News

From micro to nano: the plastics slipping through our sewage plants

First, the good news: Advance treatment like ozone can break down microplastics in waste water. The catch, as a team from the University of Graz and Med Uni Graz led by chemist Raquel Gonzalez de Vega has discovered: When broken down with the help of ozone, even smaller, persistent nanoparticles are created, which can re-enter the water cycle.

PFAS in honey bees: Insects enable monitoring of pollutants in the environment

PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – have increasingly come under scrutiny in recent years as so-called “forever chemicals”. These artificially produced substances are used in the manufacture of many everyday products. They are harmful to the environment and human health, difficult to break down and accumulate everywhere, in flora, fauna and even in humans. Researchers at the University of Graz have now used honeybees to investigate the occurrence of PFAS at different times and in different land use areas. The study shows that bees and the pollen they collect are ideal for monitoring environmental toxins. The insects absorb the pollutants, allowing conclusions to be drawn about their spatial and seasonal distribution.

From the classroom to the glacier

The University of Graz offers school students unique research experiences on the Dachstein: through experiments, they discover the secrets of glaciers and learn from experts. VR glasses bring glaciers to life in the classroom.

Zero Emissions Award for more sustainable medicines

Austria's highest privately endowed funding for climate-relevant basic research enters its second round: Rajesh B. Jethwa (ISTA), Eva Maria Prem (University of Innsbruck), and Katalin Barta Weissert (University of Graz) submitted innovative proposals and are the newest recipients of the Zero Emissions Award from the alpha+ Foundation of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).

Premiere am Institut für Chemie: Erste LabCoat-Ceremony

Mit der ersten LabCoat-Ceremony am 27. Mai 2025 begrüßte das Institut für Chemie feierlich seine neuen Studierenden. Im festlichen Rahmen erhielten sie ihren offiziellen, mit dem Universitätslogo bestickten Labormantel – das Symbol ihres Starts als Nachwuchschemikerinnen und -chemiker.

Chemiker lösen Rätsel um Anordnung von Molekül-Kristallen

Molekül-Kristalle bilden sich beispielsweise in Wasser-Eis, kommen in Zucker und Schokolade oder in Medikamenten vor. Deswegen sind ihr Aufbau und ihre Anordnung auch für die Forschung wichtig. Bei einem internationalen Wettbewerb konnten Daniel Boese, Johannes Hoja und ihr Team die Strukturen besonders gut vorhersagen.

Wie war das Klima vor 100.000 Jahren? Chemiker untersucht Partikel im ewigen Eis

Sie sind winzig klein, tragen aber eine große Geschichte in sich. Kleinste Staubteilchen, die seit Jahrtausenden an den Polkappen sowie in den Alpen im Eis eingeschlossen sind. Bis heute. Chemiker David Clases findet und analysiert sie mit einer eigens entwickelten Methode und hochsensiblen Geräten und kann mit den Informationen aus der Nano-Welt die Erdgeschichte rekonstruieren.

Circular Bioengineering: FWF Cluster of Excellence aims to revolutionise the product cycle

Take a renewable raw material from nature – wood, for example – break it down into its building blocks and use them to create a functional material, such as a water-repellent surface coating, with the help of green chemistry. Once this has served its purpose, break it down again into its chemical components and use them to build something new. This idea is set to revolutionise the production and life cycle of materials and goods. The Cluster of Excellence "Circular Bioengineering", funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, is researching how to produce products from biomass, develop sustainable methods for the production process, and open options for returning products that have reached the end of their lifetime back into a cycle. The University of Graz is a partner in this Cluster of Excellence, for which the FWF is providing 18 million euros. Including its own funds, the total volume of the project is 27 million euros. The lead is with the BOKU University in Vienna.

More news

New network for nanostructures

The Austrian Science Fund FWF is funding the Graz research group "Molecule arrangement through artificial intelligence" with 1.19 million euros.…

Students at the University of Graz provided enchanting moments full of chemistry

Themed ‘Chemical Moments’, the chemical Christmas show at the University of Graz enchanted the audience with glowing experiments, fiery reactions and…

Strong research impetus: 16 million euros for Circular Bioengineering Excellence Cluster

The Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering has today received a grant of 16 million euros from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). This funding…

Researchers at the University of Graz have been awarded three ERC Starting Grants.

Three ERC Starting Grants for innovative research projects go to researchers at the University of Graz. The projects include the investigation of…

Even greener: University of Graz researchers improve the chemical industry

Durable bioplastics, rapidly available medicines or cosmetics without toxic waste materials: chemists have long relied on enzymes, i.e. proteins from…

University of Graz develops sustainable and recyclable bio-plastic

Researchers at the University of Graz are developing a fully recyclable, bio-based epoxy resin that could change the plastics industry in the long…

Chemische Forschungstage

PFAS on ski slopes: How a researcher tracks down environmental toxins

!!!!!FOTO FEHLT!!!!!!!!

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) are extremely persistent organofluorine compounds that are also used in ski wax.…