Theoretical physicist first woman and youngest member of FIAS Faculty

Neutron stars are extremely dense inside: They reach masses comparable to twice that of the sun - having a size equivalent to the city of Frankfurt (10-14 km radius). Therefore, these compact objects serve as unique laboratories for studying the properties of dense matter. A research group at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) now deployed deep learning techniques to add further constraints on the stars’ interiors.

A significantly improved model for earlier earthquake detection is described in two recent publications of Nishtha Srivastava’s group at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS). Their model detects earthquakes more reliably and faster than previous studies, which can simplify advance warnings, especially in less developed regions of the world.

Franziska Matthäus' group is happy to have won three poster prizes at the European Conference on Mathematical and Theoretical Biology, https://ecmtb2022.org/. This large conference in the research field, with 750 participants, awarded 13 poster prizes. Three of these went to the FIAS group: Zoë Lange for the Best Poster in Developmental Biology, Gustavo Hernandez-Mejia for the Best Poster in Epidemiology, and Marc Pereyra received the Lewis Wolpert Prize for Best Poster. "I'm super-proud of all three of them," says Matthäus.

A team led by Sebastian Thallmair at FIAS investigates the interactions of proteins and lipids (fats) in membranes by means of simulations. In the barrel-shaped Tubby protein, they identified a previously unknown binding site that could help to understand various diseases.

How abstract knowledge is stored in the brain is being studied by psychologists and computer scientists in the new DFG research group ARENA. The findings should contribute to making artificially intelligent (AI) systems more efficient and flexible.

A protein (CD30) sitting on Hodgkin's lymphoma tumour cells is an important diagnostic marker for this cancer. But CD30 is also found on rare activated immune cells. Therefore, a team led by Martin-Leo Hansmann from the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) and Ralf Küppers (Universitätsklinik Essen), with support from the Wilhelm Sander Foundation, investigated whether CD30 cells in inflammatory reactions are precursors of Hodgkin's lymphoma tumour cells and how these CD30-positive cells differ. The results suggest that the inflammatory reactions are not cancer precursors and that the two types of CD30 cells differ significantly in the relationships they maintain with other cells in the tissue.

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative for Researchers at Risk is supporting the FIAS visiting scientist Dr. Roman Poberezhnyuk with an 18-month scholarship beginning 1 August 2022.

Bastian Eppler from Matthias Kaschube's FIAS research group defended his thesis on 19 July and celebrated with the team afterwards. In his doctorate, he studied the mechanisms of how the brain stores information stably over long periods of time and at the same time integrates important new information quickly.

The Walter-Greiner-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der physikalischen Grundlagenforschung (for the support of foundational research in physics, WGG) awarded two Laureatus professorships for outstanding achievements in research and teaching. As a part of the 24th academic summer ceremony of the physics department at Goethe-University, the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) and the WGG several physicists were honoured. Prof. Dr. Luciano Rezzolla received the prestigious Carl Wilhelm Fueck Laureate Professorship for his work in the field of theoretical astrophysics. For many years he has conducted research as a Senior Fellow at FIAS and has been a part of the board of directors.

The city of Frankfurt honoured Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Volker Mosbrugger with the prestigious Goethe Plaque 2022, which is awarded annually to personalities of cultural life.

FIAS Fellow Hannah Elfner was nominated "Scientist of the Year 2021". The physicist received the prize by Goethe University and the Alfons and Gertrud Kassel Foundation, which awards the prize to researchers every two years. In addition to outstanding scientific work, the focus is also on promoting young researchers, for which part of the prize money of 25,000 Euros will be used.

As part of the new collaborative research centre (CRC) 1507, Roberto Covino's group will contribute to understand the role of the cell membrane in regulating fundamental cellular programs. With modelling, calculations, and computer simulations, they want to elucidate the complex interactions between membrane proteins and lipids.

The FIAS Seismology and Artificial Intelligence group used the Italian volcano Stromboli in the Mediterranean Sea as an example to develop a powerful module for immediately detecting and creating more complete seismo-volcanic event catalogs. These catalogs not only enable the evaluation of volcanic hazard but also the in-depth investigation of possible precursors based on the historic instrumental data.

Eight super telescopes, many international working groups, and elaborate computer calculations over years led to the first image of the black hole at the center of our Milky Way.

Seven scientists have found a temporary research position at Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS). Personal commitment and the support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Polytechnic Foundation of Frankfurt am Main ensure financial security, research opportunities, and a temporary home in Frankfurt for two professors, five (post)doctoral students and their families.

Prof. Dr. Eckhard Elsen is the new Scientific Director of the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) as of May 1, 2022. He thus replaces the previous five-member board including the executive and an administrative director. The basis for this new structure is an amendment to the statutes. With a single executive director at the helm processes and decisions in the institute will be rendered more efficient and coordination simplified.

Research Cluster ELEMENTS at FIAS

On 28.04.2022 Prof. Dr. Gašper Tkačik from Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST) starts the new talks series "CMMS Talks" with his presentation about "Statistical analysis and optimality of biological systems". The talks series will take place on a regular basis during the semester times within the frame of the LOEWE Project "CMMS" at FIAS.

The brain's ability to store and generalize information is incredibly complex and diverse. But what happens at the level of neuronal networks in the process? In a new study, scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University-Mainz (JGU) and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) have found that activity patterns in the brain, especially the auditory cortex, are not as stable as previously thought. This instability is crucial for the linking of sensory impressions.