Why the 2011 Tsunami in Japan was so intense
According to a study published in the journal Science, researchers can now explain why the earthquake off the Japanese coast in 2011 triggered an exceptionally strong tsunami. The cause likely lies in a special structure of the sediment deposits in that region. This conclusion is based on analyses of drill cores from the Japan Trench collected during Expedition 405 as part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). Charlotte Pizer from the Department of Geology at the University of Innsbruck was involved.
A Simple Spin Swap Reveals Exotic Anyons
Researchers from the University of Innsbruck, the Collège de France, and the Université Libre de Bruxelles have developed a simple yet powerful method to reveal anyons—exotic quantum particles that are neither bosons nor fermions—in one-dimensional systems.
FWF funding for research in surface chemistry
Laerte Patera from the Department of Physical Chemistry was recently awarded funding from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). As part of the consortium "Pushing Oxide Catalysis: Atomic-Scale View at Photocharges", Patera's research group aims to investigate photocatalytic processes using state-of-the-art atomic force microscopy.
580,000 Years of Climate History Revealed
An international research team led by Christoph Spötl from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, has compiled an extraordinary climate reconstruction based on data from a cave in Nevada, USA. The study provides unique insights into the climate history of one of the driest regions in North America – and shows how closely temperature, water availability, and vegetation are linked in arid regions.
Bio-inspired chemistry for innovative plant protection products
Thomas Magauer's research group has achieved a major breakthrough in natural product chemistry. Using a bio-inspired synthesis approach, the researchers have developed a new, efficient method for accessing highly effective natural lignans – molecules with great potential for plant protection and sustainable pest control.
Two new research networks
The University of Innsbruck is coordinating a new FWF special research area on the dark universe, which seeks answers to the biggest questions in modern cosmology. The University of Innsbruck is also involved in the new special research area on quantum systems of neutral atoms. The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is funding the networks over a period of four years with around €4 million each.
Innsbruck Scientists Conduct Deep-Sea Research in the Japan Trench
As part of the international deep-sea research initiative IODP3, a team from the University of Innsbruck’s Departments of Geology and Microbiology is currently participating in a three-week expedition to the Japan Trench. Aboard Japan’s drilling vessel Chikyu, the scientists analyze sediments from deep below the seafloor in a trench at water depth exceeding 7600 meters to investigate traces of past megathrust earthquakes and microbial activity in the hadal zone.
Noise-proof quantum sensors
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have shown that quantum sensors can remain highly accurate even in extremely noisy conditions. It’s the first experimental realization of a powerful quantum sensing protocol, outperforming all comparable classical strategies—even under overwhelming noise.