Research news

Adults with ADHD often have difficulty concentrating and structuring their daily lives. Many people with ADHD require therapy, yet places for the service are scarce. According to a recent clinical study involving 337 adults, a digital intervention can provide immediate support and has been shown to be as effective as behavioural therapy. Saarland University's Roberto D'Amelio was the study's lead author and the renowned journal Psychological Medicine published the study's findings. [...]

Scientists from Saarland University, RPTU Kaiserslautern–Landau, VIB-VUB Brussels and collaborating institutions have discovered that important enzymes in our cells, known as peroxiredoxins, can combine more flexibly than previously assumed. The discovery shows how cells create molecular diversity and fine-tune stress responses.
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Innovative materials could help to reduce the energy consumption of electrical devices, allowing drones to fly longer and e-bikes to travel further. By introducing components made from metallic glass into electric motors, researchers aim to minimize energy losses during motor operation. Professor Ralf Busch and his team at Saarland University have developed new alloys for just this purpose. [...]

A Saarland University study is taking a look at how courts and IT experts might handle smart contracts in the future – before a real case is even on the docket. Researchers and legal professionals simulated a court case as a part of a project entitled Industry 4.0. On 18 March at 3 p.m., the Institute for Legal Informatics at Saarland University under the leadership of Professor Georg Borges will present the simulation study 'Smart Contracts' in Frankfurt am Main. [...]

The protein IMP2 plays a pivotal role in tumour growth. A research team led by Professor Alexandra K. Kiemer from Saarland University has discovered that when immune cells, known as macrophages, produce this protein in the immediate vicinity of cancer cells, the tumour grows faster under laboratory conditions. The team suspects that the protein makes it easier for macrophages to infiltrate the tumour and promote its growth. [...]

Industrial dyes and pigments significantly impact the environment and their production often requires a lot of power and resources. A research team of scientists and industry partners has set out to change this. Under the leadership of Christoph Wittmann, Professor of Systems Biotechnology at Saarland University, the team will employ bacteria to produce colour particles from by-products of wood-based cellulose fibre production. [...]

Interleukin-1 alpha ist ein Botenstoff, der vor allem für die Steuerung von Entzündungsreaktionen in unserem Körper verantwortlich ist. Ein Forschungsverbund der Universität des Saarlandes und der TU Dresden möchte herausfinden, was genau an der Innenwand von Blutgefäßen vonstattengeht, wo IL-1 alpha eine Rolle bei Entzündungen der Blutgefäße spielt, die bislang nur wenig erforscht wurde. Die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft fördert das Projekt ab dem Herbst 2026 mit rund 500.000 Euro. [...]

Over 40,000 years ago, our early ancestors were already carving signs into tools and sculptures. According to a new analysis by linguist Christian Bentz at Saarland University and archaeologist Ewa Dutkiewicz at the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte (Museum of Prehistory and Early History) in Berlin, these sign sequences have the same level of complexity and information density as the earliest proto-cuneiform script that emerged tens of thousands of years later, around 3,000 B.C.E. [...]

Twins can help science understand whether our lives are more strongly influenced by genetic factors or environmental factors. Researchers, including Saarland University Professor Frank Spinath, are building a nationwide twin registry for studies exploring these questions. Spinath is looking for twins of all ages who are willing to participate in scientific studies. Twins interested in participating can register in the Gertrud portal, where they can view upcoming studies. [...]

Jobseekers should be careful making political statements online. Saarland University researchers found that HR managers are influenced by whether and how someone expresses their political views – especially if they lean towards extreme political fringes. If the political opinion of the recruiter is contrary to that of the applicant, their job prospects decrease. These findings were described in a Saarland University study that was recently published in the Journal of Business and Psychology. [...]