Researchers from Science and Technology nominated for Danish Research Results of the Year 2011
Videnskab.dk has selected three research results from Aarhus University – all from Science and Technology – among the ten nominations for the Danish Research Results of the Year 2011. The winner is determined by readers of the website, and you can help select the winner by voting at videnskab.dk no later than Sunday 27 November.
2011.11.23
In March 2011, we were able to report that Jacob Sherson, Department of Physics and Astronomy, and his colleagues at the Max Planck Institute in Munich had produced incredibly precise tweezers that can grab hold of a single atom – a major breakthrough in the development of potent quantum computers.
The mystery of antimatter came one step closer to being unravelled in June 2011. An international team of researchers at CERN, led by physicist Jeffrey Hangst from Aarhus University, succeeded in trapping antihydrogen atoms for more than fifteen minutes – long enough for them to reach their ground state. This is the longest period of time that anyone has ever been able to store a neutral anti-atom.
Researchers at Aarhus University were part of an international group that analysed the orang-utan genome for the first time ever. The research results provide new knowledge about this common ancestor to all primates, and were featured on the front page of the internationally recognised journal Nature. We reported this in January 2011.
The three research results are:
- New super tweezers grab hold of a single atom, Jacob Sherson, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University.
- Antihydrogen trapped by Danish-led group of researchers, Jeffrey Hangst, Gorm B. Andresen, Niels Madsen, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University.
- Orang-utan genome sequenced, Mikkel Heide Schierup, Thomas Mailund, Asger Hobolth, Bioinformatics Research Centre (BiRC), Aarhus University.
Read more (in Danish only) and vote at videnskab.dk by Sunday 27 November at the latest.
Great international recognition of Torben Heick Jensen
2012.05.09 — Professor Torben Heick Jensen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, has achieved great international recognition with his nomination as a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). The election to EMBO is in recognition of Professor Jensen’s outstanding research within gene expression.
Royal visit to Aarhus University – two Joachims and 20,000 ants
2012.05.01 — Prins Joachim visited Aarhus University’s Silkeborg department on Friday 27 April. Senior Scientist Joachim Offenberg, Department of Bioscience, explained how weaver ants are used in ecological pest control. Read more (in Danish only).
Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education waved goodbye to mother-in-law’s house
2012.04.27 — Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education Morten Østergaard was faced by facts when he visited Aarhus University for the Festival of Research. The MADALGO basic research centre and the EcoSense research group showed the minister how computer science research addresses this year’s theme – EUROPE’S CHALLENGES.
Your subject portal – all study information concentrated in one place
2012.03.29 — From Wednesday 28 March, you can find all information about teaching, examinations, timetable, course enrolment, student counselling and career guidance, and much more at your subject portal.
Grants for studies or research in the USA
2012.02.28 — The Denmark-America Foundation & the Fulbright Commission offer grants to Danish citizens to undertake study or research programmes at graduate level in the USA. The grants amount to DKK 85,000–100,000.
Lecturers wanted for ‘Science pays a visit’, 24–28 September
2012.02.28 — The Danish Science Week requires skilled lecturers to be part of a team giving talks about science at schools throughout Denmark from 24 to 28 September.
Unique pump in sperm cells makes a difficult journey possible
2012.05.01 — In his PhD work, Michael Jakob Voldsgaard Clausen made a detailed study of a molecular pump that is essential for sperm cells and is not found in other types of cells. The job of a sperm cell is to carry genetic information from a male to a female. In order to carry out this project, the cell has to travel from the testicle to the ovary, where both the pH value and salt concentrations are drastically altered. His results show that this pump is specific to sperm cells and is adapted to be able to maintain stable activity in conditions in which there are changes to the salt concentrations and the membrane potential of the cell. In time, it is possible that his results could be used in developing a birth control pill for men. Michael Clausen defended his dissertation on 23 April 2012. PhD supervisors: Professor Poul Nissen and Postdoctoral Research Associate Hanne Poulsen. Listen to the interview with Michael Clausen on Radio24syv (in Danish) about his results. (The interview starts 45.22 min into the broadcast). More information Michael Jakob Voldsgaard ClausenDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmarkmjc@mb.au.dk
2012.02.15 — Biologists are concerned about climate change impact, and they predict that a range of flora and fauna will disappear from Denmark within a few years. Hear Jens-Christian Svenning talk about climate change research at Aarhus University (in Danish only).
Play computer games and help research
2012.01.22 — Jacob Sherson, postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is developing a computer game where users can ‘play’ their way to answers to the most difficult research problems. On 17 January, he took part in Videnskabens Verden (Science World) on radio P1. Read more and hear the broadcast (in Danish only) here.