31.01.2011 Mit 19 das Diplom in der Tasche

Frühstudierende

70 Frühstudierende der Universität Würzburg haben jetzt ihre Urkunden für das vergangene Sommersemester erhalten. Einer von ihnen hat sich dabei besonders hervorgetan. Mit seiner Leistung hat er bundesweit für Aufsehen gesorgt.

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31.01.2011 The Immune System: How it is Regulated

A regulatory T cell (in the middle) has formed a close connection to a normal T cell of the immune system, pumping the chemical messenger cAMP into the latter. This causes a decrease of the NFAT protein in the "receiving cell"; therefore, the red color is less pronounced than in the uninvolved T cell at the left edge of the picture. The yellow color of the cell in the middle indicates the presence of the Foxp3 protein – this proves that it actually is a regulatory T cell, since Foxp3 is only present in this type of T cell. Picture: Martin Väth

Asthma, diabetes, rheumatism: Such diseases can arise when the immune system does not work properly. Researchers from the Universities of Würzburg and Mainz have discovered new findings about the regulation of the immune defense.

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27.01.2011 Bats Feed Plants

Borneo, in the rain forest: A small woolly bat and its roost, the pitcher of the pitcher plant Nepenthes rafflesiana. Usually, these carnivorous plants get their extra nitrogen from the carcasses of trapped insects. This species, however, uses the feces of bats for this purpose as has been discovered by researchers of the University of Würzburg. Photo: Michael Schöner

Würzburg zoologists describe a remarkable partnership in the scientific journal "Biology Letters": Tropical bats interact with carnivorous pitcher plants – for mutual benefit.

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21.01.2011 Top Awards for Chemistry and Physics

Professors Laurens Molenkamp (left) and Holger Braunschweig of the University of Würzburg have each been awarded a 2.5 million euro grant by the European Research Council. Photographs: Institute of Physics / Robert Emmerich

The news caused great excitement in the laboratories of chemist Holger Braunschweig and physicist Laurens Molenkamp: The two professors of the University of Würzburg have each been awarded 2.5 million euros in funds for their respective research by the European Research Council.

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17.01.2011 Botanik: Lehr-Lern-Garten am Start

Viele Pflanzen liefern Farbstoffe für Käse, Butter und Co. Schülergruppen versetzt das immer wieder in Erstaunen – hier beim Betrachten und Befühlen von Annato, den Samen des Orleans-Strauchs (Bixa orellana). Diese liefern ein Carotinoid, das blassen Käse orange färbt. Foto: Dominik Katterfeldt

Wie gestaltet man einen spannenden Unterricht? Wie bringt man Fachwissen an Schüler? Wie kann man außerschulische Lernorte nutzen? Für solche Fragen ist der neue Lehr-Lern-Garten der Uni Würzburg zuständig. Lehramtsstudierende können dort praxisnah mit Schülern arbeiten.

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13.01.2011 Testing the boundaries

[Translate to Englisch:] Marc Häming

Plastics-based electronics are becoming more and more prevalent in everyday life. Yet, the fundamental processes behind them have only partly been understood to date. Now, physicists from the University of Würzburg have succeeded in taking an important step towards understanding the complex properties of these components.

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