Antibiotic ‘Velcro’ gives bacteria a sticky situation |
A small antibiotic called plectasin uses an innovative mechanism to kill bacteria. By assembling into large structures, plectasin latches onto its target on the bacterial cell surface comparable to how both sides of Velcro form a bond. A research team, led by chemists Markus Weingarth and Eefjan Breukink at Utrecht University, mapped how the Velcro-structure is formed.
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Roadmap to a carbon-neutral refinery by 2050 |
Would it be possible to build a refinery that is completely fossil-free, and thereby significantly contributing to a carbon-neutral society by as early as 2050? According to two chemists from Utrecht University it is. In a highly visionary Nature article, they present a roadmap in which oil refineries could be reinvented to be completely fossil-free. Processes will be electrified if possible, and raw materials will change to CO2, agricultural and municipal waste.
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First experimental proof for brain-like computer with water and salt |
Theoretical physicists at Utrecht University, together with experimental physicists at Sogang University in South Korea, have succeeded in building an artificial synapse. This synapse works with water and salt and provides the first evidence that a system using the same medium as our brains can process complex information.
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30 million for research into climate change feedbacks |
Climate change can accelerate due to feedback mechanisms: complex phenomena caused by climate change which in turn can further boost climate change. One example of this is the additional CO2 emission from thawing permafrost. Research into the long-term influence of feedback mechanisms has already been going on for a long time, just like research into modern climate change, but the connection between both has so far been underexposed.
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Utrecht leads research on misinformation and deepfakes |
The spread of fake news is a threat to democracies worldwide. Citizens who primarily seek news online are “bombarded” with an enormous amount of unfiltered information. This makes it easier to spread conspiracy theories. Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Techno-Science Frederica Russo is investigating the political risks of fake news and deepfakes as well as the opportunities of AI-generated contents for strengthening democratic processes.
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Residual waste from mushroom cultivation removes pollutants from water |
Water can be purified using the mixture of fungal filaments and horse manure that remains after harvesting mushrooms. The mushroom substrate effectively decreases concentrations of pesticides and drugs in contaminated water. The results of a study by Utrecht University researchers show the potential of the substrate as a promising alternative to current water treatment methods.
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“Music is not an extra, it's a basic necessity” |
Music and computer science are the two passions of Anja Volk. By connecting these two fields, the professor of Music Information Computing hopes to unlock the fundamental role of music in our lives. In April, she delivered her inaugural lecture. With a surprising twist: she may be the first professor to have left the University Hall singing.
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More wolves does not necessarily equal fewer foxes or badgers |
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Maths teacher Sabine Corazon Oudt is Science Alum of the Year |
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