wissenschaft

201 million years ago, the Earth got so hot that it caused a mass extinction of animals and other animate beings. For dinosaurs on the other hand, this climate change was actually beneficial: Their populations started growing and they expanded their habitat. This is shown in the research results of an international team of scientists led by Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), the Universities of Birmingham and Bristol in the UK as well as the University of São Paulo in Brazil. The findings have now been published in the scientific journal Current Biology.*

Since the beginning of November, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) has been coordinating the project “CarbonNeutralLNG” focusing on the production of synthetic methane using hydrogen, as an alternative to fossil energy sources, and carbon dioxide (CO2). The project is part of Horizon Europe, the central funding program offered by the European Union to encourage research and innovation, and is to receive 3.5 million euros in funding over a period of three years.

With the beginning of the new winter semester 2022/23, FAU President Prof. Dr. Hornegger welcomes many new students as well as the new batch of winners of the President’s Welcome Award: In their applications, Andreea Dogaru, Pablo Ochoa de Eribe Delgado und Timotei Ardelean had demonstrated that they are the perfect fit for the mentorship program. As a result, they can now enjoy one year of rent-free living, free language courses and workshops and the mentoring support of the FAU President during their time as doctoral candidates at FAU.

Immune cells in the brain are known as microglia. They have the important function of protecting the brain from pathogens or targeting damaged cells. But they also have a dark side and can damage the brain. An international team of researchers led by Universitätsklinikum Erlangen have gathered detailed findings on microglial cells and their role in a form of Parkinson’s disease called multisystem atrophy (MSA).

The first all-sky survey performed by the eROSITA X-ray telescope on-board the Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) observatory has revealed a large hourglass-shaped structure in the Milky Way. These “eROSITA bubbles” show a striking similarity to the Fermi bubbles, detected a decade ago at even higher energies.

Every year, researchers come to FAU or go abroad whose stay is supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH). In order to offer "Humboldtians" in the Franconian region a forum for encounter and exchange, the regional group Franconia of the German Society of Humboldtains e.V. (DGH) was founded in October 2019 at FAU.

The periodic table turns 150 years. We took this as an opportunity to ask our scientists about their favorite element. Today: Prof. Dr. Hellerbrand on iron.

A research team from Nuremberg and Erlangen has set a new record for the power conversion efficiency of organic photovoltaic modules (OPV). The scientists designed an OPV module with an efficiency of 12.6 percent over an area of 26 square centimeters. The former world record of 9.7 percent was exceeded by 30 percent.

What is necessary to further boost AI? According to Thomas Hahn, Chief Expert Software Siemens AG Germany, cooperations between different stakeholders are needed, for example between industry and universities.

What does AI change in various research fields? Prof. Dr. Günther Görz, Digital Humanities Research Group, explains.