News

Sind wir hier bei CSI? Juristin Nina Kaiser auf Spurensuche von Tatorten und Täter:innen

Ist gleich gerecht? Ein Gedankenexperiment mit dem Philosophen Elias Moser

EcoStories: How children change the world with stories

How can students explore the climate crisis and the protection of the environment playfully in English lessons? Within the EcoStories project coordinated by the University of Graz, such stories can be written and shared.

How do we stay energised?

Rock glaciers on a rapid descent

Whether in Siberia, Alaska or the Alps – rising temperatures are affecting permafrost worldwide. In the high mountains, this can be seen in what are known as rock glaciers. These forms, reminiscent of lava flows, are a mixture of debris and ice that does not thaw on the inside all year round. They slowly creep downhill, whereby the rate of movement is mainly related to the thermal regime of the permafrost body. Based on long-term observation data, an international study has now shown for the first time for the entire Alpine region that the velocity of rock glaciers, which has increased overall since the 1990s, is a reliable climate indicator. The research results were recently published in the scientific journal "Environmental Research Letters".

Long-term study shows how music lessons shape children's brains

When children produce their first, usually off-key notes on the recorder, piano, trumpet or guitar, it may not be a melodic pleasure for the listener. But for young people, it is valuable training for their hearing, from which they will continue to benefit into old age. This has long been suspected, but a twelve-year long-term study by the University of Graz has now provided initial evidence to support this assumption.

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

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) are extremely persistent organofluorine compounds that are also used in ski wax. Researcher Viktoria Müller from the University of Graz has found residues of these environmental toxins on the slopes of ski resorts in Styria and Carinthia. Skiers can counteract this by choosing the right wax.

Opening doors: When students overcome borders

Thinking outside the box, getting to know other universities, improving language skills and - literally - overcoming personal boundaries: After the pandemic break, students at the University of Graz are once again increasingly taking advantage of stays abroad to enhance their education and broaden their own horizons. With the Erasmus+ programme, the University of Graz is throwing the doors wide open.