4. Juni 2024 erfolgte in Anwesenheit von Bundesminister Martin Polaschek der Spatenstich für das neue Graz Center of Physics (GCP). Nach dem Abbruch der ehemaligen Vorklinik beginnt nun mit dem Aushub der Baugrube die nächste wichtige Phase für eines der größten Universitätsbauprojekte Österreichs. Der nachhaltige Neubau wird die Physik-Institute von Universität Graz und TU Graz ab dem Jahr 2030 an einem gemeinsamen Standort vereinen.

More news

Research for healthy aging: FWF funds Cluster of Excellence "MetAGE" with 18 million euros

Six researchers from the Field of Excellence "BioHealth" at the University of Graz, together with colleagues from the Medical Universities of Graz and…

Rising cost of living for insects: Energy demand increases with climate change

It sounds paradoxical: when the climate gets warmer, insects need more energy. Biologists at the University of Graz have demonstrated this using the…

Short but powerful: PhD students present their research in the 3 Minute Thesis Competition

Brevity is the soul of wit - a saying that was confirmed at the Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) on 15 March 2024. Eleven doctoral students from…

Amino acids stimulate protein partnership

It is one of the key enzymes for the lipid catabolism in the body: ATGL (adipose triglyceride lipase). It was discovered at the University of Graz in…

New photonic chip can generate and measure customised light fields for the first time

They send light, like tiny cars, along sophisticated paths across a silicon surface. And they do this on a chip the size of the tip of a small finger.…

Plankton and ice: How global warming is changing the supply of nutrients in the oceans

Climate change not only affects weather phenomena such as El Niño or the monsoon, but also ocean currents and consequently the food chain. The…

Light micros and efficient e-cars: Doppler lab for novel sensors launches

They use shaped light to measure sound and microwaves to spy on the torque in the e-car. Alexander Bergmann and Peter Banzer are working on completely…

Nanoscience: Uni-Graz-researchers develop novel molecular motors that move with perfect uni-directionality along an atomically defined straight line

Researchers at the University of Graz have realized a groundbreaking experiment with a completely novel type of molecular motor which moves by itself…