{"id":3160,"date":"2023-08-29T16:02:17","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T14:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/?post_type=research-groups&#038;p=3160"},"modified":"2025-06-18T11:35:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T09:35:55","slug":"pioneering-discoveries","status":"publish","type":"research-groups","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-groups\/theoretical-chemical-physics\/pioneering-discoveries\/","title":{"rendered":"Pioneering discoveries"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"section py-0 static\">\n<section class=\"py-0 wp-block-unilux-blocks-free-section section\"><div class=\"container xl:max-w-screen-xl\"><!-- SecondaryNavigationMirror --><div class=\"js-secondary-nav--sticky wp-block-unilux-blocks-secondary-navigation\" id=\"14ff9237-56df-487d-843f-77c97b46dc41\">\n    <nav id=\"secondary-navigation\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Secondary menu\" class=\"secondary-nav\">\n        <button class=\"secondary-nav__button btn btn-solid--primary w-full\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"secondary-navigation__list\" title=\"The selected page is Pioneering discoveries\" type=\"button\">\n            <span class=\"btn__name mr-auto\">Pioneering discoveries<\/span>\n            <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--xs\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-down\" \/>\n            <\/svg>\n        <\/button>\n\n        <ul id=\"secondary-navigation__list\" class=\"secondary-nav__list\">\n            <li class=\"secondary-nav__item\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-groups\/theoretical-chemical-physics\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"secondary-nav__link \">\n        <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--xs\">\n            <use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-right\" \/>\n        <\/svg>\n        <span class=\"secondary-nav__name\">Overview<\/span>\n    <\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"secondary-nav__item\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-groups\/theoretical-chemical-physics\/research\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"secondary-nav__link \">\n        <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--xs\">\n            <use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-right\" \/>\n        <\/svg>\n        <span class=\"secondary-nav__name\">Research<\/span>\n    <\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"secondary-nav__item\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-groups\/theoretical-chemical-physics\/pioneering-discoveries\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"secondary-nav__link isactived\" aria-current=\"page\">\n        <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--xs\">\n            <use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-right\" \/>\n        <\/svg>\n        <span class=\"secondary-nav__name\">Pioneering discoveries<\/span>\n    <\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"secondary-nav__item\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-groups\/theoretical-chemical-physics\/people\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"secondary-nav__link \">\n        <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--xs\">\n            <use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-right\" \/>\n        <\/svg>\n        <span class=\"secondary-nav__name\">People<\/span>\n    <\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"secondary-nav__item\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-groups\/theoretical-chemical-physics\/join-us\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"secondary-nav__link \">\n        <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--xs\">\n            <use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-right\" \/>\n        <\/svg>\n        <span class=\"secondary-nav__name\">Join us<\/span>\n    <\/a>\n<\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<!-- end SecondaryNavigationMirror --><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-free-section section\"><div class=\"container xl:max-w-screen-xl\">\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-unilux-blocks-heading\"        id=\"pioneering-discoveries\"\n    >\nPioneering discoveries<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-accordion accordion accordion--theme accordion-standard\" data-reference=\"225e30fd-aa55-47f5-8f7e-7037befde70d\" data-accordion-type=\"standard\"><div class=\"accordion__item  wp-block-unilux-blocks-accordion-item\">\n    <h3 class=\"accordion__header\"\n        >\n        <button\n            type=\"button\"\n            id=\"accordion-labelledby-88e5d1e5-90fd-47b4-9c2f-2a96a26f01e3\"\n            class=\"accordion__button collapsed\"\n            aria-expanded=\"false\"\n            aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-88e5d1e5-90fd-47b4-9c2f-2a96a26f01e3\"\n            data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n            data-bs-target=\"#accordion-panel-88e5d1e5-90fd-47b4-9c2f-2a96a26f01e3\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"accordion__title\">\n                                Long-Range van der Waals Interactions            <\/span>\n\n            <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--arrow-down \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-down\"><\/use><\/svg>        <\/button>\n    <\/h3>\n    <div id=\"accordion-panel-88e5d1e5-90fd-47b4-9c2f-2a96a26f01e3\"\n        class=\"accordion__collapse collapse\"\n        aria-labelledby=\"accordion-labelledby-88e5d1e5-90fd-47b4-9c2f-2a96a26f01e3\"\n        data-bs-parent=\"[data-reference=&quot;225e30fd-aa55-47f5-8f7e-7037befde70d&quot;]\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"accordion__body \">\n            \n<p>Our team has pioneered advanced methods for accurately describing van der Waals interactions, which play a crucial role in molecular interactions. Among these methods, the <strong>Tkatchenko-Scheffler (TS) method<\/strong> stands out as a parameter-free approach that enables accurate determination of long-range van der Waals interactions from mean-field electronic structure calculations.