NEW HORIZONS MAGAZINE FROM UPPSALA UNIVERSITY 1:2 2011

THEME: SURFACE

YOUR TELLTALE FACE 12 UNDER THE SURFACE OF A FOREST LAKE 10 TREATMENT FOR ALZHEIMER’S TESTED 14 GOLDMINE FOR DINOSAUR RESEARCHERS 24 KARATE CALMS HIM DOWN FOR STUDYING 26

1 New Horizons 1/2011 Uppsala University JUNE 2011 THEME: SURFACE 4 Revolution in the nanosphere New Horizons is Uppsala University’s magazine about 6 Everything can be studied with synchrotron light research and education. It is issued twice a year, in 8 Earthquake here at home English and in Swedish, Nya horisonter. The magazine 10 Under the surface of a forest lake can be ordered free of charge or be downloaded as a PDF at the address: www.uu.se/infomaterial 12 Your face reveals your empathy Address: Division for Communication and External Relations Under the RESEARCH Uppsala University 19 Control over calories P. O. Box 256 surface 20 Nobel Prize graphene – with own methods SE-751 05 Uppsala, SWEDEN 23 Mechanisms of stammering being revealed 24 Uppsala hot for dinosaur researchers Editor: Annica Hulth [email protected]

Editorial board: Magnus Alsne, Anders Berndt, EDUCATION Johannes Borgegård, Helena Edström, Rickard 26 Karate facilitates studying Källgren, Anna Malmberg, Siv Ohlsson, Gunilla 28 The clinic where students work together Sthyr, Anneli Waara, Birgitta Sinder Wilén. 29 Rotary opens Peace Center Executive editor: Urban Lindberg Layout: Torbjörn Gozzi English translation: DS MacQueen & Associates LLC Printing: Tabergs Tryckeri INNOVATION 30 More efficient drug development 31 Space trip for minimal instrument PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT PHOTO:

PERNILLA BJÖRK THINGS ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM puter and TV games. In front of World of TO BE. Something is lurking under the Warcraft, for example, you can hone your Director of Communication surface. Some things are just what you see. leadership skills, research shows. CULTURE Students tend to swing back and forth 32 Chairs – specially crafted for the University They are all surface. Surfaces constitute 33 Focus on nurses borders, but they can be crossed, analysed. between surface and depths. Parties and What is hidden under the surface of a for- club life serve as a necessary complement est lake, for instance? Can facial expressions to demanding studies. Student life may be reveal character traits? In nanotechnology that extra something that creates long-last- surfaces are crucial to the properties of ma- ing connections to Uppsala University. terials. The bigger the surface the better. That’s how it was for Eric Liu, a former ALUMN So the University’s researchers and stu- student who is now back home in Beijing. 34 Back in China after studies in Uppsala 35 Alumn network growing dents have many good reasons to stop and He has set up a network there for Uppsala ponder the surface, to study the shell before students. At their gatherings, they discuss probing deeper into the core. In this issue their career opportunities, get to know each By choosing to use this paper we have reduced of New Horizons you will find many ex- other better, and have fun together. our climate impact by approximately 35%. The amples of this. Gravity and playfulness. Surface and paper is produced in Sweden and the amount of Even in our personal lives it can pay depth. That’s everyday life at a university. n water used in its production is uniquely low. The COLLABORATION to pursue superficial activities like com- 37 Chemistry, chemistry … all year forest raw materials come from “FSC forests.” 38 His present was a researcher

SO THE UNIVERSITY’S RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS HAVE MANY GOOD REASONS TO STOP AND PONDER THE SURFACE.

