http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen Pressemitteilungen und offizielle Meldungen der Pressestelle der Technischen Universität München http://portal.mytum.de/logo.gif http://portal.mytum.de/logo.jpg http://portal.mytum.de/ http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/NewsArticle_20120207_104702 A doll in a doll, and then one more, enveloping them from the outside – this is how Thomas Faessler explains his molecule. He packs one atom in a cage within an atom framework. With their large surfaces these structures can serve as highly efficient catalysts. Just like in the Russian wooden toy, a hull of twelve copper atoms encases a single tin atom. This hull is, in turn, enveloped by 20 further tin atoms. Professor Faessler’s work group at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) was the first to generate these spatial structures built up in three layers as isolated metal clusters in bronze alloys. Technische Universität München presse@tum.de 2012-02-07 15:22:05 http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/NewsArticle_20120130_170419 Extremely thin, more stable than steel and widely applicable: the material graphene is full of interesting properties. As such, it is currently the shining star among the electric conductors. Photodetectors made with graphene can process and conduct both light signals and electric signals extremely fast. Upon optical stimulation, graphene generates a photocurrent within picoseconds (0,000 000 000 001 second). Until now, none of the available methods were fast enough to measure these processes in graphene. Professor Alexander Holleitner and Dr. Leonhard Prechtel, scientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM), have now developed a method to measure the temporal dynamics of this photo current. Technische Universität München presse@tum.de 2012-01-31 11:20:59 http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/NewsArticle_20120126_150815 The German Research Foundation (DFG) regards the redesign of software development in high performance computing as one of the main future challenges. Thus the DFG is first starting the priority program “Software for Exascale Computing (SPPEXA)” from the strategy fund. TUM informatics professor Hans-Joachim Bungartz from the Chair of Scientific Computing promoted the project and is presently one of the coordinators. SPPEXA is based on a 6 year time frame with a budget amount of 24 million euros. Technische Universität München presse@tum.de 2012-01-27 21:24:48 http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/NewsArticle_20120119_111039 The origin of life is seen as the formation of the first biomolecules capable of multiplication and further development. Until now it was unclear which reactions may have triggered the evolution of this ur-metabolism. Scientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) have now revealed mechanisms by which a few biomolecules may bring forth new products in a kind of avalanche to initiate a self-expanding metabolism. „Chemistry – A European Journal“ now published their results. Technische Universität München presse@tum.de 2012-01-27 21:40:16 http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/NewsArticle_20120112_103010 A special group of proteins, the so-called chaperones, helps other proteins to obtain their correct conformation. Until now scientists supposed that hydrolyzing ATP provides the energy for the large conformational changes of chaperone Hsp90. Now a research team from the Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM) could prove that Hsp90 utilizes thermal fluctuations as the driving force for its conformational changes. The renowned journal PNAS reports on their findings. Technische Universität München presse@tum.de 2012-01-12 13:17:52 http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/meldungen/NewsArticle_20120110_180639 The available amount of fossil fuels is limited and their combustion in vehicle motors increases atmospheric CO2 levels. The generation of fuels from biomass as an alternative is on the rise. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, Johannes A. Lercher and his team at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen have now introduced a new catalytic process that allows the effective conversion of biopetroleum from microalgae into diesel fuels. Technische Universität München presse@tum.de 2012-01-12 15:04:10 http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/NewsArticle_20120104_102201 Is obesity in infants “programmed” in the womb? Previously, researchers assumed that consumption of “bad” fats during pregnancy contribute to excessive infant adipose tissue growth and that “good” Omega 3 fatty acids prevent expansive adipose tissue development. An intervention study run by the Technische Universität München (TUM) showed no evidence to support this “perinatal programming” theory. Expectant mothers increased their intake of Omega 3 fatty acids with fish oil capsules and fish-based meals during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This intervention diet did not have any discernable effect on the fat mass of the offspring. At 12 months, the babies were as rotund or slim as the children in the control group. Technische Universität München presse@tum.de 2012-01-05 10:31:50 http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/NewsArticle_20111229_111754 Stable two-dimensional networks of organic molecules are important components in various nanotechnology processes. However, producing these networks, which are only one atom thick, in high quality and with the greatest possible stability currently still poses a great challenge. Scientists from the Excellence Cluster Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM) have now successfully created just such networks made of boronic acid molecules. The current issue of the scientific journal ACSnano reports on their results. Technische Universität München presse@tum.de 2012-01-03 10:18:10 http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/NewsArticle_20111220_100621 A group with researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are the first to plot changes in the Earth’s axis through laboratory measurements. To do this, they constructed the world’s most stable ring laser in an underground lab and used it to determine changes in the Earth’s rotation. Previously, scientists were only able to track shifts in the polar axis indirectly by monitoring fixed objects in space. Capturing the tilt of the Earth’s axis and its rotational velocity is crucial for precise positional information on Earth – and thus for the accurate functioning of modern navigation systems, for instance. The scientists’ work has been recognized an Exceptional Research Spotlight by the American Physical Society. Technische Universität München presse@tum.de 2011-12-22 16:11:59 http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/pressemitteilungen/NewsArticle_20111208_092050 For a long time miniaturization has been the magic word in electronics. Dr. Willi Auwaerter and Professor Johannes Barth, together with their team of physicists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM), have now presented a novel molecular switch in the journal “Nature Nanotechnology.” Decisive for the functionality of the switch is the position of a single proton in a porphyrin ring with an inside diameter of less than half a nanometer. The physicists can set four distinct states on demand. Technische Universität München presse@tum.de 2011-12-12 14:49:46