News

Predatory publishers harm academia
25.07.2018 ·

Predatory publishers that only simulate academic quality-assurance procedures harm the credibility of academia, which must develop greater awareness of this kind of business model.

Neptune's clouds
19.07.2018 · Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam

The atmosphere impairs the astronomical images. A technology used for the first time suppresses the blurred effects of the atmosphere and produces very sharp images of the universe.

Flipping the switch
18.07.2018 · Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

Carbon pricing could make financial resources available for succeeding with the global Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. At the same time, it could be a central contribution to meet global climate targets.

Big eyes but diminished brain power
18.07.2018 · Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre

Night-time activity makes its mark on fish brains: Despite having massive eyes, nocturnal fish have less brain tissue devoted to processing visual stimuli.

Contact with migrants reduces electoral success of right-wing parties
18.07.2018 · Centre for European Economic Research

A new study shows that direct contact between local residents and refugees in municipalities with high numbers of newly arrived migrants leads to less support for far-right parties at the local level.

Insulator-metal transition
04.07.2018 · Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy

There are materials that can exhibit metal or insulator behaviour depending on their temperature. Being able to switch their properties, these materials could lead to a new generation of electronic devices.

How does our brain work when planning a movement?
21.06.2018 · German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research

A rhesus monkeys study shows that planned movements and spontaneous reactions are processed differently in the brain: The monkeys have the same brain activity during the movement but the preceded brain activity differs.

Brood care gene steers the division of labour among ants
28.06.2018 · Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

A strict division of labour prevails in the ant colony. Scientists have identified a gene, whose activity regulates the sensitivity to brood scent and thus influences the brood care behaviour of ants.

Sharp images with flexible fibers
13.06.2018 · Leibniz-Institute of Photonic Technology

Endoscopes allow to see into a patient’s body but their large diameter hampers their application in sensitive body regions. Researchers have discovered a new way to transfer image information through multimodal fibers with almost...

New antibiotic against tuberculosis
07.06.2018 · Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology

A new active compound for tuberculosis is now entering clinical trail. The newly developed test substance is also effective against multi-resistant pathogens that are making treatment increasingly difficult worldwide.

Women and the risks of cardiovascular disease
13.06.2018 · German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke

Women with obesity are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, women of normal weight are at risk of heart attack or stroke if they suffer from a metabolic disease such as diabetes.

Investigation of the atmosphere
06.06.2018 · Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research

Unmanned mini-airplanes can contribute significantly to the investigation of the causes of Arctic climate change: They provide new insights into ground-level air layers that are not monitored by other measuring stations.

Resistance against works councils
31.05.2018 · Halle Institute for Economic Research

Studies have shown that works councils have a positive impact on productivity and profits. Despite this, employers are sometimes resistant to the idea of staff involvement in company decision-making.

Gene switch for healthy aging found
31.05.2018 · Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute

A calorie-restricted diet is known to alleviate frailty and age related-diseases. Researchers now demonstrate in a mouse model that a gene regulator is involved in the aging process.

Genetic diversity protects
31.05.2018 · Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

Diversity is the key: a team of researchers has succeeded in demonstrating experimentally that genetic diversity makes populations more resistant to disease.

Electrons in a dual state
26.04.2018 · Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy

Researchers managed to control the shape of laser pulses to place an electron in a dual state by keeping it both free and bound to its nucleus.

Lavish blue-green algae
26.04.2018 · Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research

Blue-green algae produce an excess of amino acids at a late stage of their bloom. This leads to a surprising food supply for marine microorganisms and thus for the entire food web in nutrient-poor seasons.

Smart Taxing
23.03.2018 · Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

A policy package of bequest taxes and land value taxes could be the optimal solution to reduce wealth inequality and rising land prices.

Responsibility as a burden
28.03.2018 · Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien

People in high-power positions experience more stress if they are aware of their responsibility than if they recognize the freedom their position provides.

Impact of air pollution on cognitive decline
28.03.2018 · Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine

Air pollution is a risk factor for cognitive impairment in elderly people. But where does this effect come from - is there a direct relation or is it mediated by lung function?