2 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 3 THEME: SURFACE

TEXT: ANNBRITT RYMAN PHOTO: STAFFAN CLAESSON GRAPHICS: KALLE ÅSTRAND Revolution in the nanosphere In nanotechnology, the size of NANO MEANS one billionth and comes eficial properties that add up to excellent thereby spread it to local physicians’ offices the surface is crucial. The smaller from the Greek word nanos, which means preconditions for us to load up the surface or even into the home. The magnetic na- the particles are in a material, dwarf. If you divide a meter into a billion with other materials that have the func- noparticles we’re working with now can be parts, you get one nanometer. It is at this tions we’re looking for. provided with DNA on the surface, and in the larger the total area is. And level that Maria Strømme, professor of na- Cellulose is a naturally insulating fibrous Same mass a single sample it will be possible to meas- the larger the area, the more notechnology, is working to find new ap- material (biological polymer, called carbo- Different surface area ure the concentration of bacteria, viruses, or functions there are. plications for a technology that is still in its hydrate in everyday language). What Maria genes, using extremely simple electromag- Tiny nanoparticles’ access infancy. Strømme’s research team wanted to find netic circuits. – In nanotechnology the surface is of tre- out was if it could be made conductive by to large surfaces is going to mendous importance. The smaller the par- covering the surface with conductive poly- Risk of diseases revolutionize our existence. ticles a material consists of, the larger the mers. More concretely, it’s about a tiny prick of surface you get to work with, says Maria – We saw a potential for several biotech- the finger being able to show what percent- Strømme. nological applications, such as dialysis of Advantages of a large surface. age risk you run of suffering from cardio- This might sound like a contradiction to patients with kidney failure. Biotechnology vascular diseases, for instance. Or whether the uninitiated, but it’s really quite logical. is our base after all. By controlling a material down to the nano level, you can determine and optimize your sore throat is from a virus or a bac- Imagine a bag of sweets of a certain weight. In this dialysis work the researchers the function of a construction. Chemical and physical reactions and processes occur terial infection. And this is something you The smaller the candies are, the larger the made a major discovery. primarily on the surface of a material. The larger the surface, the more efficiently could do yourself at home, with the help of aggregate surface of the candies will be. – We saw that this cellulose can function you can use the material. a little mechanical monitor. Ultimately nearly all atoms will be on the as an electrode in a battery. That’s when we – This has the potential to change medi- surface, which means that it’s virtually all started to develop the so-called alga bat- cal care dramatically, Maria Strømme be- surface. (The matter of how tasty such tery. lieves. candy would be is not the subject of this And this is also what motivates her to article …) Global attention keep going. – On the surface you can attach other The discovery attracted attention around – I need to see a goal for my research. molecules that have the properties required the world, and certain applications are al- To me this is about finding applications to achieve the functions you want. If you ready about to be tested in prototypes for that are beneficial for people and society. If One billionth have access to a large surface, it’s also easier light home electronics gadgets. One of the I see any potential for this, I can get bogged to raise the reaction speeds for various proc- first might turn up on the coffee table in down in basic research for any amount of esses. Nanotechnology entails, as far as we your living room in the form of an envi- time. But I have to have some idea of where can see, incredible possibilities in a number ronmentally friendly, compostable remote If you want to fasten a compound to the surface, such as a catalyst, you have room it might be going. of areas, says Maria Strømme. control that can be incinerated with no en- for more the larger the surface is. This is true whether the material is divided into As early as the beginning of the 2000s vironmental impact. small particles or the surface is folded. the Foundation for Strategic Research sin- If you Battery from algae However, the alga battery is not capable gled out Maria Strømme as one of its 21 divide the The application that was perhaps least ex- of propelling a car as it functions today. It is before she answers the question of what Antibiotics on demand, in other words. research leaders of the future, five of whom circumference of the pected, but aroused the greatest interest so simply too weak. long-term means in nanotechnology. Something that could reduce the use of are women. Today, ten years later, she has earth into a billion parts, far, is the development of a battery based – But the concept is highly interesting: – At least ten years ... at least! We know antibiotics, which would be welcome be- turned 40, and the gender ratio hasn’t you’ll bet roughly the length on a tiny alga called Cladophora glomerata. both environmentally friendly and easy to how to do it, but it’s going to take a tremen- cause of the problem of growing resistance. changed very much. of a match. Something we’re most familiar with as an produce. What’s more we now see how we dous amount of work to get there. Clinical trials on people with this method – Just look at this place, says Maria unpleasant feature of the water where we could turn it into a high-energy battery that are just about to get underway, says Maria Strømme with a sweeping gesture taking swim when it blooms in the summer. ultimately could power cars. Closer in time Strømme. in the conference room where her male re- – I want to find – The cellulose in Cladophora glomerata But, and here Maria Strømme pounds However, there are other applications that Diagnostics is another field where nan- search colleagues are sitting and waiting for applications that is an incredibly interesting material with a the table for emphasis, now we’re talking are at least as interesting and are within otechnology has great potential to revolu- their meeting to begin. are beneficial, naturally large surface area of 100 m2 per about a long-term perspective. Extremely closer reach. They’re for implants and di- tionize science. Even today we can find out But to Maria Strømme it’s no big deal such as environ- gram. This cellulose also has other ben- long, she repeats, and has to think a while agnostics. so much with the help of fibre optics, mag- that she’s the only woman. She’s used to it. mentally friendly – In terms of implants, we have devel- netic cameras, lasers, etc. But it’s expensive, – Of course, it’s not good this way, but batteries. oped a method to make the surface of an and the equipment requires large labora- change will be coming. I’m sure of that, she THE CELLULOSE IN CLADOPHORA GLOMERATA IS AN implant more biocompatible so it can grow tories. This is why this technology has not says. The question is how long it will take. In INCREDIBLY INTERESTING MATERIAL WITH A NATURALLY into human bone better. And another meth- been more widely disseminated. od involves preventing infections by making – With the help of nanotechnology a nano context, ten years is a very, very long MARIA STRØMME LARGE SURFACE AREA OF 100 M2 PER GRAM. the surface antibacterial as needed. we can make diagnostics inexpensive and time … n

