Newsportal

At the beginning of this year, a meteorite fell to Earth near Ribbeck in the Havelland. A team led by scientists Professor Dr Addi Bischoff and Dr Markus Patzek from the Institute of Planetology at the University of Münster investigated the find and have now published their findings.

A research team led by Prof Ursula Wurstbauer from the Institute of Physics has investigated how electrons in two-dimensional crystals can be collectively excited and controlled. The groundbreaking study helps researchers understand the electronic properties of crystal structures and how to specifically influence them.

Universities are places where students are trained in sustainability. They produce knowledge and have access to diverse networks. This makes them key players in efforts to achieve greater sustainability. A study carried out as part of the project “SUNRISE LAB - Sustainable University Landscape Münster” shows how universities in Münster can promote successful transformation.

A team of three geophysicists – an undergraduate, a postgraduate and a doctoral student – invited the next generation of German and European geophysicists to the annual Geophysical Action Programme in Münster at the end of May. A rich programme brought together more than 120 participants and showcased a wide range of career opportunities.

Artificial intelligence (AI) comes into play in many visions of the progression of evolutionary history. Do humans have to leave the field for machines or can they join forces with them? In her guest article at the end of the dossier, science journalist Manuela Lenzen explores various options.

The University of Münster is currently in the hot phase of the Excellence Strategy. To put it more precisely, the University is on the home straight towards submitting its two Clusters of Excellence applications. Kathrin Kottke and Linus Peikenkamp spoke to Prof. Monika Stoll, Vice-Rector for Research, about the competition and what the term “excellence” means for the University of Münster.

Since 2007 the “Religion and Politics” Cluster of Excellence has been carrying out research into the changing relationship between religion and politics right across the ages and across cultures – from ancient Egypt up to the present day. In this guest commentary, spokesperson Prof. Michael Seewald explains what focus the researchers have in their work, and plan to have in the future.

In order to cope with the complex challenges facing our world, we need high-powered mathematical methods which cross over the boundaries between traditional areas of mathematics. This is where the Cluster of Excellence “Mathematics Münster: Dynamics – Geometry – Structure” comes into play. In a guest commentary, spokespersons Prof. Thomas Nikolaus and Prof. Mario Ohlberger provide some examples.

A team from the University of Münster, ETH Zürich and Leibniz-Universität Hannover has investigated a key component of the so-called GM1 cholera toxin complex for the first time using a fluorinated GM1 analogue. The findings on the molecular mechanisms of the strong interaction may help to enable the development of inhibitors that prevent life-threatening cholera infections.

Alongside hypothetical dark matter particles, neutrinos from the sun have long been predicted to be observable in detectors built to search for dark matter nuclear recoil signals. The XENON collaboration has now succeeded in proving this. The Institute of Nuclear Physics at the University of Münster, headed by Prof. Dr. Christian Weinheimer, was also involved. Solar neutrinos are the lightest known elementary particles; they are created in nuclear processes in the sun's interior.

The call for applications for "WiRe (Women in Research) Fellowships" is open until 20 September. The call is aimed at international female postdocs who want to carry out a research project together with a professor at the University of Münster in the coming year. The Department Researchers & Staff of the International Office provides advice to all interested persons.

On the multilingual website "Geo-Sports", an international research team clearly describes the geological features and various landscapes through which the Tour de France will pass this year. Prof. Dr. David de Vleeschouwer and Jana Klisiewicz from the University of Münster report on the 13th stage, which leads through the Aquitaine Basin.

Prof Kai Schmitz's field of work lies at the interface between particle physics and cosmology. In this interview, the physicist talks about the state of cosmological research and still unresolved questions.