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Compared to white fat, brown body fat burns energy at an extraordinary rate. However, until now the proportion of brown fat in humans was thought to be quite small. Now a study conducted by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has shown: The quantity of brown fat in humans is three times greater than previously known. As a consequence, new obesity and diabetes drugs that activate brown adipose tissue are expected to be more effective.

Walking, running, sprinting – every movement of the foot stretches the Achilles’ tendon. When jumping, the loads can approach ten times the body weight. Amazingly, the connection between the heel bone and Achilles’ tendon withstands theses tremendous loads. A team of doctors, physicists, chemists and engineers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now discovered why.

Over 350 people have taken part in the auditor program for refugees at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) since 2015. They have been able to familiarize themselves with various fields of study, improved their German language skills and have gained first-hand experience of how a German university works. Mentors support them throughout the process. The first participants have already been able to transition to regular courses of study. Registration for the upcoming summer semester will be possible on March 16 and 17.

At the Bobsleigh World Championships in Königssee, Johannes Lochner, a Master’s student in electrical engineering at TUM, and his team brought home the victory in 4-man bobsleigh. The athletes share the honor with Francesco Friedrich’s team – after four runs, both teams ended up with exactly the same time.

The most prevalent method for obtaining images of clogged coronary vessels is coronary angiography. For some patients, however, the contrast agents used in this process can cause health problems. A team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now demonstrated that the required quantity of these substances can be significantly reduced if monoenergetic X-rays from a miniature particle accelerator are used.

The genome molecule contains the blueprint for life. The manner in which the blueprint is packed into the cell determines which genes are active and which are set to inactive. Disturbing this structure can result in illnesses such as cancer. Munich scientists have now succeeded in using molecular "tweezers" made from DNA to measure interactions at the first packaging level of the genome.

SGL Group will renew its commitment to endowing the Chair of Carbon Composites (LCC) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), which began eight years ago. The agreement for a six-year extension was signed by TUM president Prof. Wolfgang A. Herrmann and the SGL Group's CEO, Dr. Jürgen Köhler.

Rechargeable lithium batteries with cathodes comprising nickel, manganese, and cobalt, are viewed as the most potent today. But they, too, have a limited lifespan. Already in the first cycle they lose up to ten percent of their capacity. Why this happens and what can be done to alleviate the ensuing gradual loss of capacity has now been investigated in detail by a team of scientists using positrons at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Swiss technology firm Oerlikon have signed a partnership agreement. Both partners intend to work for progress in research in the field of additive manufacturing technologies. Plans foresee the establishment of a joint institute where research will focus on metal processing.

Contrary to what was previously assumed about patients with heart failure, physical exercise does not lead to harmful ventricular enlargement. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim (NTNU) have disproved this earlier hypothesis and issued recommendations for designing a training program for persons with congestive heart failure.