Passive day cooling is a promising technology for the sustainable reduction of energy consumption. It avoids the heating up of buildings by solar radiation and dissipates accumulated heat without external energy consumption. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have now created a test system with which the materials used for passive cooling can be reliably characterised and compared - regardless of weather conditions and environmental conditions. The measurement setup presented in "Cell Reports Physical Science" is the first step towards a standardised, globally applicable test system for comparing high-performance cooling materials.
A novel peptide developed at the Universities of Bayreuth and Bristol is eminently suited for the targeted transport of molecules, for example of active substances and dyes, into the cells of mammals. The peptide is characterized by a dual function: It can enter the cell from the outside and interact there with a partner peptide. The partner peptide has to be previously placed inside the cell exactly where the transported molecules are to take effect. The transport system presented in the journal Nature Chemical Biology exemplifies the promising potential of a de novo design of peptides and proteins.
Peatlands are the focus of a podcast series by the Bayreuth Centre of Ecology & Environmental Research (BayCEER) at the University of Bayreuth. For four years, as part of the Bavarian Climate Research Network, the "AquaKlif - Effects of multiple stressors on stream ecosystems during climate change" project has been asking the question of what we can do to mitigate the effects of climate change on streams? An important step here is the protection of the moors in the headwaters of low mountain ranges. Two young scientists who are researching lowland moors at the Hydrology research group in BayCEER talked to experts about this. The outcome was the "Moorminuten" podcast.
From July 6 to 9, the international annual conference of the Cluster of Excellence "Africa Multiple" will take place for the third time. Registration for participation in person or online is still possible until July 5.
Anyone walking in the city has to adjust their gait again and again to kerbs or steps. Every person develops control strategies for the changes in muscle activity required for this, which protect them from tripping and falling accidents. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have now analysed these strategies and their effectiveness for the first time, using computer simulations. They were able to show that a strategy based on visual perception, which prepares the muscles for differences in height at an early stage, protects far better than situational muscle reflexes. Their study is presented in "Scientific Reports".
Composting plants process biowaste into finished compost, which ends up as fertiliser in the soils of fields. A study by the University of Bayreuth shows that finished compost from composting plants in Germany contains a large number of biodegradable plastic particles. Applicable legal and certification standards are not violated by the sizes and quantities of the particles detected. However, the data published in "Scientific Reports" call into question the contribution of these standards to effective environmental protection. They draw into question whether biodegradable plastics are suitable for replacing conventional plastics in environmentally and nutritionally sensitive areas.
Nitrogenous fertilisers are necessary to feed a growing world population. The sustainable production of industrially usable nitrogen, especially for fertiliser production, is consequently the focus of the German Research Foundation priority programme "Nitroconversion" (SPP 2370). The coordinator of the programme is the Bayreuth physical chemist Prof. Dr. Roland Marschall. The University of Bayreuth is also home to two of eleven research projects that the DFG has selected for funding. The DFG will initially fund the two projects and the coordination of the programme for three years with a total of around 1.5 million euros.
Its collaborations with companies, combined with a high level of economic relevance of scientific projects, its international teaching and research profile, in addition to strong interdisciplinary cooperation on its campus – these are all areas in which the University of Bayreuth achieved excellent ratings in the U-Multirank published today. Funded by the European Union, U-Multirank is a worldwide ranking of universities and higher education institutions. It is published by an international network under the auspices of Germany's Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) and the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS) in the Netherlands.
Hydrogen bonds are of fundamental interest in materials science, physics and chemistry. An international team including scientists from the University of Bayreuth has now achieved surprising insights into the formation of hydrogen bonds using a novel method that enables the application of NMR spectroscopy in high-pressure research. The research results, published in Nature Communications, may be a starting point for the targeted design of materials that contain symmetrical hydrogen bonds and therefore exhibit extraordinary, potentially technologically interesting properties.
Living conditions for forests at high elevations have changed significantly in recent decades as a result of climate change. In many mountain regions, they have become more favorable above the tree line than in lower-lying forested areas. Nevertheless, climate change has not yet led to forests adapting directly to this change and shifting to higher regions. This is confirmed by a new biogeographical study of the University of Bayreuth using the example of the Mediterranean island of Crete. The scientists present their research results in the journal "Forest Ecosystems". They warn of the possible consequences.
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