https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Bayreuth University Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have, for the first time, deciphered key steps in the biosynthetic mechanism of the potential anti-cancer agent fostriecin. The team led by Prof. Dr. Frank Hahn has succeeded in producing all enzymes involved in the process in the laboratory and examining them individually under controlled conditions. In the long term, the findings may pave the way for more efficient production of the compound and open up new avenues in cancer therapy. The researchers have published their findings in Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-potential-anti-cancer-agent-stalled.html Biochemistry Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:40:05 EDT news694102321 Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have developed a method using artificial intelligence that can significantly speed up the calculation of liquid properties. The AI approach predicts the chemical potential—an indispensable quantity for describing liquids in thermodynamic equilibrium. The researchers present their findings in a new study published in Physical Review Letters. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-ai-method-liquid-simulations-fundamental.html Soft Matter Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:42:25 EST news690050521 Researchers led by Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1357 Microplastics at the University of Bayreuth have overturned a common scientific assumption in a new study: Microplastic particles do not all exhibit similar transport behavior regardless of their shape. Instead, microplastics behave differently in aquatic environments depending on whether they occur as fragments or fibers. This insight reshapes our understanding of how strongly organisms are exposed to microplastics—an assessment that is crucial for evaluating the environmental risks posed by microplastic pollution. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-microplastics-differently-aquatic-environments-fragments.html Environment Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:46:44 EST news689330761 A research team at the University of Bayreuth has experimentally investigated how the popular climbing discipline of bouldering affects vegetation and the surface structure of natural rock formations. In their recently published study in the journal People and Nature, the researchers call for nuanced management strategies that reconcile recreational use with the conservation of rock habitats. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-outdoor-bouldering-source-microplastics-evidence.html Ecology Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:50:04 EST news685197695 Computer simulations and artificial intelligence often make significant errors when predicting the properties of new, high-performance materials, according to a new international study led by the University of Bayreuth. In their research, published in Advanced Materials, the scientists provide tools to address this issue. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-limitations-ai-based-material-crystallographic.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:07:19 EST news684515222 An international research team led by the University of Bayreuth has developed an innovative method for producing green hydrogen directly from seawater—without the use of additional reagents. The researchers report their findings in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-11-pathways-green-hydrogen-seawater-additional.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:10:07 EST news682339086 Incorporating fluorine into certain polyesters accelerates polymer chain formation, makes longer chains accessible, and enables targeted modification of the material's properties. As a result, fluorinated polyesters become more competitive with other types of plastics, while the fluorine can be recovered during degradation. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-recyclable-fluorine-properties-degradable-polyester.html Polymers Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:58:02 EDT news680522281 Plants adapt the growth of their roots and shoots differently in response to environmental changes, according to a study involving the Ecological-Botanical Garden (ÖBG) at the University of Bayreuth. The researchers challenge previous assessments of climate change impacts on plants, which often extrapolate from aboveground to belowground plant structures. Their findings have been published in the journal Plant and Soil. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-holistic-ecosystem.html Ecology Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:28:04 EDT news679843681 An international research team led by the University of Bayreuth has discovered a metal that combines electrical conductivity with internal polarity. This enables it to exhibit second harmonic generation—an optical effect typically observed only in non-metals. The finding is of particular interest for sensors and electrical engineering. The research is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-metal-combining-electrical-optical-frequency.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:19:38 EDT news678457171 The cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) offers an ecologically advantageous alternative to silage maize for bioenergy production. This is the conclusion of a multi-year comparative study conducted by researchers at the University of Bayreuth. Their findings have now been published in the journal GCB Bioenergy. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-cup-outperforms-silage-maize-sustainable.html Biotechnology Mon, 29 Sep 2025 14:32:03 EDT news678375121 Plastics pose a significant waste problem: many conventional plastics do not degrade, or do so only with great difficulty. This makes research into new plastics essential—materials that retain useful properties but can also be deliberately broken down or recycled. Such innovations could lead to more sustainable materials, enabling the use of plastics in a way that conserves resources over the long term. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-reveals-sulfur-based-blocks-sustainable.html Polymers Mon, 01 Sep 2025 15:13:03 EDT news675958381 An international research team, including experts from the Ecological-Botanical Garden (ÖBG) at the University of Bayreuth, has demonstrated in a new study that native tree species in Argentina grow at a similar rate to introduced North American pine species—contrary to previous assumptions. Moreover, the exotic pines displace native trees and increase the risk of forest fires, especially in the context of climate change. The researchers published their findings in Forest Ecology and Management. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-advantages-exotic-tree-species-forestry.html Ecology Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:00:01 EDT news675348252 A German-Dutch research team, including scientists from the University of Bayreuth, has investigated how age-related changes contribute to an increased risk of falling in older adults. Using computer simulations, they explored specific scenarios involving stepping down from a curb or stair with varying levels of muscle strength and nerve signal speed—both of which tend to decline with age. Their findings have been published in Scientific Reports. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-simulations-minimize-falls-older-age.html Gerontology & Geriatrics Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:36:35 EDT news674991386 In a world-first for battery research, researchers from the University of Bayreuth and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have employed a so-called multi-agent network in battery design. This AI-based tool enables the rapid generation of promising proposals for new battery materials, thereby advancing the development of long-lasting and sustainable next-generation batteries. The researchers have reported their findings in Advanced Materials. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-07-ai-tool-durable-eco-friendly.