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Topological insulators usually only work at very low temperatures. Researchers at the University of Würzburg have now developed an insulator that exhibits the desired properties even at higher temperatures. A topological insulator can be imagined as a material that is a perfect insulator on the inside - it does not conduct electricity there.

Physicists at the University of Würzburg have developed extremely small pixels using optical antennas and a clever design. These can be used in compact AR glasses, for example. Smart glasses, i.e., glasses that display information directly in the field of vision, are considered a key technology of the future - but until now, their use has often failed due to cumbersome technology.

Carpenter ants are not squeamish when it comes to caring for the wounded. To minimise the risk of infection, the insects immediately amputate injured legs - thereby more than doubling their survival rate. As with humans, wound care plays an important role in the animal kingdom. Many mammals lick their wounds, some primates use antiseptic plants, and some ants even produce their own antimicrobial substances to treat infections.

It is highly likely that the female menstrual cycle was originally synchronized with the lunar cycle. This has changed significantly with the rise of artificial light and smartphones, as a new study by the University of Würzburg shows. There is no question that the moon has a significant influence on Earth.

Eliminating toxic and expensive heavy metals in the chemical industry: A new publication from the University of Würzburg Chemistry points the way forward. The team led by chemistry professor Holger Braunschweig at the University of Würzburg is investigating the 'metal-mimetic' properties of main group elements such as boron.

Using innovative RNA technology, Würzburg researchers have intervened in the reproduction of phages. The study, published in Nature, could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches to treating infections. Summary Phages are viruses that infect bacteria. Using phages therapeutically could be very useful in fighting antibiotic-resistant pathogens, but the molecular interactions between phages and host bacteria are not yet sufficiently understood.

A study from Würzburg reveals: pox viruses have developed a unique strategy to rapidly multiply after infecting a host cell. The findings uncover a previously unknown role for a well-known molecule and may serve as a starting point for the development of new antiviral agents. In the English society of former times a "chaperone", traditionally an older woman, was assigned to accompany a young unmarried woman to ensure her proper behavior, especially during interactions with men, in line with the social norms of the time.

How does parental leave affect the income of mothers and fathers with PhDs? A research team at the University of Würzburg investigated this question in cooperation with the German Center for Higher Education Research and Science Studies. After completing their doctorates, many new PhDs must ask themselves important questions about their careers and lives: Should I pursue an academic career?

An international research team has identified a new protein that specifically transports enzymes into peroxisomes. Its mode of action is extraordinary: it operates like a relay racer. Peroxisomes can be described as tiny vesicles filled with enzymes that are present in all cells, with particularly high concentration in liver cells.

People view physicians more negatively who disclose the use of artificial intelligence in their practice. This is the conclusion of a new study by psychologists from Würzburg. From image analysis in radiology to creating differential diagnoses, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important in modern medicine.

A new mathematical model shows how the costs for farmers change when their plants develop fungicide resistance. It was developed by an international research team. Fungicides are plant protection products that kill fungi or their spores. In agriculture, these products are used to combat fungal diseases and ensure crop yields.

Hardly any insects can see the colour red. However, two beetle species from the Mediterranean region are an exception, as an international research team has discovered. Insect eyes are generally sensitive to ultraviolet, blue and green light. With the exception of some butterflies, they cannot see the colour red.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, countries that are friendly with Russia have been exporting more military equipment to Russia - despite Western sanctions. This is shown by a recently published study. The European Union has just imposed a new package of sanctions against Russia - now the seventeenth.

A research team at the University of Würzburg has gained new insights into the development of kidney tumors in young children. These enable a better risk assessment and could form the basis for targeted screening and improved early detection. A research team at the Biocenter of Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), together with cooperation partners at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge (UK), has taken a significant step towards understanding Wilms' tumors, malignant kidney tumors in young children.

A research team from ct.qmat has detected optical quasiparticles on the surface of an antiferromagnetic quantum material for the very first time.The breakthrough results have been published in Nature Materials. Alexey Chernikov and his team specialize in detecting optical quasiparticles using ultrafast microscopy.

For honeybees to overwinter successfully, several factors must work together. Researchers at the University of Würzburg have now identified a crucial one: The more diverse the diet, the greater the chances of survival. Especially in temperate climates, winter poses a major challenge for honeybee colonies.

Shrub fringes on the edges of forests and fields protect animal species and have a positive effect on biodiversity: This was reported by a research team from the University of Würzburg. They are the transition zones between forest and open landscape and serve as habitats and retreats for various animal species.

In a new study, researchers at the University of Würzburg are investigating the interaction of major global change drivers on insects. The number and diversity of insects is declining worldwide. Some studies suggest that their biomass has almost halved since the 1970s. Among the main reasons for this are habitat loss - for example through agriculture or urbanization - and climate change.

The behavior of Antarctic krill not only reacts to external environmental influences such as light or food. It also uses its internal clock to adapt to the extreme conditions of the polar environment. Individually, Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba ) do not make much of an impression. With a maximum body length of six centimetres, a weight of just two grams and its transparent skin, it does not look very spectacular.

When the cellular waste disposal system goes on strike, this can have fatal consequences. A research team at the University of Würzburg has now identified a key player in this clean-up crew. A special enzyme - the so-called ubiquitin-selective unfoldase p97/VCP - is one of the main players when cells remove malformed or excess proteins from their interior.