News 2020 from the Faculty of Science

DKK 25 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation for new research equipment

The acquisition of new technology will support biological and medical research

The whole world is looking at the possibility of drug repurposing

The medicine of the future for a wide range of diseases may exist in the drugs that have already been developed. Researchers from SDU, among others, are looking for drugs that may have an effect on completely different diseases than the ones they have been approved for.

Researchers want to map your cells. All 37 trillion of them!

We are gradually learning more about the cells of the human body than any researcher has ever dared to dream of. But what’s the purpose?

Porpoises aid biologists in protecting marine animals

Marine mammals are increasingly being disturbed by human activities at sea. Now, two young porpoises are set to help researchers gain essential insight in how to best protect marine mammals from man-made noise and disturbance.

The Polar Explorer’s Last Hours

Chemical analyzes of a black spot in a diary shed new light on the destiny and tragic death of legendary Inuit polar expedition member Jørgen Brønlund in Northeast Greenland in 1907.

Ready to explore the hadal zones: Inauguration of basic research centre for deep-sea research

With a budget of DKK 54.6 million from the Danish National Research Foundation, deep-sea researchers are busy preparing expeditions to the deepest places on the planet: the hadal trenches.

In search of the deepest secrets of the sea

The hadal trenches are some of the least explored places on Earth. Most of what’s going on down there remains a mystery, but we’re on the brink of unlocking it, as a series of ambitious expeditions are planned.

New Danish supercomputer will benefit society far more

Supercomputers, which enables researchers and scientists to make calculations and models, have so far been inaccessible to most people. Now a collaboration with the participation of the University of Southern Denmark, Aalborg University and Aarhus University ensures that supercomputers become available to researchers from all fields.

Visualising Denmark’s Cultural Heritage

The proverb “a picture is worth a thousand words” means that still images embody the power to express complicated concepts, ideas or relationships much more effectively than textual descriptions.

New medicines without animal testing

Researchers want to reduce the use of animal experiments when developing new medicines. Computer simulations are becoming increasingly better at handling the task.

Cancer cells in the brain can be starved to death

Researchers have found a way to kill cancer cells in the brain that allows the healthy cells to live.

Lundbeck Foundation Grant for better understanding of brain diseases

Jasmin Mecinovic, associate professor, FKF, has received a Lundbeck Foundation Ascending Investigator grant, DKK 4,999,500, to continue his research into the brain's so-called epigenetic enzymes.

Researcher uses mini-brains for disease research

Professor Martin Røssel Larsen researches brain diseases. In order to better understand them, he makes mini-brains from stem cells in his laboratory.

Support for wild researcher ideas

Three researchers from the Faculty of Science have each received DKK 2 million from VILLUM FONDEN to try out wild ideas.

Our health: New focus on the synergy effect of nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are valuable and useful in many products, but according to a new study, they can also damage our cells. Researchers are concerned about the effect of lifelong exposure to the human organism.

Danish King got enshrined in his own clothes – but appeared with his brothers’

Scientific analysis solve puzzle about the age and destiny of precious silk textiles from AD 1100.

Covid-19: Social distancing is more effective than travel bans

Travel bans will delay the peak of infection with days, while social distancing has a much stronger impact, amounting in up to 4 weeks delay, scientists report.

Wobbling shadow of the M87* Black Hole

Analysis of the Event Horizon Telescope observations from 2009-2017 reveals turbulent evolution of the M87* black hole image.

Mathematics: Modelling the timings of a COVID-19 second wave in Europe

New forecast model can easily be adjusted and used by authorities, the industry, etc.

They give you funny cat videos online – do they get world domination in return?

Professor of Computer Science Peter Schneider-Kamp is concerned that we are handing over too much power to Big Tech by allowing them to collect information on us.

Life of the famous Renaissance astronomer: Tycho Brahe and his wife ate lots of fish

Chemical analyzes of bones reveal that the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe and his wife ate lots of fish. Specifically, freshwater fish from stagnant pools on a Danish island and in the Czech Republic.