4 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 5 THEME: SURFACE

– Synchrotron light provides Materials, proteins, and biological a marvellous forum for various structures. To understand how they disciplines to meet. At MAX Lab are constructed researchers use synchrotron we get together and realize that light. The new MAX IV facility in Lund Drawing of the planned synchrotron we can collaborate across light ring at Max IV. A 250-meter-long traditional subject boundaries. offers new possibilities for researchers underground tunnel injects electrons that Hans Siegbahn and Jan-Erik Rubensson study surface chemistry. at Uppsala University. are then propelled around in a ring-shaped orbit with the help of magnets. The control TEXT AND PHOTO: JOHANNES BORGEGÅRD room and experiment stations are directly ILLUSTRATION: PETTER LÖNEGÅRD connected to the ring. “A marvellous forum” HANS SIEGBAHN, professor of atomic Buried layers? To understand how a ma- trons and photons, they get a comprehen- and molecular physics, is enthusiastic. The terial is really structured you need to know sive picture of the electron structure. national MAX Laboratory is extremely how electrons behave in relation to each – In the 20th century we found out how Everything can be studied important to Uppsala researchers. This is other. Electrons provide us with informa- the movements of atoms determine chemi- where they come to verify their theories tion from the outermost atoms, but if you cal reactions and even biological processes. and to find out what the surface chemistry want to see how atoms inside the material The future is about forming an understand- of an interesting material looks like. behave, it’s easier to study the photons that ing of how electrons move. This will also with synchrotron light – What’s more, we can see beneath the are emitted when the material is irradiated provide us with a deeper picture of impor- NILS MÅRTENSSON is professor of phys- with MAX I, which came into operation versity and elsewhere have been looking at surface. We also study buried layers, says with synchrotron light from MAX Lab. tant materials and their structure, says Jan- ics at Uppsala University and was until re- in the mid 1980s. A key reason behind the constituent parts of various materials and professor of physics Jan-Erik Rubensson. Since these scientists observe both elec- Erik Rubensson. n cently the director of MAX Lab. When he success of MAX Lab was the expertise and how they interact. However, thus far they talks about the potential of the new MAX experience that was in place in the experi- have not always been able to study them in IV facility, there doesn’t seem to be a single mental and beamline fields at Uppsala. sufficient detail. It’s as if they haven’t been area that can’t benefit from the knowledge The beamlinees Nils Mårtensson is talk- able to zoom in close enough. Neverthe- its analyses can yield. He speaks of indus- ing about are experimental facilities that less their findings have contributed to huge Full picture of the battery try’s need for testing new materials. He talks make use of x-ray radiation generated in amounts of new technology and knowledge about the interest in the new light source the accelerator ring. Today, ahead of the in all types of industry and research. Solar – In my work with batteries I need the complete picture. I need – which will be the most powerful in the construction of MAX IV, some ten high- cells, batteries, alloys, and drugs are just a to know what the structure looks like at the atomic level, how the world, a supremely important tool for re- priority beamlines are primarily being dis- few examples. Just imagine how much searchers who are refining today’s building cussed. Each such beamline is built for cer- more it will be possible to do now, with materials relate to each other. I have to know how the electrons materials and those developing new materi- tain specific types of studies. many times better tools. move – exactly. I can do this at MAX Lab. als for the technological areas of the future. – The fields of application are myriad. – Now that I won’t be the director, I’ll be And in a global context he points out that For example, we can see how new tech- getting back to my own research. I’ll be one KRISTINA EDSTRÖM is professor of Battery research is a hot field these days. MAX Lab will be a unique resource for sci- nologies are being devised to study liquids of the users of the lab I helped to construct. inorganic chemistry at the Department The vehicle industry has tremendous needs, entists around the world. and aerosols. I’m truly looking forward to this, says Nils of Materials Chemistry and one of the re- and in everybody’s pockets there are mo- – There is a great need, for instance, to What are aerosols? Well, they are solid Mårtensson. n searchers who put in a great deal of time bile phones and mp3 players that need to carry out studies in the most realistic con- or liquid-formed particles that exist in a at MAX Lab. be charged. If batteries are smaller and last ditions possible. In this context the MAX gas, such as water drops in fog. Aerosols can She leaves the fields that she and her longer, this will benefit vehicles, because IV facility’s world-leading performance is moreover contain various types of chemi- research team are not experts in to other they won’t need to transport such heavy especially important. cals, from air pollution, for instance. Being – The fields of scientists in other special areas who are also batteries, which extends their reach. For all able to study these in their smallest constitu- application are checking out their theories at MAX Lab. other applications, it means that batteries Uppsala there from the outset ent parts yields important knowledge about myriad. Taken together, this knowledge results in can be smaller and won’t need charging so When MAX I was built, Uppsala Univer- the climate of the earth, since sunlight is re- new solutions for energy storage. often – not only more convenient but also sity was in on it from the beginning. Scien- flected by aerosols in the atmosphere. – Right now we’re working on a battery more energy-saving. tists from Uppsala University have played a that will use silicon in both its anode and its With MAX IV she sees great potential: dominant role at the laboratory the entire The mind boggles cathode. We’d like the battery not to have – We’ll be able to achieve even more time. The mind boggles at each example that a liquid electrolyte. It would be great if we precise results. Our findings will increase PHOTO: STAFFAN CLAESSON STAFFAN PHOTO: – We were able to construct a tremen- Nils Mårtensson mentions. For 25 years at didn’t need any liquid, because that would our knowledge of how the materials we use Kristina Edström does research NILS MÅRTENSSON dously well-functioning facility starting MAX Lab, researchers from Uppsala Uni- eliminate leakage problems. will function outside the laboratory. n on batteries.

6 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 7 THEME: SURFACE THEME: SURFACE

it was only in the late 1970s that we un- derstood it was the result of a major earth- quake, probably of magnitude 8. Björn Lund does not exclude the pos-

