news

Millions of thunderstorms have now been analysed, providing new insights into the development of extreme weather events. The key lies in the combination of soil moisture and wind. Thunderstorms are known to form preferentially on warm, humid days with unstable air. But predicting where exactly a thunderstorm will develop has so far remained extremely difficult.

New BOKU study provides important insights into previously poorly understood processes at the boundary between water and the atmosphere. Microalgae - tiny plants that live in water - release certain gases that can contribute to the formation of clouds in the atmosphere. Dimethyl sulphide (DMS), a sulphur gas that influences cloud formation, among other things, and thus indirectly controls the Earth's climate, is particularly important.

The new holistic monitoring system developed under the leadership of TU Graz measures boat waves with millimetre 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.

A new study by researchers from Mainz, Oxford, Berlin and Innsbruck shows that Pompeii's early baths were much less hygienic than long assumed. Geochemical analyses of lime deposits from the city's wells and pools reveal severe contamination and shed light on the ancient water supply in Pompeii. Innsbruck geologist Christoph Spötl was involved in the study published in the scientific journal PNAS.

Allergic sensitization follows distinct regional patterns, and molecular IgE profiling can reveal these profiles in detail. An international research team has now demonstrated both phenomena in a population-based study of 1,000 adults from five cities in Türkiye that represent distinct climate zones.

Tropical cyclones can unleash extensive devastation, as recent storms that swept over Jamaica and the Philippines made unmistakably clear. Accurate weather forecasts that buy more time to prepare are crucial for saving lives and are rooted in a deeper understanding of climate systems. Driving this forward, researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and others have successfully identified a previously unknown cyclic climate pattern by historical reanalysis of datasets and satellite observations.

TU Graz, TU Wien and the Environment Agency Austria have developed a method to determine microplastics in the inand outflow of sewage plants, and demonstrated their high elimination performance. The danger of microplastics for the environment and health has become increasingly recognised in recent years.

Climate change is leading to stronger flood disasters. TU Wien and Joanneum Research have developed a new model that shows how private and public protection measures interact.

In a remote cave in northern Greenland, a research team led by geologists Gina Moseley, Gabriella Koltai and Jonathan Baker from the University of Innsbruck has discovered traces of a significantly warmer Arctic. The cave deposits show that the region was free of permafrost millions of years ago and reacted sensitively to rising temperatures.

Researchers and the changing Siberian landscape The Arctic tundra is not only a place of untouched nature, but also a hotspot for ecological change. Researchers studying the fragile balance of the tundra are uncovering alarming signs: the disappearance of lichens and the increase in fires mark the start of a chain reaction with potential global consequences.

ISTA study confirms: Glaciers are fighting a losing battle against climate change Glaciers are fighting back against climate change by cooling the air that touches their surfaces. But for how long? The Pellicciotti group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) has compiled and re-analyzed an unprecedented dataset of on-glacier observations worldwide.

When the Soviet Union's collapse means no glacier data for decades in Tajikistan Too little snowfall is now also shaking the foundations of some of the world's most resilient 'water towers', a new study led by the Pellicciotti group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) shows. After establishing a monitoring network on a new benchmark glacier in central Tajikistan, the international team of researchers was able to model the entire catchment's behavior from 1999 to 2023.

The 'State of the Climate' report has just been published. In this assessment of the global climate system, researchers from the CLIMERS group at TU Wien have published articles on soil moisture and Vegetation Optical Depth (VOD), thus contributing to a differentiated picture of the consequences of climate change.

Researchers from BOKU and other universities are developing a new model of a transformational state with starting points for effective climate policy. What role does the state play in the fight against the climate crisis? In the "Nature Perspectives" format, scientists led by Ulrich Brand from the Institute of Political Science at the University of Vienna, the Institute for International Development at the University of Vienna, BOKU Vienna and WU Vienna analyze the structural limits of the state's ability to act in the transition to climate neutrality.

Researchers at TU Wien are developing thermochemical storage systems that can be used to store energy over very long periods with minimal loss. Energy can be stored in various forms: electrically, thermally or thermochemically. Depending on the storage form used, energy can be stored for different lengths of time or retrieved in different forms.

TU Wien (Vienna) develops new industry indicator: A data model helps to incorporate CO2 emissions, resource consumption and social factors directly into production planning. How sustainable is our industry really? Until now, when people talked about efficiency, they mainly focused on how well machines are utilised, how often they break down and how fast they produce.

A research team led by Stefan Pflügl has succeeded in genetically manipulating the microorganism T. kivui to metabolize carbon monoxide. Stefan Pflügl (left) in the lab with the first authors of the two publications, Angeliki Sitara (center) and Rémi Hocq (right). " aria-haspopup="dialog" Genetic changes can occur naturally through evolution or can be initiated with the help of genetic engineering.

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.