Great evaluation for online teaching

Professor Jørgen Bang-Jensen from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science had never taught online before this summer when he plunged into an intense course in graph theory, teaching 2-300 Chinese graduate students via Zoom from his home office.

COVID-19: What impact has social distancing had on infection rates?

Researchers have mined data from Google and Apple, revealing the effects of social distancing in Europe.

From scorpion venom to heart medicine

New study reveals how scorpion venom can lead to the development of medicine for heart attacks.

COVID-19: The next wave is on its way in Europe and it may be similar to the first

Researchers predict that Europe will be hit by a new COVID-19 wave in September, and that it will subside after approx. two weeks.

New chemical analyzes: What did Danes and Italians in the Middle Ages have in common?

Chemists have analyzed bones from a Danish and an Italian cemetery, casting light on the lives of nobles and common people in the north and the south of Europe.

Heavy rain after drought may cause fish kills

Due to climate changes, many regions are experiencing increasingly warmer and dryer summers, followed by heavy rain. New study shows this is a fatal combination that can cause massive fish kills in lakes within a few hours.

New obesity drug has extra benefit: Also combats liver fat

Drugs to treat obesity and obesity-induced diabetes can lead to weight loss, helping the patient to a healthier life. Now a collaboration between SDU AstraZeneca presents a drug that can do both that and combat dangerous fat on the liver at the same time.

Threats from the micro universe

Researchers today are concerned about possible health threats from the micro and nano universe. The invisible particles are all around us, in the food, in the water, in the air and even inside us, and while some may be harmful, others may be the next great medical revolution.

Major grant to realize wild and creative research idea

Dorthe Ravnsbæk has an ambitious idea for making batteries more efficient and environmentally sound. The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded her a grant of DKK 13 million so that she can realize her idea.

Jellyfish contain no calories, but they still attract predators

New study shows that jellyfish are an important food source for many animals. As jellyfish blooms become more frequent and more massive, this could affect marine ecosystems.

Prepare yourself for microscopic computers: The wires of the future can be made of molecules

There are physical limits to how powerful computers can become if they are to maintain their size. Molecular electronics can solve that problem, and now SDU researchers are contributing to this field with a new, efficient conducting material, based on molecules.

Winner of the Faculty’s Innovation Award 2020: Claudio Pica

Claudio Pica's innovations make the work of researchers and companies easier.

Winner of the Faculty’s Research Dissemination Award 2020: Peter Schneider-Kamp

Reutilisation of EPS boxes gives Tina Holm Svenstrup the Inspiration Award

Tina Holm Svenstrup is the first employee to receive the new Inspiration Award at the Faculty of Science. The award is given for a special effort in working with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Teaching Award 2020

How do you convert experimental work in the laboratory into exciting virtual teaching during a lock down? According to Alexander Treusch and his teaching assistants, you make an extra effort and pack a large stack of ‘Lab@Home kits’ for your students. Even if it costs you extra hours and a lot of extra work.

Ann-Mary Andersen is Colleague of the Year 2020

– I see no bees! What are all the people doing out here?

New website provides overview of endocrine disruptors in the EU

Five countries, including Denmark, have teamed up to make a list of endocrine disruptors, hoping it will pave the way for tighter EU regulations.

Older fathers increase the risk of mental illness

New research finds that the age of fathers at the time of conception has an impact on children's risk of becoming mentally ill. The older fathers, the higher the risk.

New book from Philip Hallenborg

Philip Hallenborg, research development manager at the Faculty of Science, has just released his second thriller, "Fenris". As his first thriller, it deals with a scientific theme.

Artificial bird voices may improve throat surgery

When performing surgery on a patient with throat cancer, it is crucial to know exactly where to operate in order to preserve the patient's voice in the best possible way. New SDU research into bird voices shows the path to the least harmful intervention.

You cannot avoid microplastics

No human being on this earth comes through life without breathing, drinking water and consuming salt. For the vast majority of us, this also means involuntary ingestion of microplastics.

