Projects

27 June 2022

Ground beetles for a sustainable food supply

Corinna Wallinger and her research group have studied the food choices of ground beetles in local grain fields. They found that these insects can play an important role in weed regulation, as they consume significantly more weed than previously assumed. This insight may contribute to making agriculture more sustainable. Continue reading

Interview & Opinion

22 June 2022

Why the smallest organisms play the biggest role

Interview: Isabella Ferenci

Microbiologist Christa Schleper has dedicated her research career to archaea – the tiny unicellular organisms that counted among the first life forms on Earth. The 2022 Wittgenstein Award winner has discovered numerous microorganisms, and specialises in studying the impact of archaea on the nitrogen cycle. Her findings lay the groundwork for determining the impact of […] Continue reading

Interview & Opinion

22 June 2022

How do humans impact animals’ search for food?

Interview: Laura Anninger

Humans interfere with nature in many ways. Using global datasets, behavioural scientist and START Award winner Petra Sumasgutner studies how short-eared owls and common ravens are impacted by human intrusions when foraging, and what the consequences are. She also uses machine learning in her research. Continue reading

Interview & Opinion

22 June 2022

A cell protein like a bull in a china shop

Interview: Alois Pumhösel

If the protein legumain is not in its proper place in the human cell, the likely result is cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. Molecular biologist and START prize winner Elfriede Dall from the University of Salzburg is investigating how this protein functions outside of its usual environment. Continue reading

Projects

20 June 2022

New approaches for treating periodontitis

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the gums and the predominant cause of tooth loss in adults. Therapy and regeneration represent a major challenge for dentists. In this research the cell biologist Oleh Andrukhov is breaking new ground by exploring dental stem cells in interaction with the body’s immune defence. His findings show that vitamin […] Continue reading

Projects

30 May 2022

Precision research into Mediterranean history

Opened 150 years ago, the Suez Canal created an artificial connection between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean – and had an unanticipated impact on biodiversity. A Vienna-based research team investigating the historical development of the Mediterranean ecosystem found a massive decline in the diversity of native species. Tropical immigrants are probably not to blame, […] Continue reading

Projects

16 May 2022

Forests and the climate 100 years from now

The Institute for Systems Analysis IIASA is participating in an international research group that explores how different forms of forest management interact with climate change on a global scale. A particular focus is being placed on biodiversity issues, and beetles have an important role to play in this context. Continue reading

On the road

26 April 2022

Zebrafish and sushi

By Antonia Lichtenegger

Antonia Lichtenegger’s research is focused on gaining the most accurate insights possible into the tissues of our bodies. During her Schrödinger stay in Japan, the physicist was successful in helping her host develop an improved imaging method for cancer research. She will soon return to Austria, bringing home many new contacts and a fascination for […] Continue reading

Projects

11 April 2022

“A powerful tool” for paraplegic patients

Up to 80 percent of people with a spinal cord injury suffer from spasticity. Hitherto the choice open to them lay only between medication with strong side effects or risky surgery. The mathematician and neuroscientist Ursula Hofstötter has now developed a procedure that mitigates spasticity and also improves mobility – without medication or surgery. Continue reading

Projects

14 March 2022

Fine-tuning cochlear implants greatly boosts quality of hearing

Cochlear implants enable people with hearing impairments to communicate with others using spoken language. Noisy environments and diverse sources of interference are still making conversation difficult, however. The Innsbruck biologist Anneliese Schrott-Fischer and her interdisciplinary team have now succeeded in laying the foundations for individually perfecting the implants. Continue reading