Tag: friedrich119

Many different things are hidden in many different ways. In this edition of friedrich, we would like to invite you to join our researchers in taking a closer look and shining a light on what has until now remained hidden. Read the editorial by Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger.

Just because we can't see something doesn’t mean it's not there. A lot is hidden to the naked eye – molecular structures, for example. We have only been able to gain an insight into these, the smallest of structures, since microscopes were invented. Sometimes, the images researchers see through a microscope could almost be classed as modern art.

Whether it’s in the contact between similar or varying cell types, in cooperation or competition, information is transferred between cells extremely quickly and usually very precisely. Understanding such conversations between cells makes it possible to take action when incorrect information or troublemakers cause problems and also to exploit this type of natural communication in technical communication systems.

Models, organisms, minerals: Universities have always been an important place for collecting and cataloguing objects for safekeeping. Over time, these treasures were forgotten and left to live a lonely life in the storeroom. In recent years, curators have started preparing the collections for research and teaching again. At FAU they are now being made ready for the digital age.

Our skeleton, organs and every individual atom in our body are hidden beneath our skin. They only become visible using medical imaging, and this, also thanks to scientists at FAU, is becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Microscopes are highly-developed, universal tools. FAU researchers are now testing how microscopes can accelerate the decision-making process when treating bowel disease.

There are any number of causes for pain in the knee. FAU researchers have now developed a method which can be used to scan patients whilst they are standing. They hope that the measuring technique will drastically reduce the number of unnecessary operations by providing results which reflect how the joint behaves under realistic conditions.

The amount of blood which flows through our bones becomes clear when a bone breaks. FAU researchers have now succeeded in measuring even the smallest blood vessels in skeletons. It is hoped that their findings will lead to improvements in treating diseases such as osteoporosis.

Using special microscopes, FAU researchers have succeeded in depicting tissue cells in 3D and directly in the living body, without administering dyes. The new imaging techniques raise hopes that in future a diagnosis will be able to be made directly whilst carrying out an endoscopy, for example during a colonoscopy, significantly reducing the number of biopsies required.