Research news

How can digital twins support the energy infrastructure of the future? What role do new materials play in sustainable energy storage? How do AI, hydrogen technologies and new concepts contribute to the energy transition in Saarland? These are the questions addressed by the EnFoSaar project, which focuses on energy research. On 21 October, the Annual Conference will bring together representatives from academia, industry, politics and broader society to present and discuss research findings. [...]

Was hilft gegen den weltweiten Bewegungsmangel? Gibt es ein Grundrecht auf Umweltschutz? Wie verhalten sich Risse im Mikrokosmos? Insgesamt vierzehn herausragende Doktorarbeiten zeichnet die Universitätsgesellschaft des Saarlandes am Donnerstag, dem 8. Oktober, um 18 Uhr in der Aula auf dem Saarbrücker Campus mit Promotionspreisen aus. [...]

Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics often leads to side effects, as it affects not only the pathogens but also the beneficial bacteria in the gut. An interdisciplinary research team demonstrated that the natural compound argyrin B is highly effective in fighting the pathogen Clostridioides difficile while largely sparing the beneficial gut microbiome. [...]

Professor of Chemistry Tanja Gulder's team at Saarland University draws inspiration from nature to develop new approaches to drug discovery. Their findings are attracting outstanding young researchers from all over the world – such as Joscha Meiers. The PhD pharmaceutical scientist is working on incorporating halogens into organic compounds in an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient manner. [...]

In industrial production, getting the sequence right is crucial. What sounds trivial at first poses a considerable challenge for sectors with complex planning processes. The automotive industry is just one of many examples. Parts from suppliers must arrive on time and a wide variety of model configurations need to be mass-produced. At the same time, innovation cycles are becoming ever shorter. An AI-supported planning platform that optimally controls the production process has yet to be introduc [...]

Artificial intelligence can free up more time for legal professionals to focus on their core legal work. At the EDV-Gerichtstag (EDVGT) conference on 23–25 September on the Saarbrücken campus, the Institute for Legal Informatics at Saarland University will be presenting AI tools for research, teaching and university studies. [...]

The European Union is providing a further €4.6 million in funding for the Master's programme Advanced Materials Science and Engineering (AMASE). This latest award brings the total funding since 2005 to more than €20 million, making it one of the most successful programmes supported under the prestigious Erasmus Mundus scheme. [...]

The Joint Federal Committee, which oversees the German healthcare system, recently approved a screening appointment programme for children ages 9 and 10, known as the U10. This marks a turning point for vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV). For the first time, there is a regular screening appointment for all children covered by statutory health insurance, precisely at the age at which the HPV vaccination is recommended. [...]

For many years, the Water Monitoring Research Group at Saarland University has been investigating pollution in Saarland's streams and rivers with the ultimate aim of implementing measures to protect these bodies of water. A new five-year collaborative project undertaken in partnership with the Saarland Ministry for the Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (MUKMAV) was launched in July. [...]

Large language models such as ChatGPT have become an integral part of everyday life for many people and businesses. They are being used, e.g., to gather information from multiple sources and to support complex planning processes. Yet these AI systems are not infallible and they continue to make mistakes – LLMs hallucinate and struggle to combine information in a logically rigorous manner. Computational linguist Michael Hahn has set out to strengthen the theoretical foundations of AI reasoning. [...]