Projects

Physicians Manfred Hecking und Roman Reindl-Schwaighofer

Project of the week

The body’s defences against coronavirus

An enzyme produced by the human body is the receptor for coronavirus, but its intravenous infusion could have a positive influence on the course of Covid-19 infections, thereby serving as a new treatment option. A research group led by the Viennese physicians Manfred Hecking and Roman Reindl-Schwaighofer has now presented evidence that the body reacts to severe cases of the disease by increasing the concentration of this enzyme. These findings have now been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and are important news for a recently completed clinical trial.

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Two female students with face masks are chatting on a stone bench at university campus

Project of the week

How the eyes assist with hearing

Hearing-impaired people learn to make up for their auditory deficits – for instance by lip-reading. A research group from Salzburg is exploring the manner in which the brain’s processing of visual signals is used to compensate for the hearing dysfunction. The study has been invested with particular topicality, given that the face masks worn because of the coronavirus pandemic conceal facial expressions.  

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Young man walking along the street with rainbow flag on his back.

Project of the week

Videos as wake-up call for suicidal young people

The media can make an important contribution to the prevention of suicide. That much has been confirmed by a recent study by suicide researcher Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, who has explored how the videos of the “It Gets Better” project, a prevention campaign first launched in the USA, affect adolescents who belong to a sexual minority and are therefore particularly at risk.

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Science in Motion

Interview & Opinion

“It’s hard to explain why this is taking so long”

Interview: Ingrid Ladner

When it comes into force at the beginning of 2021, the Open Access initiative “Plan S” is poised to help opening up and improving academic publishing. Ulrich Pöschl, a chemist and Open Access advocate of the first hour, explains why free access to research results is important and how an up-to-date academic publishing system can work. Continue reading ““It’s hard to explain why this is taking so long””

Portrait

The social fever curve of coronavirus

By Margit Schwarz-Stiglbauer

One year ago, the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in China and within a few months it caused a pandemic. Initially, the Austrian population supported the immediate containment measures, and many also hoped that the crisis might lead to a change in direction towards a better society and a more sustainable economy. The dividing lines in society have become more accentuated, however, and trust in the government and democracy has declined. Even the readiness of people to be vaccinated has decreased in the course of the crisis – which is paradoxical, since the upcoming vaccination raises hopes for an end to the pandemic. Social scientist Bernhard Kittel explores the causes and consequences of this development. Continue reading “The social fever curve of coronavirus”

On the road

On the road

Social interaction at MIT

By Livia Tomova

The corona pandemic confronts society with the impact of social isolation. Schrödinger Fellow Livia Tomova explored this topic even before the crisis began. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she studied how the brain reacts to loneliness and the craving for social contact. As Tomova reports in this guest contribution to scilog, the results of her research have just been published.

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