https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Graz University of Technology Wood laminates are used in many different ways, for example, in the manufacture of skis and snowboards or in components for vehicle interiors. However, their weight advantages for lightweight construction also have disadvantages. They are significantly less resilient perpendicular to the grain and when force is applied perpendicular to the surface (peeling load), individual layers of wood can easily become detached (delamination). https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-wood-needle-thread.html Engineering Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:40:04 EDT news693738794 Researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have developed a novel virtual reality (VR) system that could make the treatment of arachnophobia, also known as spider phobia, more targeted and personalized in the future. The work is published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-neuroadaptive-vr-treatment-arachnophobia.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:20:01 EDT news693129722 The search for materials that can conduct electricity at room temperature without losing energy is one of the greatest and most consequential challenges of modern physics: loss-free power transmission, more efficient motors and generators, more powerful quantum computers, cheaper MRI devices. Hardly any other material discovery has the potential to change so many areas of technology and everyday life at the same time. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-room-temperature-superconductor-scientists-agenda.html Superconductivity Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:00:03 EDT news692288462 An increasing number of people worldwide are affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD); according to studies, one in 44 children is diagnosed with it. A central symptom is so-called "social blindness," i.e. the inability to recognize emotions in others and to react appropriately to social situations. Suitable therapy is usually based on one-to-one or small group support, which is only available to a limited extent and is cost-intensive. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-virtual-therapy-social-skills-autism.html Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:40:06 EST news691924923 A new holistic monitoring system developed under the leadership of TU Graz measures boat waves with millimeter precision using satellite navigation data and sensors on buoys and for the first time allows investigations into the extent to which boat traffic, weather and other factors influence the ecosystem of lakes. Motorboats, sightseeing boats, shoreline obstructions and meteorological changes caused by climate change are putting lakes under increasing pressure. The weakening of lake ecosystems is reflected in a shift in species diversity and a decline in ecological functionality. This also affects three of Carinthia's largest lakes: Lake Wörthersee, Lake Ossiach and Lake Weißensee. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-holistic-state-lake-ecosystems.html Ecology Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:23:28 EST news690135782 Enzymes with specific functions are becoming increasingly important in industry, medicine and environmental protection. For example, they make it possible to synthesize chemicals in a more environmentally friendly way, produce active ingredients in a targeted manner or break down environmentally harmful substances. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ai-method-advances-customized-enzyme.html Biochemistry Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:05:44 EST news688316702 To ensure that the tissue structures of biological samples are easily recognizable under the electron microscope, they are treated with a staining agent. The standard staining agent for this is uranyl acetate. However, some laboratories are not allowed to use this highly toxic and radioactive substance for safety reasons. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-coffee-agent-substitute-electron-microscopy.html Biotechnology Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:00:03 EST news687085062 AI-supported recommender systems should provide users with the best possible suggestions for their inquiries. These systems often have to serve different target groups and take other stakeholders into account who also influence the machine's response: e.g. service providers, municipalities or tourism associations. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-fairness-ai-central-role-human.html Consumer & Gadgets Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:54:25 EST news684676441 Exhaust gases are no longer the most important emission factor from motor vehicles by far when it comes to particulate matter. This is shown by a large-scale study carried out by Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) for the FVV eV.in Germany, in which the non-exhaust emissions for the current European car fleet were also recorded. The findings are published as part of the SAE Technical Paper Series. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-road-abrasion-biggest-sources-particulate.html Environment Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:19:33 EST news683914741 With its "Flightpath 2050" strategy, the European Commission has outlined a framework for the aviation industry that aims to reduce emissions as well as fuel and energy consumption. Among other things, this requires more efficient engines. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-11-efficient-aircraft-scientists-reveal-optimization.html Engineering Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:36:22 EST news683541361 Paper packaging is a sustainable alternative to plastic. However, as it is permeable to air, food packaged in paper loses its flavor over time, and undesirable substances such as solvents can penetrate the packaging. Up to now, extensive tests were necessary for each type of paper to determine to what extent and how quickly this happens. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-11-ai-combines-physics-lab-paper.html Engineering Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:00:23 EST news682873201 With a newly developed method that compares AI-generated protein sequences with naturally occurring ones, function- and structure-regulating amino acids can be determined much more precisely than before. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-ai-analysis-assigns-amino-acid.html Biotechnology Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:30:06 EDT news681052840 Using 3D technology and interdisciplinary expertise, a research team has explored Buddhist temples in the remote Dolpo region of Nepal and digitized them for posterity. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-3d-threatened-buddhist-temples-western.html Archaeology Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:35:04 EDT news680434502 Women are affected by severe depression twice as often as men. The reasons for this have not yet been fully clarified. One potential factor is sex-specific differences in the blood-brain barrier. This barrier is formed by astrocytes (widely branching cells in the brain) and endothelial cells (flat cells that line the blood vessels). If the barrier is leaky, diseases of the brain can develop. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-sex-specific-differences-blood-brain.html Psychology & Psychiatry Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:33:03 EDT news679833181 Microplastics and nanoplastics in soils are a growing environmental problem. The extent to which agricultural crops absorb these particles and whether they end up in food has so far been difficult to prove. This is because they are hard to distinguish from plant components and mineral particles, even with high-resolution microscopes. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-cereal-absorb-nanoplastics-lab-trials.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:22:03 EDT news678540122 A team led by Christian Baumgartner of the Institute of Health Care Engineering at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) has developed a highly detailed digital twin of the A549 lung cancer cell line. The twin builds on bioelectric processes and calcium dynamics in the cell interior in innovative new ways. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-digital-cell-twin-avenues-lung.html Oncology & Cancer Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:31:05 EDT news677410261 Heavy soil sealing combined with insufficient retention and infiltration (seepage) potentially increases the risk of pollution and flooding in cities during heavy rainfall. Sustainable, decentralized urban drainage systems can reduce this risk to a certain extent, according to calculations made by researchers using the city of Graz as an example. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-pollution-heavy-rainfall-potential-nature.html Environment Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:43:04 EDT news676809782 Cardiovascular diseases remain the most common cause of death worldwide. In Europe, they account for over 40% of all deaths. However, known risk factors such as high cholesterol levels or high blood pressure cannot fully explain the high mortality rate or the number of cardiovascular diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-elevated-homocysteine-stiffens-aorta.html Cardiology Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:32:03 EDT news676636321 An interdisciplinary research team at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) has developed a hook-and-loop fastening system for buildings in the ReCon project together with company partners. This allows different parts of a building to be resiliently connected and, if necessary, easily separated from each other. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-08-loop-components.html Engineering Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:30:23 EDT news674922618 For just over two years, a scalar magnetometer developed by Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) and the Space Research Institute (IWF) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences has been on its way to Jupiter as part of ESA's JUICE mission to discover liquid water beneath the surface of its icy moons. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-optical-magnetometer-magnetic-field.html Planetary Sciences Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:33:03 EDT news674314382 In the ERC project HelixMold, a team from TU Graz developed a method for the computer-based design of artificial proteins, with a focus on custom biocatalysts for pharmaceutical applications or the degradation of biopolymers. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-fragments-function-based-custom-proteins.html Biotechnology Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:18:03 EDT news673784281 Up to now, underwater navigation for divers has been limited primarily to orientation at distinctive points or compass navigation. Although there are concepts that, similar to a sonar, are intended to enable position determination using acoustic signal sources, these require a high sound pressure level. This affects the ecosystem and causes stress for the local fauna. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-07-satellite-based-divers.html Telecom Thu, 24 Jul 2025 06:30:04 EDT news672557198 Foams have numerous possible potential applications, for example, ranging from the automotive, household and mechanical engineering sectors to leisure and sports applications. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-07-cellulose-crude-oil-sustainable-foams.html Engineering Wed, 02 Jul 2025 06:30:04 EDT news670656602 Artificial intelligence is considered to be computationally and energy-intensive—a challenge for the Internet of Things (IoT), where small, embedded sensors have to make do with limited computing power, little memory and small batteries. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-ai-tiny-devices-enabling-smarter.html Hardware Thu, 26 Jun 2025 06:55:21 EDT news670139717 For the first time, a research team led by Markus Koch from the Institute of Experimental Physics at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) has tracked in real time how individual atoms combine to form a cluster and which processes are involved. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-chemical-bonds-physicists-energy-real.html Nanophysics Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:03:47 EDT news669373425 The idea of the front brake light has been around for some time, but no vehicle manufacturer has as yet implemented it. A research team led by Ernst Tomasch from the Institute of Vehicle Safety at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in collaboration with the Bonn Institute for Legal and Traffic Psychology (BIRVp) has now analyzed their effect on road safety in an accident reconstruction study. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-front-significantly-road-accidents.html Automotive Thu, 05 Jun 2025 08:37:43 EDT news668331458 The low-threshold, playful communication of complex scientific content is a challenge. A team from the Game Lab Graz at the Institute of Human-Centered Computing at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) has developed a solution for this. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-adventure-theater-spaceship.html Education Thu, 15 May 2025 13:40:03 EDT news666534652 The safety and durability of transport and building infrastructure are in the interests of both operators and users. To maintain the best possible building condition at the lowest possible cost, effective monitoring is required to improve condition assessment. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-04-reaction-intelligent-networked.html Engineering Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:05:04 EDT news665247901 Microplastics and much smaller nanoplastics enter the human body in various ways, for example through food or the air we breathe. A large proportion is excreted, but a certain amount remains in organs, blood, and other body fluids. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-nanoplastics-body-fluids-method-combines.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 14 Apr 2025 11:48:03 EDT news663850082 Researchers at the Institute of Visual Computing have made it possible to remove objects from live recordings of three-dimensional environments without time delay while the camera remains in motion. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-04-diminished-reality-real.html Computer Sciences Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:59:03 EDT news663515941