<br>Another efficient technique is the <strong>Many-Body Dispersion method<\/strong>, which goes beyond the pairwise TS method by including many-body interactions via coupled harmonic oscillators together with the self-consistent screening equation of classical electrodynamics. These cutting-edge methods are highly effective for predicting and understanding intermolecular interactions in a wide range of applications.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Read full articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-v2\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-item-v2\"><a class=\"quick-link\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.aps.org\/prl\/abstract\/10.1103\/PhysRevLett.102.073005\" target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" rel=\"noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-block-inserter quick-link__img\">\n\n<div class=\"icon--primary icon--secondary-2 icon--xl wp-block-unilux-blocks-icon-picker\">\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<span class=\"quick-link__name wp-block-unilux-blocks-plain-text\">Accurate Molecular Van Der Waals Interactions from Ground-State Electron Density and Free-Atom Reference Data<\/span>\n<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-item-v2\"><a class=\"quick-link\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.aps.org\/prl\/abstract\/10.1103\/PhysRevLett.108.236402\" target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" rel=\"noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-block-inserter quick-link__img\">\n<div class=\"icon--primary icon--secondary-2 icon--xl wp-block-unilux-blocks-icon-picker\">\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"quick-link__name wp-block-unilux-blocks-plain-text\">Accurate and Efficient Method for Many-Body van der Waals Interactions<\/span>\n\n<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"accordion__item  wp-block-unilux-blocks-accordion-item\">\n    <h3 class=\"accordion__header\"\n        >\n        <button\n            type=\"button\"\n            id=\"accordion-labelledby-dcda2d1b-ce42-4fae-9289-65a8f5ec6d7b\"\n            class=\"accordion__button collapsed\"\n            aria-expanded=\"false\"\n            aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-dcda2d1b-ce42-4fae-9289-65a8f5ec6d7b\"\n            data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n            data-bs-target=\"#accordion-panel-dcda2d1b-ce42-4fae-9289-65a8f5ec6d7b\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"accordion__title\">\n                                Wavelike Charge Density Fluctuations and van der Waals Interactions at the Nanoscale            <\/span>\n\n            <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--arrow-down \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-down\"><\/use><\/svg>        <\/button>\n    <\/h3>\n    <div id=\"accordion-panel-dcda2d1b-ce42-4fae-9289-65a8f5ec6d7b\"\n        class=\"accordion__collapse collapse\"\n        aria-labelledby=\"accordion-labelledby-dcda2d1b-ce42-4fae-9289-65a8f5ec6d7b\"\n        data-bs-parent=\"[data-reference=&quot;225e30fd-aa55-47f5-8f7e-7037befde70d&quot;]\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"accordion__body \">\n            \n<p>Our collaborative research with <strong>Fritz-Haber Institute, University of Padova, and Cornell University<\/strong> has revealed a groundbreaking insight into the nature of van der Waals forces. Contrary to the conventional view of these forces as mutual attractions between particles, our study demonstrates that they can be regarded as a coupling of waves. This discovery has important implications for materials on a large<br>scale, where van der Waals forces are essential. Our research provides a qualitative framework for describing van der Waals forces at the nanoscale, and yields quantitative insights into how these interactions affect the physical and chemical properties of materials.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Read full article:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-v2\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-item-v2\"><a class=\"quick-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/science.aae0509\" target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" rel=\"noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-block-inserter quick-link__img\">\n<div class=\"icon--primary icon--secondary-2 icon--xl wp-block-unilux-blocks-icon-picker\">\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"quick-link__name wp-block-unilux-blocks-plain-text\">Wavelike charge density fluctuations and van der Waals interactions at the nanoscale<\/span>\n\n<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"accordion__item  wp-block-unilux-blocks-accordion-item\">\n    <h3 class=\"accordion__header\"\n        >\n        <button\n            type=\"button\"\n            id=\"accordion-labelledby-a514d14d-8adb-4b9a-a187-024083c8c018\"\n            class=\"accordion__button collapsed\"\n            aria-expanded=\"false\"\n            aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-a514d14d-8adb-4b9a-a187-024083c8c018\"\n            data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n            data-bs-target=\"#accordion-panel-a514d14d-8adb-4b9a-a187-024083c8c018\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"accordion__title\">\n                                Illuminating Dark Energy via the Cosmological Constant            <\/span>\n\n            <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--arrow-down \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-down\"><\/use><\/svg>        <\/button>\n    <\/h3>\n    <div id=\"accordion-panel-a514d14d-8adb-4b9a-a187-024083c8c018\"\n        class=\"accordion__collapse collapse\"\n        aria-labelledby=\"accordion-labelledby-a514d14d-8adb-4b9a-a187-024083c8c018\"\n        