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 28 Jul 2025 08:52:55 EDT news672911571 For the first time, an international research team has developed concrete, evidence-based stretching recommendations for practical use. The team was led by Prof. Dr. Dr. Jan Wilke of the University of Bayreuth. Their recommendations, published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, aim to settle long-standing controversies and dispel common myths surrounding stretching. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-scientifically-grounded-published.html Health Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:10:04 EDT news670762847 A research team from the Chair of Biomechanics at the University of Bayreuth has examined the soles of more than 100 running shoes. The results revealed that over a third of the heel areas were poorly designed and may therefore contribute to the risk of injury for runners. The researchers have published their findings in the journal Bioengineering. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-analysis-injury-due-heel-flaws.html Health Thu, 15 May 2025 13:25:04 EDT news666534297 A team of biophysicists has published a step-by-step guide for the reliable cultivation of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The guide will support researchers worldwide in the fields of life sciences, biophysics, and bioengineering in their investigations of biological, biophysical, and biotechnological principles. These reliable cultivation methods are detailed in Nature Protocols. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-manual-cultivating-algae-laboratory-important.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 13 May 2025 10:22:04 EDT news666350522 The University of Bayreuth's Biomaterials research group has, for the first time, successfully applied the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool to spiders. Following the genetic modification, the spiders produced red fluorescent silk. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-genetic-spiders-crisprcas-yields-silk.html Biotechnology Thu, 08 May 2025 09:55:03 EDT news665916901 Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have found a way to make plastics more sustainable by utilizing sulfur waste from the petroleum refining process. They have developed a method that allows so-called dynamic sulfur bonds to be easily integrated into polyesters. Their findings have been published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-sustainability-plastics-sulfur.html Polymers Tue, 29 Apr 2025 10:29:03 EDT news665141341 Even under today's climatic conditions, the long-extinct straight-tusked elephant could still live in Europe. This is the conclusion of a recent study by the Sport Ecology research group at the University of Bayreuth that combined fossil finds with reconstructions of past climates. The researchers have published their findings in the journal Frontiers of Biogeography. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-elephant-wild-boar-europe.html Ecology Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:20:07 EDT news664639822 Physicists from the Universities of Bayreuth and Grenoble have discovered a new mechanism of cell mobility. Their findings challenge the classical dogma that the molecular motor myosin is essential for the movement of mammalian cells. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-cell-movement-myosin-mobility-mechanism.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:04:03 EDT news664023841 Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have, for the first time, provided concrete figures on the abrasion of mountain bike tires in off-road conditions. Their findings, published in Science of The Total Environment contribute to a better understanding of the global microplastic cycle. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-microplastic-generated-mountain-biking.html Environment Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:03:04 EDT news662900582 Researchers from the University of Bayreuth have discovered the mechanism by which collagen, the most common protein in the human body, successfully assembles itself. They identified electrostatic forces that support this self-organization and contribute to the stability of the protein. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-electrostatic-stabilize-collagen-genetic-disorders.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:46:02 EDT news661693561 Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have developed a method that makes objects on a magnetic field invisible within a particle stream. Until now, this so-called cloaking had only been studied for waves such as light or sound. They report their results in Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-magnetic-invisibility-cloak-obstacles-particle.html General Physics Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:06:05 EST news659354761 Combining concepts from statistical physics with machine learning, researchers at the University of Bayreuth have shown that highly accurate and efficient predictions can now be made as to whether a substance will be liquid or gaseous under given conditions. They have published their findings in Physical Review X. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-machine-physics-merge-liquid-gas.html Condensed Matter Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:23:05 EST news658599774 Researchers from the University of Bayreuth and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Göttingen have investigated the movement patterns of unicellular, hydrogen-producing green algae under different light intensities. Their findings will contribute to optimizing the use of these microorganisms in biotechnological applications, such as the production of renewable energy sources. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-movement-patterns-hydrogen-green-algae.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:04:04 EST news658152242 Researchers at the Bayreuth Center for Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) at the University of Bayreuth have found the first indication that young plants of certain tropical tree species obtain part of their carbon through fungi. This mechanism could enable these plants to compensate for the low carbon uptake through photosynthesis in the shaded understory, giving them a growth advantage over other plants. The researchers have published their findings in the journal Functional Ecology. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-indication-carbon-uptake-fungi-young.html Ecology Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:06:30 EST news657896787 Professor Dr. Othmar Moser from the University of Bayreuth is the lead author of the new international guideline on exercise and type 1 diabetes. A total of 26 international authors contributed to the position paper, which was developed by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) and published in Diabetologia. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-international-guideline-diabetes.html Diabetes Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:19:03 EST news653059141 Researchers from the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) Microplastics at the University of Bayreuth have developed a new concept for the production of microplastic reference particles. These make it possible for the first time to introduce a precisely defined number of reference particles into experiments. In future, their use may enable better comparability of data from different microplastic studies. https://phys.org/news/2024-12-microplastic-particles-enable.html Environment Tue, 03 Dec 2024 10:07:03 EST news652442821 Assumptions that may seem self-evident are not always accurate when it comes to the evolution of vertebrate brains. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have now demonstrated this by examining the largest neuron in the brains of blind Mexican cavefish. Their findings have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-cavefish-insights-evolution-neurons-vertebrate.html Plants & Animals Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:11:04 EST news651240661