Linking new electrochemical processes with the production of high-value substances by enzymes and microorganisms is the goal of a still fledgling research approach, bioelectrosynthesis. Prof. Dr. Frank Hahn, head of a research group in organic chemistry at the University of Bayreuth, is seeking to advance this approach in the field of polyketides, a class of substances of significant importance in pharmacy and biomedicine. He will receive funding of approximately € 1 million from the Volkswagen Foundation over the next seven years as part of its "Momentum" initiative.
Adding finely ground rock to ecosystems can stimulate CO2 uptake by increasing both the rate of weathering and plant productivity. In a new international study led by geographers from the Augsburg University, the proportion of increased CO2 uptake due to plant productivity was estimated for the first time and the results show that this biological effect is significantly higher than previously assumed.
Representatives of numerous pathogenic fungal species are finding new habitat on microplastic particles in the soil and could thus be one of the possible causes of an increase in fungal infections. Researchers from Bayreuth, Hannover and Munich demonstrated this in a new study. Using high-throughput methods, the scientists analysed fungal communities from soil samples taken from sites near human settlements in western Kenya. The findings of this research have been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
As temperatures rise, the risk of devastating forest fires is increasing. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are using artificial intelligence to estimate the long-term impact that an increased number of forest fires will have on forest ecosystems. Their simulations show how Yellowstone National Park in the USA could change by the end of the century.
Stefan Bauernschuster from the University of Passau and Christian Traxler from the Hertie School argue that a speed limit would not only lead to fewer deaths and injuries, but also has positive effects for those living in the vicinity of highways.
High-tech methods for detecting microplastics in food and suitable prevention measures are the focus of the joint German-Austrian Cornet project "MicroplasticATfood", which kicked off on 1 July 2021. With its expertise in microplastic research, the University of Bayreuth is involved in interdisciplinary case studies dealing with packaging, filling lines, beverages, surfaces of solid food, and soluble foods. On the German side, the project will be funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy until 2023 to the tune of € 542,000, of which about € 275,000 have been allocated to the University of Bayreuth.
Plants rotting in the soil are valuable for more than just compost. In fact, plant residues play a crucial role in keeping carbon in the soil, which is important for reducing the planet's CO2 emissions. This is the conclusion of a new study by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and other institutions.
When extreme heat becomes more frequent and temperatures remain high for extended periods of time, as it is currently in Canada and in the American Northwest, physiological stress increases in humans, animals and crops. Prof. Senthold Asseng, director of the World Agricultural Systems Center at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), provides an overview of thresholds and adaptation strategies.
The University of Bayreuth is establishing an interdisciplinary central laboratory on its campus, the Bayreuth Centre for Stable Isotopes in Ecology & Biogeochemistry (BayCenSI). The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding the new facility from its "Core Facilities" programme for the next three years to the tune of € 560,000. Subsequent follow-up funding of € 315,000 is planned. BayCenSI builds on the expertise of the existing Laboratory of Isotope Biogeochemistry, and will be integrated into the Bayreuth Centre of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER).
Hof/Münchberg, June 23, 2021 - Energy storage is one of the key issues for a sustainable energy supply in the future. Thousands of researchers around the world are currently working on this issue. An exciting project is also currently underway at the Münchberg campus of Hof University of Applied Sciences. Here, new types of ice batteries for cooling applications are being researched, which can help to sustainably reduce energy and CO2. They are powered by surplus solar energy.
This website uses cookies and the Matomo web analysis tool. By continuing to browse you agree to our use of cookies. Change your settings here. More information.