sibility of another huge earthquake in the MATTON PHOTO: area. – But we shouldn’t exaggerate the risk. Boat paint with We don’t have a model that is sufficiently well substantiated to be sure of this, and if chemical defence it does occur it probably won’t be until the RESEARCHERS AT Uppsala University end of the next ice age. have now figured out how the spongeGeo - dia barretti can keep other organisms from Earthquakes in cycles growing on it, even though it lives in a ma- Björn Lund explains that earthquakes oc- rine environment. The sponge produces cur in cycles, but how long these cycles are so-called dipeptides that prevent other varies, depending on where on the earth’s organisms from fastening to their surface. crust the quakes usually take place. The This discovery may lead to environmen- earth’s plates are in constant movement, tally friendly boat paint to keep barnacles and their movements continue even after and other organisms from fastening to hulls. a quake, which in turn sooner or later leads Lars Bohlin, professor of pharmacognosy, is to new earthquakes. one of the researchers behind the discovery, – The problem is that it’s not possible to and he has now formed a company to de- predict exactly when the quakes are going velop the new boat paint. n EARTHQUAKE to occur. The cycles are regular in a geologi- cal perspective of thousands of years. This means that it’s not unusual to have a mar- Skin creams lead gin of error of 70 years. HERE AT HOME The earthquake in Japan was therefore to drier skin expected. But it came earlier and was more MANY PEOPLE notice that as soon as they The Pärvie Fault, or the “Wave in the Ground,” as the Sami call it, runs powerful than researchers predicted. As far as Sweden is concerned, Björn use a cream, they have to continue with it; if they stop, their skin gets drier than before 160 km across Northern Sweden and is of great interest to seismologists at No plate boundary exists in the area around Lund believes it isn’t likely that we could they started. And now there is research to Uppsala University. The Wave in the Ground is a fault line that emerged the Koster Islands. But there is a deep fis- reach a six on the Richter scale. confirm for the first time that normal skin 10,000 years ago – after a powerful earthquake. sure that can lead to major tensions. – We would probably be able to cope can become drier from creams. Izabela Bu- Since the Seismic Network was started with a quake of that magnitude. But in a raczewska is presenting her findings in a in the early 2000s, Björn Lund and his col- bad location, such as under a city, it could TEXT: ANNETTE WALLQVIST, PHOTOS: BJÖRN LUND, MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT dissertation at the Department of Medical leagues have been able to discern a pattern have major consequences. We are the only Sciences. n in the Swedish tremors. Most of them take country in Europe that hasn’t translated EU ON THE MARCH MORNING when the Seismology is a relatively new science in Our country is thought to be safe from place along the northern coast and around construction norms for earthquakes. n earthquake in Japan happened, seismolo- Sweden. The first monitoring instrument earthquakes because it is known that Swe- Lake Vänern and Lake Vättern. Useful chemical gist Björn Lund’s mobile phone rang. was set up in 1904 by researchers at Upp- den lies in the middle of a continental plate. The quakes in the vicinity of the lakes His son Andreas, who suspected this was sala University. The greatest tensions on the earth’ surface are evenly distributed in the area, but those – Our know- extracted from bark something special, read the bulletin. are on the boundaries between continental along the northern coast are concentrated ledge has accelerated a – It says Tokyo, 8! Dad, that’s big, isn’t it? Waves in the earth plates, and it is these strains that sooner or in a handful of faults there. TREE BARK contains many useful chemi- great deal in The question was rhetorical. Now there are some 60 seismic stations later lead to an earthquake. The largest of these faults is the Pärvie cal substances that can be used in the phar- the last few Björn Lund realized immediately that located throughout Sweden, the Swedish Nevertheless, one or two earthquakes maceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, Fault, 160 km in length, which is the result years. the consequences in Japan could be cata- National Seismic Network, which records occur every day in Sweden. They are main- of a powerful earthquake at the end of the among other fields. Michelle Co at the De- strophic and that he himself was facing a seismic waves in the earth. ly minor tremors, with magnitudes of be- latest ice age. partment of Physical and Analytical Chem- string of long workdays. – Our knowledge has accelerated a great tween 0 and 1. They are so weak that they The fault runs from Saltoluokta in the istry shows in her dissertation that there Björn Lund and his colleagues at the De- deal in the last few years. But there’s still a can’t be felt on the earth’s surface, but they south up to north of Lake Torneträsk. It is is great potential to extract valuable com- BJÖRN LUND partment of Earth Sciences at Uppsala Uni- lot we don’t know. are captured by the seismologists’ sensitive clearly visible as a step that goes down into pounds from bark in an environmentally versity are in fact the only experts in Swe- Earthquakes in Sweden, in particular, re- instruments. the earth’s surface. In some places the step Facts about monitoring stations friendly manner. Instead of conventional den in their field, seismology. This is why main relatively unresearched. This is largely – Our biggest quake came a recently is as high as 10 meters. In Sweden there are 63 monitoring stations recycling techniques, which often involve they were soon in great demand among the because it was believed for so long that no as 1904. It was in Oslo Fjord outside the – The Sami have long known about it. that measure seismic activity in the earth. the employment of hazardous chemicals or They cover the whole country, from Lake Swedish media following the earthquake, major earthquakes could be expected here. Koster Islands and had a magnitude of 5.5. large amounts of organic solvents, it would Pärvie is a Sami word, roughly meaning Torneträsk in the north to Lund in the south. although they were also working double- But Björn Lund maintains that more That earthquake was felt as far away as St. ‘wave in the ground.‘ But geologists did not The stations are tuned to register any quake be possible to use water and ethanol under time analysing the event. knowledge is needed to really be sure. Petersburg, says Björn Lund. pay any attention to it until the 1970s, and in the world above 5 on the Richter scale. high pressure and at high temperature. n

8 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 9 THEME: SURFACE

The global climate puzzle has many pieces. The importance of inland lakes in the release of greenhouse gases has thus far been underestimated by the UN climate panel, IPCC. But now researchers at the Section for Limnology at Uppsala University can show that lake ecosystems entail a major flow of carbon dioxide and methane from sediment and water to the air. Under the surface of a forest lake TEXT: LARS KRÖGERSTRÖM, PHOTOS: ROLAND ZURBRÜGG, STAFFAN CLAESSON, MATTON, GRAPHICS: KALLE ÅSTRAND