data-bs-parent=\"[data-reference=&quot;225e30fd-aa55-47f5-8f7e-7037befde70d&quot;]\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"accordion__body \">\n            \n<p>Our work <strong>presents a new approach and makes concrete predictions<\/strong> for solving the so-called \u201ccosmological constant puzzle\u201d, which has existed since Albert Einstein applied his famous general theory of relativity to the Universe in 1917. This is a real mystery, which refers to the fact that quantum mechanics yields a \u201cprediction\u201d of vacuum energy density that is 10^120 times larger than the cosmological constant determined from astrophysical measurements of the Universe expansion using the Hubble space telescope or the Planck space mission. We propose a paradigm shift by a new model based on the idea to calculate the self-interaction energy of vacuum, which is caused by virtual particles that are created and destroyed out of the vacuum. Remarkably, our calculations yield a value of the energy density in excellent agreement with the observed cosmological constant. Our results also provide a novel interpretation for the origin of dark energy and strengthen the connection between microscopic quantum mechanics and theories of the Universe. This paves the way to merge general relativity and quantum theory \u2013 the remaining \u201cblack hole\u201d in modern physics.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Read full article:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-v2\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-item-v2\"><a class=\"quick-link\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.aps.org\/prl\/abstract\/10.1103\/PhysRevLett.130.041601\" target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" rel=\"noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-block-inserter quick-link__img\">\n<div class=\"icon--primary icon--secondary-2 icon--xl wp-block-unilux-blocks-icon-picker\">\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"quick-link__name wp-block-unilux-blocks-plain-text\">Casimir Self-Interaction Energy Density of Quantum Electrodynamic Fields<\/span>\n\n<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-spacer is-spacer-size-md\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>The outreach of this achievement was made via:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-v2\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-item-v2\"><a class=\"quick-link\" href=\"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2023-01-approach-mystery-dark-energy.html\" target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" rel=\"noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-block-inserter quick-link__img\">\n<div class=\"icon--primary icon--secondary-2 icon--xl wp-block-unilux-blocks-icon-picker\">\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"quick-link__name wp-block-unilux-blocks-plain-text\">A new approach to solving the mystery of dark energy (Update)<\/span>\n\n<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-item-v2\"><a class=\"quick-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/news-releases\/977780\" target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" rel=\"noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-block-inserter quick-link__img\">\n<div class=\"icon--primary icon--secondary-2 icon--xl wp-block-unilux-blocks-icon-picker\">\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"quick-link__name wp-block-unilux-blocks-plain-text\">A new approach for solving the dark energy mystery<\/span>\n\n<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-item-v2\"><a class=\"quick-link\" href=\"https:\/\/idw-online.de\/de\/news808298\" target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" rel=\"noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-block-inserter quick-link__img\">\n<div class=\"icon--primary icon--secondary-2 icon--xl wp-block-unilux-blocks-icon-picker\">\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"quick-link__name wp-block-unilux-blocks-plain-text\">A new approach for solving the dark energy mystery<\/span>\n\n<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"accordion__item  wp-block-unilux-blocks-accordion-item\">\n    <h3 class=\"accordion__header\"\n        >\n        <button\n            type=\"button\"\n            id=\"accordion-labelledby-409758a3-a576-4206-85be-4a388537fb60\"\n            class=\"accordion__button collapsed\"\n            aria-expanded=\"false\"\n            aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-409758a3-a576-4206-85be-4a388537fb60\"\n            data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n            data-bs-target=\"#accordion-panel-409758a3-a576-4206-85be-4a388537fb60\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"accordion__title\">\n                                Machine Learning for Chemical Discovery            <\/span>\n\n            <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--arrow-down \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-down\"><\/use><\/svg>        <\/button>\n    <\/h3>\n    <div id=\"accordion-panel-409758a3-a576-4206-85be-4a388537fb60\"\n        class=\"accordion__collapse collapse\"\n        aria-labelledby=\"accordion-labelledby-409758a3-a576-4206-85be-4a388537fb60\"\n        data-bs-parent=\"[data-reference=&quot;225e30fd-aa55-47f5-8f7e-7037befde70d&quot;]\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"accordion__body \">\n            \n<p>At the forefront of drug, catalyst, and material discovery lies the exploration of uncharted chemical space. Our team specializes in <strong>developing machine learning models<\/strong> that can<strong> predict the properties of systems<\/strong> ranging from small molecules to crystals and large (bio)molecules with remarkable accuracy. By leveraging these techniques, we aim to catalyze a &#8220;chemical discovery revolution&#8221; that could transform the field of molecular simulations, making them more efficient and accurate, while also accelerating the pace of material discovery.