Individual publications from 2025
Synaptic Superstars
For a long time, neuroscientists have modeled brain activity as a predictable flow where the "average" connection dictates the outcome. However, recent biological evidence suggests that the brain is governed by "heavy-tailed" distributions, a mathematical structure where a few rare, incredibly strong synapses hold more power than thousands of weak ones combined. The Theory of Complex Systems and Neurophysics Group(Benjamin Lindner) investigated how the statistical shape of brain connections fundamentally changes how neurons fire. By comparing standard "light-tailed" models to "heavy-tailed" models, they discovered a phenomenon called directed percolation. In these heavy-tailed systems, activity acts like a spreading wildfire: if even a tiny number of neurons start spiking, the signal can "percolate" through the rare, powerful synapses to activate the entire network. Beyond the spread of activity, the study highlights a state of bistability, where a network can exist in two different modes: a low-activity "resting" state or a self-sustained "active" state. Learn more about heavy-tailed synaptic strength distributions in their article.
The Complementary Glow
Proteins and their building blocks, amino acids, are too small to see with a standard microscope, so researchers use light to make them vibrate. By measuring these vibrations, they can identify exactly what a molecule is and how it is shaped. Traditional Raman spectroscopy uses a single photon of light to excite a molecule. The Optical Nanospectroscopy Group (Janina Kneipp) used a more advanced technique, so called SEHRS (Surface-Enhanced Hyper Raman Scattering) to find the spectra of tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine. By using gold nanoparticles instead of the more common silver, the study paves the way for better biocompatibility in future medical and biological sensors. They specifically compared two types of citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuCit and AuAsc) and found that the way the nanoparticles were made significantly changed how the amino acids interacted with them. One of the most intriguing findings was the high variability in the spectra of tyrosine, which suggested that at certain concentrations, the molecules might be talking to each other through intermolecular interactions. Read the full article in Journal of Raman Spectroscopy for more information on SEHRS.
The green shield
As global temperatures climb, cities are increasingly becoming heat traps, endangering the health and well-being of millions. While "nature-based solutions" like urban forests are often touted as the ultimate fix, these green shields are themselves under threat from the very heat and drought they are meant to combat. A new perspective suggests that for cities to survive, we must rethink our relationship with urban nature. In a recently published Comment, Dagmar Haase argues that the effectiveness of urban adaptation to rising temperatures and drought depends on the health and diversity of a city’s entire "green patina." To unlock the full potential of urban nature, she suggests that cities must move beyond focusing solely on large-scale parks and instead integrate a holistic network of micro-green spaces and diverse vegetation, the “green patina”, that can better withstand and mitigate the impacts of a changing climate. Read the full Comment in Nature Citiesto learn more about these thoughts on green cities.
Dear Physics: We need to talk about Biology
Unlocking the secrets of how thousands of starlings coordinate their movements or how social insects build complex nests requires more than just a pair of binoculars. It requires a blend of biology, physics, and mathematics. While the field of collective animal behaviour has successfully combined laboratory experiments with theoretical models, new technological leaps are pushing researchers to look deeper. In their perspective paper, Pawel Romanczuk and Valentin Lecheval outline how the next generation of research will bridge the gaps between individual biology, evolutionary history, and high-tech artificial intelligence. The authors identify several critical frontiers, including the need to bridge "proximate" mechanistic explanations (how animals move) with "ultimate" evolutionary causes (why they move that way), and the challenge of moving beyond a few "model" species to a generalized understanding across the animal kingdom. Furthermore, they advocate for unified models that combine collective decision-making with spatial movement, and for "reclaiming" AI as a theoretical tool to test hypotheses about animal cognition. Read the full review in The Royal Society for more information.
Smart Greening
For decades, city "greening" programs have operated on a simple logic: the more trees we plant, the better. Cities set ambitious targets to plant thousands of saplings, often treating all trees as equal contributors to the environment. However, urban environments are not uniform: a neighborhood prone to flash flooding has different needs than one suffering from extreme heat. The Landscape Ecology Group (Dagmar Haase) addressed this flaw in current city planning in their npj Urban sustainability arcticle. Using Philadelphia as a case study, they developed a framework that combines machine learning and optimization algorithms to match the specific needs of a neighborhood with the species best equipped to solve those problems. They introduce a spatial optimization tool that identifies specific "hotspots" across the city where nature-based solutions are most needed. Instead of a one-size-fits-all planting strategy, the model suggests a diverse “green mosaic”. This shift from random greening to precision forestry ensures that urban forests act as high-performance infrastructure, providing maximum protection against climate change while fostering a more resilient and biodiverse urban ecosystem.
How to tan veggies right
In a world where food security depends on preserving seasonal harvests, the sun is a powerful but tricky ally. While solar drying is an affordable way to keep vegetables from spoiling, the intense heat and light can be a double-edged sword for the vitamins and nutrients inside. The Urban Plant Ecophysiology Group (Christian Ulrichs) investigated how different solar drying methods affect the nutritional profile of African indigenous vegetables. Published in the Journal of Food Science, the research compares the effects of passive direct solar drying (PDSD) and passive indirect solar drying (PISD), followed by a 30-day storage period. The researchers found that while carotenoids were successfully retained in amaranth and pumpkin leaves, Abyssinian mustard was more sensitive, losing up to 45% of its carotenoids under direct sun. Interestingly, the study highlighted a significant "health win": both drying methods dramatically reduced nitrate levels, which are considered anti-nutrients in high amounts. By identifying how specific vegetables react to different drying "sun-baths," the study provides a roadmap for preserving the bioactive compounds that make these vegetables vital for human health.
No words needed
When researching emotions, language can often be a barrier. Words like Schadenfreude don’t always have a direct equivalent in other languages, and young children may not yet have the vocabulary to describe complex feelings. To solve this, a team of researchers developed the Nonverbal Emotion Assessment Tool (NEAT), a language-free instrument that uses schematic facial drawings to measure both the type and intensity of emotions. The Social and Organizational Psychology Group (Ursula Hess) now validated the tool across two distinct groups: German primary school children and adults from Germany, Bulgaria, and Malaysia. They found that the NEAT is highly effective at capturing “attributed emotions”, the feelings people recognize in others or themselves. While children as young as six were able to match the schematic faces to emotional scenarios with moderate accuracy, the adult study revealed that the tool maintains high "construct validity" even across vastly different cultures. Although some regional differences were noted, the NEAT proved to be a reliable way to bypass the "translation trap". By using simple, bias-free drawings instead of photographs or words, this tool provides a new global standard for understanding the human emotional experience from childhood through adulthood. If you are interested in NEAT, read the Emotion Article.