30.04.2013 Nanodomains Made Visible

Nanodomains in the membrane of the genetic model organism Arabidopsis thaliana, made visible with high resolution microscopy. The domains are discernible as sharply delineated areas (red, left). Among other things, they provide a platform for the ABA signaling pathway, via which the plants sense drought stress and take countermeasures. (Picture: Ines Kreuzer)

In dry conditions, certain areas of the plant cell membrane are subject to significant changes. For the first time, scientists have made these so-called nanodomains visible under the microscope, investigating how they changed.


26.04.2013 Preise für gute Lehre

Wissenschaftsminister Wolfgang Heubisch (Mitte) mit den Würzburger Preisträgern Wolfgang Lenhard und Sandra Ellena. (Foto: Peter Hemza)

Mit je 5.000 Euro sind die Preise dotiert, die der bayerische Wissenschaftsminister für besonders gute Leistungen in der Lehre vergibt. Zwei davon gehen an die Uni Würzburg.


25.04.2013 Wissenschaftsrat zu Gast

Universitätspräsident Alfred Forchel bei seiner Ansprache im Weinkeller der Residenz. (Foto: Josef Wilhelm)

Seit Mittwoch tagt der Wissenschaftsrat in Würzburg. Auf Einladung der Universität traf man sich bei einem Empfang im historischen Weinkeller der Residenz.


25.04.2013 When Repair Services Fail

University of Würzburg researchers have discovered a mutation that triggers Fanconi anemia in those affected. The gene usually controls specific DNA repair mechanisms. (Photo: Gerd Altmann / pixelio.de)

Cells are generally able to repair damage to the genome by themselves. However, a defect in the genes controlling such repair mechanisms usually leads to severe diseases. University of Würzburg scientists have now discovered mutations of an unexpected gene in the case of Fanconi anemia.


25.04.2013 New Ranking: Würzburg is Top

The University of Würzburg is one of the leading universities in Germany and Europe in terms of research performance. Even in a worldwide ranking, it features among the top German universities. This has been confirmed by the Leiden Ranking 2013 published just now.


25.04.2013 Hohe Überlebensraten nach Reaktorunfall

13jähriger Junge mit einem Schilddrüsenkarzinom, das Metastasen in der Lunge gebildet hat. Das Bild links zeigt die Situation vor der Therapie. Nach vier Radioiod-Behandlungen waren die Metastasen verschwunden (rechts). Die Ganzkörperszintigramme wurden am Universitätsklinikum Würzburg aufgenommen.

Zum 27. Jahrestag des Atomunfalls von Tschernobyl legen Mediziner aus Würzburg und Minsk eine neue Langzeitstudie vor. Ihr zufolge haben fast alle Kinder und Jugendlichen, die nach dem Unfall an Schilddrüsenkrebs erkrankt sind, bis heute überlebt.


17.04.2013 How life came ashore

Scientists have decoded the genome of the coelacanth. This project is the main feature of the current issue of Nature.

The coelacanth is interesting in many respects: until 1938, this fish was thought to have become extinct; it has changed very little in the past 300 million years; and it is considered a predecessor of the first land creatures. Now scientists have decoded its genome.


17.04.2013 RNA Against Toxic Sugars

A small RNA molecule renders the sugar so "fluid" that it flows out of the bacterial cell practically all by itself – as is symbolically depicted in the picture. (Picture: Manja Herrmann)

University of Würzburg researchers describe a new form of gene activation in the scientific journal "Cell". They also show how salmonella bacteria thus prevent themselves from being poisoned by too much sugar. The new findings also hold promise for application in bioengineering.


12.04.2013 1000. Beratung im Career Service

Nach dem 1000. Beratungsgespräch: Krischan Brandl vom Career Service mit Studentin Verena Pecher. (Foto: Career Service)

Im Career Service der Uni wurde am Donnerstag das tausendste Beratungsgespräch geführt: Studentin Verena Pecher bekam unter anderem hilfreiches Feedback zu ihren Bewerbungsunterlagen und Infos über Vorstellungsgespräche.


08.04.2013 How Plants Sense Dry Air

Electron microscopic images of Arabidopsis thaliana leaf surfaces. The stomata are clearly wider opened at high humidity (80% rh) than at low humidity (20% rh). (Picture: Peter Ache)

If the ambient air is very dry, plants need to protect themselves against excessive loss of water. For this purpose, they close special pores in their leaves. University of Würzburg researchers have explored how plants sense changes in humidity and translate this information into a signal.


05.04.2013 Frankreichs Premierminister zu Besuch

Jean-Marc Ayrault beim Eintrag in das Gästebuch der Uni Würzburg.

Im Wintersemester 1969/70 war Jean-Marc Ayrault als Austauschstudent zu Gast an der Universität Würzburg. Jetzt hat der französische Premierminister „seiner“ ehemaligen Uni einen Besuch abgestattet. Die Universität hat ihm dabei die Ehrenbürgerwürde verliehen.


05.04.2013 Tracing Photochemical Reactions

A sequence of ultrashort laser pulses (left) leads to the chemical reaction of a merocyanine dye (in the middle), which can be analyzed with multidimensional spectroscopy (right). Graphics: Martin Kullmann, University of Würzburg

When light hits organic molecules, it triggers processes that are of considerable interest to scientists. But the individual steps of the reaction are very hard to identify. A study group at the University of Würzburg has now accomplished this task – with a sophisticated approach.


03.04.2013 Surprising Findings in Fish Genome

Xiphophorus maculatus, also known as platyfish or platy. Researchers have now deciphered its genome and came across several surprises. (Photo: Manfred Schartl)

It is a popular aquarium fish: the platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus. It is valued by researchers as an important model organism in the search for genetic trigger factors of skin cancer. Together with colleagues from the USA, University of Würzburg biochemist Manfred Schartl has decoded the genome of this fish species.


03.04.2013 Mit Stammzellen gegen Arthrose

Kann eine Therapie mit Stammzellen Patienten helfen, die an einer Arthrose leiden? Das untersuchen Mediziner der Universität Würzburg. In dieser bundesweit ersten Phase-1-Studie werden sie insgesamt sechs Patienten behandeln. Die derzeitigen Ergebnisse klingen vielversprechend.


02.04.2013 Suddenly Magnetic

The fact that non-magnetic tin atoms on a silicon substrate suddenly become magnetic is attributable to regularly ordered patterns of electron spin. (Graphics: Jörg Schäfer)

It came as a surprise: If tin atoms are arranged on a silicon substrate in a special way, the material becomes magnetic. University of Würzburg physicists have successfully conducted such an experiment. This research might open up a new way of processing information.