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Read full article:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-v2\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-item-v2\"><a class=\"quick-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-020-17844-8\" target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" rel=\"noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-block-inserter quick-link__img\">\n<div class=\"icon--primary icon--secondary-2 icon--xl wp-block-unilux-blocks-icon-picker\">\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"quick-link__name wp-block-unilux-blocks-plain-text\">Machine learning for chemical discovery<\/span>\n\n<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"accordion__item  wp-block-unilux-blocks-accordion-item\">\n    <h3 class=\"accordion__header\"\n        >\n        <button\n            type=\"button\"\n            id=\"accordion-labelledby-6c9cd122-5972-49bc-bbc3-6fcf3d35ebb0\"\n            class=\"accordion__button collapsed\"\n            aria-expanded=\"false\"\n            aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-6c9cd122-5972-49bc-bbc3-6fcf3d35ebb0\"\n            data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n            data-bs-target=\"#accordion-panel-6c9cd122-5972-49bc-bbc3-6fcf3d35ebb0\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"accordion__title\">\n                                Identification of Neurotoxins Generated by COVID-19            <\/span>\n\n            <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--arrow-down \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-down\"><\/use><\/svg>        <\/button>\n    <\/h3>\n    <div id=\"accordion-panel-6c9cd122-5972-49bc-bbc3-6fcf3d35ebb0\"\n        class=\"accordion__collapse collapse\"\n        aria-labelledby=\"accordion-labelledby-6c9cd122-5972-49bc-bbc3-6fcf3d35ebb0\"\n        data-bs-parent=\"[data-reference=&quot;225e30fd-aa55-47f5-8f7e-7037befde70d&quot;]\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"accordion__body \">\n            \n<p>Together with the <strong>La Trobe and Swinburne Universities in Melbourne<\/strong> and <strong>ETH Zurich <\/strong>we offered an explanation for brain shrinkage observed in COVID-19 patients, identifying neurotoxins encoded by the virus genome. ORF6 and ORF10 molecules, toxic to nerve cells, are not targets for the immune system and remain consistent in strains. The neurotoxins have a similar tendency to human amyloid proteins, forming neurotoxic amyloid. While amyloid can cause damage, healthy brains can protect themselves from it. The identification of amyloid as a cause for symptoms in long COVID is promising, as it can eventually be cleared by the system.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Read full article:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-v2\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-button-list-item-v2\"><a class=\"quick-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-022-30932-1\" target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" rel=\"noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-block-inserter quick-link__img\">\n<div class=\"icon--primary icon--secondary-2 icon--xl wp-block-unilux-blocks-icon-picker\">\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"quick-link__name wp-block-unilux-blocks-plain-text\">Neurotoxic amyloidogenic peptides in the proteome of SARS-COV2: potential implications for neurological symptoms in COVID-19<\/span>\n\n<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"section section wp-block-unilux-blocks-quick-link-discover-section py-0\">\n    <div class=\"container xl:max-w-screen-xl\">\n        \n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-unilux-blocks-heading\"        id=\"discover-more\"\n    >\nDiscover more<\/h2>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-quick-link-discover quick-link-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-quick-link-discover-item\">\n    <a\n                    href=\"https:\/\/www.fnr.lu\/#\"\n                    class=\"quick-link\"\n            target=\"_blank\"\n    >\n            <span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n                <span class=\"quick-link__text\">\n                    FNR                <\/span>\n                <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg>            <\/span>\n    <\/a>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-quick-link-discover-item\">\n    <a\n                    href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-groups\/theoretical-chemical-physics\/research\/#collaborations\"\n                    class=\"quick-link\"\n            target=\"\"\n    >\n            <span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n                <span class=\"quick-link__text\">\n                    Collaborators                <\/span>\n                <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--arrow-right \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-right\"><\/use><\/svg>            <\/span>\n    <\/a>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-quick-link-discover-item\">\n    <a\n                    class=\"quick-link\"\n            target=\"_blank\"\n    >\n            <span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n                <span class=\"quick-link__text\">\n                    Initiatives (coming soon)                <\/span>\n                <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg>            <\/span>\n    <\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"parent":3760,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"featured_image_focal_point":[],"show_featured_caption":false,"ulux_newsletter_groups":"","uluxPostTitle":"Theoretical Chemical Physics","uluxPrePostTitle":"Research Group","_trash_the_other_posts":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false},"field-of-interest":[],"organisation":[],"authorship":[33,105,103,200,201,101,346],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.3 (Yoast SEO v22.3) - 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