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In a recent study, a research team from the Medical University of Vienna has gained new insights into post-COVID syndrome (PCS) and the relevance of a healthy gastrointestinal tract. The study, which was recently published in the journal Allergy, shows that PCS patients have altered inflammatory markers and a disturbed intestinal barrier, which could contribute to the development of post-viral fatigue.

Quantum processors: Influencing the trace of 'missing electrons' in spin qubits Amid the race to develop and market practical quantum computers, researchers from the Katsaros group at ISTA pay particular attention to the intriguing physics of special qubits generated in the semiconductor germanium. By harnessing the response of these so-called "hole spin qubits" to magnetic and electric fields, they answer fundamental questions about the physics that could help advance quantum processors.

Roots 'feel' gravity to extend and anchor themselves in the soil, but they can alter their growth direction toward a water source when needed. However, according to a new study by scientists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and Northwest A&F University in China, this change is promoted by drought conditions, which suppress the roots' gravity-sensing ability.

The novel glycopeptide saarvienin A is highly effective against resistant pathogens An international team of researchers, led by the University of Vienna and the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, has discovered saarvienin A , a new type of glycopeptide antibiotic. Their findings, now published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition , introduce a compound with strong activity against highly resistant bacterial strains.

Voltage-gated calcium channels are associated with numerous diseases. A new research group led by Nadine Ortner from the Institute of Pharmacy at the University of Innsbruck is now focusing on gene mutations that impair the function of a specific channel subtype known as CaV1. The five-person interdisciplinary team is funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) with 1.64 million euros.

Brain metastases often occur as a result of advanced cancer and, despite medical innovations, are still associated with a poor prognosis. Now, an international expert committee led by the Medical University of Vienna and the Ludwig Maximilian University Hospital (LMU) in Munich has taken an important step towards improving diagnostics and therapy monitoring.

A new JKU catalyst is cheaper, simpler and, above all, does not harm the environment. Researchers at Johannes Kepler University Linz and the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock (LIKAT) have developed a new manganese catalyst that makes certain chemical processes ecologically harmless. The research breakthrough has now been published in the journal ACS Catalysis.

ISTA scientists present new microscopy method to reconstruct mammalian brain tissue Our brain is a complex organ. Billions of nerve cells are wired in an intricate network, constantly processing signals, enabling us to recall memories or to move our bodies. Making sense of this complicated network requires a precise look into how these nerve cells are arranged and connected.

New property of graphene revealed by ultra-clean airless measurement Environment Graphene is a "miracle material": mechanically extremely strong and electrically highly conductive, ideal for related applications. Using a worldwide unique method physicists at the University of Vienna led by Jani Kotakoski have for the first time made graphene drastically more stretchable by rippling it like an accordion.

An international team of scientists led by the Medical University of Vienna has identified similarities in the mechanisms of diabetes and cancer: as the researchers show, the protein PPAR', which is central to the regulation of metabolic processes, can also influence the growth of prostate cancer cells.

A technical trick has been used to simulate a speed of light of only 2 m/s in the laboratory. This made it possible to reproduce the relativistic Terrell-Penrose effect for the first time. When an object moves extremely fast - close to the speed of light - certain basic assumptions that we take for granted no longer apply.

A research team at TU Graz has developed a system for structural monitoring that can be integrated directly into structural management and used sustainably for preventive maintenance planning. The safety and durability of transport and building infrastructure are in the interests of both operators and users.

Concentrations as high as those by a busy road illustrate the importance of solutions Those who climb indoors are doing something for their health. But climbing shoes contain chemicals of concern that can enter the lungs of climbers through the abrasion of the soles. In a recent study, researchers from the University of Vienna and EPFL Lausanne have shown for the first time that high concentrations of potentially harmful chemicals from climbing shoe soles can be found in the air of bouldering gyms, in some cases higher than on a busy street.

Oral mucositis (OM) is an inflammation of the oral mucosa and is a common complication in patients following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Although the percentage of those affected is around 76 percent, there are currently no strategies for risk assessment. A research team at MedUni Vienna has now comprehensively and systematically analysed the already known link between oral health and the risk of OM for the first time.

Bizarre quantum phenomenon more common than anticipated, ISTA physicists show A surprising quantum phenomenon that goes against the universe's drive for increased chaos might not be all too exotic after all. So far, quantum many-body scars were thought to exist only under specific experimental conditions.

An international team led by Fabian Garmroudi has succeeded in producing new, efficient thermoelectric materials that could compete with state-of-the-art materials, offering greater stability and lower cost. Thermoelectric materials enable the direct conversion of heat into electrical energy. This makes them particularly attractive for the emerging "Internet of Things", for example for the autonomous energy supply of microsensors and other tiny electronic components.

A recent study led by the Medical University of Vienna shows that the haematocrit value, i.e. the proportion of red blood cells in blood volume, has a direct influence on blood sugar levels. The researchers were able to show that an increase in the number of red blood cells directly causes a decrease in blood sugar.

Researchers identify the benefits of participating in art-viewing activities Simply looking at visual art, visiting a museum, or having art in your hospital room can enhance well-being, particularly repeated engagement, which can increase the meaning we feel in life, according to a new international study led by researchers from the University of Vienna.

Together with the company BRAVE Analytics, researchers at TU Graz have developed a method for detecting nanoplastics in liquids and determining their composition. Microplastics and the 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.

Differences between the fireplaces indicate ingenious use Whether for cooking, heating, as a light source or for making tools - it is assumed that fire was essential for the survival of people in the Ice Age. However, it is puzzling that hardly any well-preserved evidence of fireplaces from the coldest period of the Ice Age in Europe has been found so far.