FOREST WATERWAYS transport huge The world’s inland lakes absorb 2.9 Gi- also critical. Low oxygen content increases amounts of plant parts and substances gatons (billion tons) of organic carbon per the storage of carbon in sediment, which re- containing carbon on their way to the sea. year from the surrounding land. Ca. 0.9 duces the formation of carbon dioxide. On Until now the carbon balance of the catch- Gigatons makes it through the funnel to the other hand, methane is formed in oxy- ment areas of freshwater systems have been the mouths of the water systems. Ca. 0.6 gen-poor environments, and since methane described as zero-sum games. The conven- Gigatons wind up in sediment, and the rest, is twenty times as powerful as carbon diox- tional picture has been a tube, with open- 1.4 Gigatons, becomes carbon dioxide in ide as a greenhouse gas, the sum total is nev- ings of equal size at both ends, with any the atmosphere. ertheless a greater impact on the climate. carbon added being carried out to sea. – 1.4 Gigatons of carbon in the form of Research on the carbon balance of sedi- – But our research shows that the tube greenhouse gases can be compared with ment shows that hydro power also affects is actually a leaking funnel, says Sebastian the emissions from all fossil combustion, 6 the emission of greenhouse gases. Sobek, a postdoctoral fellow at the Section Gigatons, says professor Lars Tranvik. – Especially in the tropics, the sediment for Limnology. The new calculations and knowledge in power station reservoirs can emit large Together with Professor Lars Tranvik also mean that we need to revise the car- amounts of methane, says Lars Tranvik. n and doctoral candidate Cristian Gudasz bon balance for the world’s forest ecosys- and others, Sebastian Sobek is busy modify- tems. What is usually called the carbon sink – It turns out of forests becomes substantially smaller ing the freshwater piece of the global cli- that only about mate puzzle. if you factor in the release of greenhouse a third of the – It turns out that only about a third of gases from lakes. carbon added Surplus carbon the carbon added to waters is transported all – We believe our research will now af- to waters is Dead plants and animals dioxide the way to the sea. As much as two thirds fect IPCC’s coming reports, starting with transported all from land is stored in the bottom sediment of lakes or the 2014 accounts, says Lars Tranvik. the way to the water surface is gasified directly into the air as climate- sea. Oxygen impacting carbon dioxide or as even more Impact of humans O2 climate-impacting methane. The researchers will be looking more closely Carbon dioxide SEBASTIAN SOBEK CO at anthropogenic impacts on the carbon cy- Organic carbon 2 Binds organic carbon cle in freshwater, that is, to what extent hu- Plankton Sediment plays a key role as it can bind or- man activities have increased or decreased – If the Photosynthesis ganic carbon for a very long time. the emission of greenhouse gases. temperature of Bacteria – But a considerable part of the sedi- – First and foremost, climate change as lakes rises, then organic material Microbes ment material is broken down directly by such is a key factor, with the risk of higher water the from animals and plants Dead breaks down Lake bottom microorganisms, and this releases carbon average temperatures and more precipita- faster. dioxide and methane. tion, says Sebastian Sobek. If the tempera- Sediment About three per cent of the surface area ture of lakes rises, then organic material of the world’s continents consists of lakes. breaks down faster in the sediment, increas- Dead plants and animals that wind up in the lake are partly broken down by bacteria and In Sweden the corresponding figure is nine ing the production of carbon dioxide. microbes before they reach the floor. In that process more carbon dioxide is formed than LARS TRANVIK per cent, in 100,000 lakes. The oxygen content of bottom water is aquatic plants can absorb. This yields a carbon dioxide surplus that the lake gives off to the air.

10 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 11 THEME: SURFACE THEME: SURFACE

