Research news

Wie kann die Europäische Union Versorgungssicherheit, offene Handelsbeziehungen, industrielle Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Umwelt-, Klima- und Menschenrechtsschutz in Einklang bringen? Dies wird das neue Jean-Monnet-Spitzenforschungszentrum für strategische Ressourcen und wirtschaftliche Souveränität untersuchen, das die EU am Europa-Institut der Universität des Saarlandes ansiedelt. Forschungsschwerpunkt ist der Stahlsektor. [...]

The muscles of the human ear reveal what and how we feel. This is the finding of Dr. Farah Corona-Strauss and Sophie Bonnaire, researchers at the Systems Neuroscience & Neurotechnology Unit in Saarbrücken and Homburg. Their research shows that activity in our ear muscles indicates not only who we are listening to and how attentively, but also the intensity of our emotional response, all within a fraction of a second. [...]

Ein Forschungsverbund unter Koordination der Universität des Saarlandes entwickelt neue Verfahren der künstlichen Intelligenz, um das Risiko einer chronischen Lungenerkrankung bei Frühgeborenen bereits in den ersten Lebenstagen besser einzuschätzen. Dafür wertet das Team aus Bioinformatik und (digitaler) Medizin existierende Daten aus und entwickelt neue KI-Ansätze. Das Bundesforschungsministerium fördert das Vorhaben ab 1. Januar 2027 über drei Jahre mit rund 2,3 Millionen Euro. [...]

New medicines to treat infections, cancer or other serious diseases are often based on active substances originally discovered in microorganisms, plants or other living organisms. Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) have now shown that artificial intelligence can help scientists use microorganisms to produce or optimize such compounds in a targeted way. [...]

When pathogens enter our bodies, a cascade of signalling molecules is set in motion, activating the body's immune response. But how does the body distinguish a harmful invader from, for example, a harmless bacterium? Dr. Mohamed Elhawy, a member of the research group led by Professor Gabriela Krasteva-Christ, has now identified one of the mechanisms that enables the body to tell the difference. The findings have been published in the journal Cell Reports. [...]

Human cells contain billions of molecules. To prevent complete chaos, these molecules and the reactions between them are organized within structures known as organelles. One of the cell’s most important organelles is the endoplasmic reticulum, a dynamic network that extends throughout the cell and plays an essential role in cell growth. [...]

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. [...]

What can be done to combat sedentary lifestyles worldwide? Do we have a fundamental right to environmental protection? How do microtears affect the materials that make up our appliances and machines? On Thursday, 8 October, at 6 pm, the Saarland University Society will honour fourteen outstanding doctoral theses in the 'Aula' assembly hall on the Saarbrücken campus. [...]

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. [...]