Cannibalism helps invading invertebrates survive severe conditions

Investing in the future: Researchers show how cannibalism among the invasive comb jelly enables adults to survive severe conditions at the edge of their ecological range with implications for the use and evolutionary origins of cannibalism.

Breakthrough in molecular machines

Molecular machines have the potential to revolutionize the future - if we can find a way to control them. SDU researchers now report that they have found a way to control the small machines so that they move in a certain direction - for example, into the bloodstream.

Oral exam via Zoom+

Anders Gersdorff Toft is a fourth-semester Mathematics student at SDU. He was the first out of seven students who sat their oral examination in Riemannian Geometry on 21 April 2020.

Sea wrack on the beach: Disgusting or valuable?

Insulation, fertilizer and animal feed: For centuries, humans have been using sea wrack and washed-up eelgrass on the beach in a myriad of ways that also make sense today, scientists say and call for better utilisation.

Surprising hearing talents in cormorants

The great cormorant has more sensitive hearing under water than in air. This new knowledge may help protect vulnerable bird species.

The number of new coronavirus infections in Denmark expected to fall before Easter Monday

Francesco Sannino, professor of theoretical physics at the University of Southern Denmark, estimates that we will see the Danish coronavirus curve turn this week or next.

Female lifespan is longer in wild mammal animals than in humans

Longer lives are not only for female humans: Mammalian female’s average lifespan is 18.6% longer than that of males. In humans the female advantage is on average 7.8%

New study: Cannabis helps fight resistant bacteria

Bacteria are increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics. By combining antibiotics with the cannabis compound, cannabidiol, researchers have found a way to enhance the antibiotic effect.

Businesses await graduates from Data Science

The demand for graduates in Data Science is significant, although no one has graduated yet.

Bone analyzes tell about kitchen utensils in the Middle Ages

Who in the Middle Ages cooked their dinner in copper pots? And where did they do it? Such information can be revealed by chemical analyzes of human bones.

SDU intensifies its research in artificial skin

Researchers want to develop and 3D print skin for humans. The Novo Nordisk Foundation provides DKK 15 million for a new research project.

Closing in on liver fibrosis: Detailing the fibrosis process at unprecedented resolution

Today, there is no effective way to treat liver fibrosis. In a new study, researchers from University of Southern Denmark present a new technology to investigate the cellular processes as they change during fibrosis development. Key findings are being validated in studies of human patients, paving the way for possible novel diagnostics and treatments.

A good story makes math problems more relevant

Professor Claus Michelsen is an author of math teaching material and likes to write small stories to accompany his math problems. He recently published a new set of math stories and problems.

Citizens contribute to biology research

In recent years, Citizen Science, where citizens contribute to researchers' data gathering, has gained a foothold in the research environments. According to Associate Professor Sara Egemose, this is partly due to the synergy that arises when both researchers and citizens experience clear benefits from collaboration.

Science researchers draw four prestigious grants from Villum

At this year's award ceremony of Villum Young Investigators, as many as four out of fifteen recipients are researchers from the Faculty of Science at SDU.

Phantom genes keep diabetes at bay

Until now, the purpose of a ‘phantom gene’ was largely unknown. New research suggests that it helps to ensure a healthy metabolism and could be involved in the development of lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

US Navy supports Danish research into porpoise hearing

Studies of porpoises’ and dolphins' ability to navigate at sea may lead to the development of new advanced equipment for underwater locating of submarines, mines and drowned persons.

Will the future’s super batteries be made of seawater?

The race is on to develop even more efficient and rechargable batteries for the future. One promising option is to make batteries based on sodium, which is found in abundance in seawater.

Parrots collaborate with invisible partners

New study shows that peach-fronted conures have a surprisingly advanced talent for collaboration when it comes to finding food. This is important knowledge for biologists working with conservation of wild bird populations.

Streptococci: Starve them to death!

Streptococcus is one of the bacteria that takes most lives globally. A new study suggest that the bacterium may be starved to death and thus become harmless.