Sweden from Your face reveals your empathy foreign horizons WHAT IS TAUGHT and researched re- TEXT: LINDA KOFFMAR IN HIS DISSERTATION in psychology Per – Of course it’s garding Sweden at universities abroad? PHOTOS: PER ANDRÉASSON, Andréasson studied how people with high a good thing What is “Swedish“ from an international TORBJÖRN GOZZI and low emotional empathy, respectively, in many perspective? How does this image differ reacted when they looked at pictures of occupations from country to country? Do you spontaneously start to happy and angry faces. The findings were to be able to In January the Department of Educa- smile when you see someone clear. put oneself in tion arranged an international symposium someone else’s laughing? Then you may be – Persons with high emotional empathy on this theme. spontaneously imitated the angry or happy situation At the conference it was discussed what a person with high emotional faces while those with low emotional em- happens when a national culture is studied empathy. Research at Uppsala pathy did not, says Per Andréasson. PER ANDRÉASSON outside the borders of that country. For in- University has shown that people It may be that people with low emo- stance, how is the notion of what is Swed- with strong feelings for others are tional empathy are perceived as colder, he gardless of whether they themselves looked Discreet luxury was hardly a watchword for the most privileged people ish culture formed, and what local tradi- claims. angry or happy. But the people with low in the 16th and 17th centuries. On the contrary, the more glittering tions and specialities have been developed easily smitten by the emotional According to a hypothesis (the facial emotional empathy presented an expected in various parts of the world? facial expressions of others. feedback hypothesis) it is not only that our finding that ran counter to the facial feed- stones and precious metals the better. Textile scholar Lena Dahrén According to a governmental study face expresses what we feel but also that back hypothesis. has performed the first major study of gold and silver bobbin lace. from 2007 research is pursued and educa- facial expressions can also affect our feel- – They thought the films were less fun- tion is offered in the Swedish language, in ings through feedback to the brain. Per An- ny when they had the stick between their Swedish literature, history, and culture, and dréasson also investigated what happened teeth, that is when they were smiling, says in Swedish social conditions at more than when various people were asked to watch Per Andréasson. 200 institutions of higher learning in forty funny films while their face was forced into However, both groups thought the films Extravagant lace countries around the world. n different expressions. For example, an ice were funnier when they were smiling than cream stick was placed between their lips when they looked angry with their eye- for society’s upper crust to force the face into a scowl, and the same brows pulled down. stick between the teeth turned the face into TEXT: LINDA KOFFMAR, PHOTO: LENA DAHRÉN a smile. Positive empathy The concept of empathy is highly charged, Affected in different ways and it is often regarded as good to have high 16TH-CENTURY BANQUET HALLS enough information. For example, there is In the experiment Per Andréasson wanted emotional empathy. Per Andréasson agrees were illuminated by candle light. Lace of a painting from 1580 in which Elisabeth to see if people with high or low emotional that in the normal spectrum it is positive gold and silver lining the magnificent ap- Wasa is holding an embroidered handker- empathy were affected differently by feed- to have the capacity to feel empathy with parel of expensive fabrics reflected the chief edged with metal lace. back from a specific facial expression. other people. warm light in a fantastic way. It was in con- In her research on gold and silver lace, People with high emotional empathy – Of course it’s a good thing in many texts like these that bobbin lace belonged, Lena Dahrén has studied the technique, thought the films were just as funny re- occupations to be able to put oneself in explains Lena Dahrén. It had to glitter and but also placed lace-making in a historical someone else’s situation, that is, to have a glow, and only the truly wealthy could af- and economic context. It was not techni- high degree of cognitive empathy. But for ford it. cally difficult to make lace, but the material physicians, high emotional empathy could – Together with the exclusive fabrics of was extremely expensive. A PERSON’S actually be a hindrance in practising their silk and velvet and the jewellery of pearls Wearers of lace were mainly royalty and EMOTIONAL EMPATHY profession. and precious metals, lace was a mark of nobility. But sometimes other people could A person’s emotional empathy is proba- status. Today we have other things to wear put some on. IS LARGELY bly largely inborn, says Per Andréasson. But that show who we are. We’re more discreet, – Gustavus Adolphus had his retinue INBORN. you can train your cognitive empathy and says Lena Dahrén. and the boys in his court wear metal lace by doing so you might possibly strengthen to reinforce his own splendour, says Lena your emotional empathetic reactions as Lace melted down Dahrén. well. n The reason gold and silver lace has not been Historically, lace-making was of great studied in any depth in the past is that it is importance, but as handicraft it has often Emotional empathy difficult to find sources. Much of the lace been looked down upon in recent years, Empathy is usually divided into two concepts: was melted down for the precious metals. says Lena Dahrén. Cognitive empathy – to be able to under- In Sweden there are relatively many lace – Lace-making has been regarded as stand and imagine oneself in someone else’s situation. borders preserved in liturgical textiles, but a waste of women’s labour and has been

Emotional empathy – to spontaneously react Lena Dahrén has had to look at portraits, used as a derogatory expression to describe MATTON PHOTO: emotionally on the basis of someone else’s accounts, inventory lists, and letters to get something that is truly useless. n What is ”Swedish” in different countries? situation.

12 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 13 THEME: SURFACE

ALZHEIMER’S is one of our major public transported away. In Alzheimer’s disease, health diseases and accounts for about 60 something has gone wrong in the process of per cent of all dementia conditions. In Swe- breaking this down, and instead high levels den alone some 150 000 people suffer from of beta amyloid remain and stick to each the disease, and at the global level about 36 other, forming plaque, and the nerve cells million people are affected. in the brain wither and die. The substance – Alzheimer’s disease causes great suf- is thought to have a poisonous effect on the fering, both for those afflicted and for their cells. loved ones. Today’s medicines merely amel- – High levels of beta amyloid lead to iorate the symptoms for a limited time, for Alzheimer’s disease. But the true culprits example by increasing the signal substances in this drama are the so-called protofibrills, in the brain that are important for memory which are loose early stages of fibrills. They and learning, explains Lars Lannfelt. are highly toxic, and we believe this is why – Patients improve temporarily, and nerve cells die, explains Lars Lannfelt.

