Research

For many of us, once we open a packet of crisps there is no stopping us – we keep eating until it is empty. Food chemists at FAU have now discovered a possible explanation for why some types of food are more tempting than others.

A chain of extinct volcanoes stretches across the Pacific from Hawaii to Kamchatka, suddenly changing direction in the middle. The explanation for this lies in large-scale tectonic changes which took place around 50 million years ago.

Vitamin D has long been known to help fight infections. Researchers have now shown how vitamin D could improve treatment for patients with lymphoma.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. FAU researchers have now shown that the immune system can be better prepared to fight tumour cells if the body's production of the messenger substance interleukin 6 is stimulated.

Disposable nappies are easy to use, practical when on the move, and particularly good at keeping the skin dry. FAU researchers are now working with the multinational consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G) to improve the material properties of disposable nappies.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease in which patients suffer from frequent diarrhoea and painful stomach cramps, making it difficult to lead a normal life. Doctors at FAU have recently tested a new treatment for this disease.

Increased salt intake comes with an increased risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. However, high salt levels in the skin can in fact have a positive effect as they protect the body from microbial invasion.