sometimes they can start to deal with Therefore, the medicine the researchers MATTON PHOTO: their own personal hygiene again and per- have developed directly targets protofibrills, Symptoms often emerge gradually. haps contact loved ones. Sadly, the disease neutralizing them and thereby halting the progresses after a while, and then it can’t be course of the disease. What is Alzheimer’s? alleviated or stopped. But now Lars Lannfelt and his colleagues ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE is the most have hopefully found a cure. BY STUDYING common form of dementia and involves – We’re extremely optimistic and hope the withering of large numbers of nerve that the drug will be able to halt the dis- ALZHEIMER’S IN A cells in the brain. This leads, for instance, to ease process. If everything goes according SWEDISH FAMILY WITH memory impairments, problems with at- to plan, the medicine will be available to tention, and depression. Afflicted individu- patients in as few as five years. STRONG HEREDITARY als can find it difficult to express themselves Lars Lannfelt relates that a first drug TRAITS FOR THE DISEASE, and find words. study started last autumn. In this trial 100 Symptoms often emerge gradually, and individuals in the US with mild Alzheim- WE FOUND A MUTATION a long time may pass before a person seeks er’s are participating. After the summer 50 IN A GENE … help and gets examined. Sometimes the af- Swedes will be testing the medicine. If the flicted persons themselves become aware of study turns out well, the next step will be their problems, but they try to hide it from so-called phase II and then phase III studies, those around them. But it is often those which means that, before it is approved, the – For the drug to be effective over a long close to the person who notice that some- drug must prove effective in large patient period, patients will need to take it regu- thing is wrong. groups in both the EU and the US. Drug larly, either intravenously or via injections. Why individuals develop Alzheimer’s studies are exceedingly expensive, and this disease has not been fully determined, but Cure for Alzheimer ’s study is run by a small biotech company, Many years of research it probably involves a combination of fac- BioArctic Neuroscience, in collaboration Developing a new drug requires many years tors. The greatest risk factors, are advanced with the Japanese company Eisai. of research, and Lars Lannfelt and his asso- age and heredity. Other risk factors dis- – If it works, it will be a revolution. We’ll ciates started their studies as far back as the cussed are cardiovascular diseases, depres- tested at Uppsala know in five years, says Lars Lannfelt. In early 1990s. That was also when they had sion, smoking, or previous skull trauma. future we also hope it will be possible to their first breakthrough. Alzheimer’s is usually divided into phas- In just a few years a medicine that cures screen people so treatment can be adminis- – By studying Alzheimer’s in a Swedish es. After the initial phase, what is called mild Alzheimer’s disease may be a reality. This is the tered even before the disease has started to family with strong hereditary traits for the dementia starts. In this phase the symptoms claim made by Lars Lannfelt, Uppsala professor present symptoms. disease, we found a mutation in a gene that are obvious. It may be a matter of missed yielded overproduction of beta amyloid. appointments or names of loved ones being and chief physician at the Geriatric Memory Clinic, The culprit behind Alzheimer’s We then understood that the substance is forgotten. The next phase is called medium Uppsala University Hospital (Akademiska). – Today we can diagnose Alzheimer’s dis- involved in starting the pathological proc- dementia, and the symptoms have now be- Together with his research team he has managed to ease early. People who have the disorder ess. And through further research of the come more and more pronounced and nu- create a drug that neutralizes the loose protofibrills form abnormal protein accumulations, so- so-called “Arctic” mutation in another fam- merous, making everyday life troublesome. called plaque, in their brains, explains Lars ily, we were able to see that the disease can Finally the phase of severe dementia sets in that underlie many cases of Alzheimer’s disease. Lannfelt. develop even if you don’t have generally and the patient becomes entirely depend- In and around the brain’s nerve cells elevated levels of beta amyloid. This helped ent on those around him/her. there are thread-like structures, fibrills, us to analyse the importance of protofibrills Many patients with Alzheimer’s ulti- that consist of the protein beta amyloid. as the early stage of plaque in Alzheimer’s mately die of some complication, such as TEXT: MADELEINE SOLOMON, PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT Normally this protein is broken down and disease, says Lars Lannfelt. n urinary tract infection or pneumonia. n

14 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 15 THEME: SURFACE THEME: SURFACE

In World of Warcraft people can join a group, a guild, to jointly combat various enemies. But Name choice in the midst of battle they need someone who can hold the group together, and says who you are this is where the guild leader comes in. Your choice of name reveals who you are – and what hopes you have for your child’s future. Emilia Aldrin’s doctoral dissertation in Scandinavian languages shows that your choice of name is an important social act for today’s parents.

TEXT: LINDA KOFFMAR, PHOTO: MATTON, VIKTOR ALDRIN

are some of the social decisions parents face Parents create different when selecting a name, says Emilia Aldrin. MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT PHOTO: images of A SOLD-OUT Grand Auditorium full of themselves Different spellings young video-game enthusiasts and a stand- by choosing Parents create different images of them- ing ovation after the concert. In March the various types selves by choosing various types of name, Royal Academic Orchestra gave a unique Computer games for leaders of names. but also by selecting different ways of spell- video-game concert with David Westerlund. ing the names, by allowing themselves to Like a lemming migration the host of Playing computer games is not always just a way to kill time. In fact it can be a way to develop be inspired by various name models, and by gaming young people were attracted to the EMILIA ALDRIN various ways of speaking about the name. good leadership characteristics. It might even be something to add to your CV. Grand Auditorium, which was filled to the They often combine several different acts brink. Marketing on YouTube, Facebook to create complex and unique images of TEXT: ANNETTE WALLQVIST, PHOTO: JOHANNES BORGEGÅRD WHEN PARENTS SELECT names for and other social media had spread the word themselves. their children, they not only create a con- about the video-game concert like wildfire. – The choice of name tells us something venient label that makes it possible to iden- For the first time, a concert of music – THE DIFFERENCE between computer same time the leader must have the ability needed. But between battles another form both about who the parents are and about tify and speak about the children. They also from video games was given in Uppsala – games and real life does not have to be so to get people to do exactly what is required of leadership is required, since conflicts can what future they envision for their child, express a number of emotional, aesthetic, and with a full symphony orchestra. The great, since you relate to and deal with peo- at the right time. If something goes wrong, arise during battle that need to be resolved, says Emilia Aldrin. n ideological, and social attitudes. focus was on games like Final Fantasy, ple in both worlds, says Patrik Prax, a doc- the whole group can be dissolved. at the same time as group members need to Emilia Aldrin has studied how today’s Zelda and Castlevania, but there were also toral candidate in Informatics and media. – The survival of the entire guild de- be motivated to continue playing. Swedish parents present themselves in some surprises, like the game Super Mario. For the purposes of his studies he per- pends on leadership. This is something all – Just like a leader in real life, a guild their choice of names. More than 600 new The Royal Academic Orchestra conducted sonally has put in many hours with one of players know, explains Patrick Prax. leader has to be able to deal with respon- parents in Gothenburg responded to her by Stefan Karpe played with tremendous the world’s most frequently played role- sibility and leadership. I believe more and questionnaire and another score of parents verve and feeling, joined by David Wester- play games, World of Warcraft, or WoW Good communication skills more people are becoming aware of how took part in in-depth group interviews. lund, a musician and a prominent figure in as it is usually called. For instance, he has This means that the leader needs to have advanced this leadership is. It won’t be long – Traditional or modern: Nils or Neo? Swedish game music. Together with the ac- been interested in what type of leader traits good communication skills and empathy, before it will be a qualification to include in Common or original: Emma or Elda? companiment of electric guitar and drums, a player can develop by playing the game be good at conflict resolution, and be able your CV, says Patrick Prax. n Practical or aesthetic: Ville or Whilliam? Andrew Canning at the organ, a harpist and and what leader style works in the game. to motivate people to devote time and Swedish-oriented, foreign-oriented, or in- a soloist, it was a grandiose concert. – I’ve studied the 100 best WoW lead- commitment to the group. ternational: Love, Logan, or Lucas? These And the audience was both young and ers in Europe and can say that their leader The leader also has to have a good sense devoted. Many of them knew every melo- style is similar to both military leadership of organization, since there is a major com- – Being a guild leader can be Should you name your son dy that was interpreted, and they directly and the leader style typical of nonprofit or- ponent of planning ahead of coming bat- expressed their appreciation of what was ganizations, says Patrick Prax. tles. compared with Nils or Neo? Traditional being personally being played, with applause, whistling, and In World of Warcraft people can join a – Being a guild leader can be compared or modern? responsible for a shouting. At the end the whole audience group, a guild, to jointly combat various en- with being personally responsible for a company. was on its feet. emies. But in the midst of battle they need company, or being in charge of internal But there were no encores in this al- someone who can hold the group together, communication, says Patrick Prax. ready jam-packed performance. But David and this is where the guild leader comes The parallel with military leadership Westerlund promised more concerts in the in. The leader needs to be able to keep a is primarily relevant during battles. This PATRICK PRAX future. n cool head and make quick decisions. At the is when the ability to give strict orders is

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Natural raw materials, luscious recipes, and trendy diets. Today it’s a full-time job staying abreast of what we’re expected to put in our mouths. Ulf Risérus, Load your phone with associate professor of nutrition and metabolism, prefers a little common sense. facts about conflicts TEXT: ANNETTE WALLQVIST, PHOTO: TORBJÖRN GOZZI Control over calories TEXT: MAGNUS ALSNE, PHOTO: MATTON THE POPULAR UPRISINGS that have that you have access to the same informa- flared up in recent months in and around tion as in the database, without connecting THE NUMBER OF DIETS and the de- 1936 chicken recipe is enough for 14 peo- day it’s easier than ever to give in to temp- northern Africa are capturing the attention to the Internet. This is useful not least for bates about them have increased in recent ple, but now only for a party of ten. Nor tation. In other words, it’s a good move to of everyone from politicians, researchers, those in the field, says Stina Högbladh, who years; plate models, Atkins diets, and our do we have to look very long to find food. take control of your calory intake and spend and aid workers to students and journalists. is research coordinator at the Department. Swedish contribution LCHF are just a few Today there’s a 7-eleven on every corner, less time just sitting. What’s more, if you The University’s database of the conflicts The number of downloads has been of the methods being treated in forums all often flanked by a fast-food outlet. make sure you vary your diet by using a lit- of the world provides important facts and steady at about 65 a week since its launch over the world. One of the most widely – Just an extra sandwich per week has tle common sense, you’ll do just fine, advises knowledge, directly on your mobile phone last summer, even though the Department discussed is the Mediterranean diet, a var- an impact on our weight over time, and to- Ulf Risérus. n if necessary. has not had any resources to market it. n ied diet that several well-performed studies The Department of Peace and Conflict show yields positive effects for diabetes and FACTS: Research has scored huge successes with cardiovascular disease, but also for weight its Conflict Database, which gathers all This is the information you get in the Nordic food, such as salmon, Conflict App: control. conflicts in the world, some from as early has positive results for • Armed conflicts 1975–2009 The Mediterranean diet broadly resem- our health. as 1946. • Conflicts between armed groups bles the diet recommended by authorities, The information is largely the same in (non-state conflicts) 2002–2008 but findings from Ulf Risérus’ research • One-sided violence against civilians the database and the application. On the team show that the same favourable re- other hand, you can’t compare data over 1989–2008 • On the Web: www.pcr.uu.se/research/ucdp sults can be achieved with an adaptation to time or produce graphs using the Conflict • On your iPhone: look for UCDP Conflict Nordic foods, such as salmon, oats, and rape App, which you can with the database. The app is useful in the field. Database in the store (canola) oil. – But a great advantage with the app is Bulging bellies An equally topical and diet-related discus- sion has to do with our rapidly expanding Plastic chemicals with unknown effects waists. Today every tenth Swede is over- weight and is in the risk zone for develo- THERE ARE CHEMICALS in our lives betes and other major public health diseas- What effects are important for human ping diabetes. The situation may be acute whose effects are unknown – for instance, es. This is still a very new research field, and health, and what levels of bisphenol A can but it is certainly not hopeless. connections between plastic chemicals and we feel that it’s well worth committing to. have harmful effects, are questions that are – To start with, we have to move the risk of obesity and cardiovascular dis- Last year Monica Lind received a ma- much debated. We need more knowledge. around more. We work sitting still ease. jor grant from Formas to study bisphenol – There are more than 100 000 chemi- and spend our evenings on the Recently researchers at Uppsala Univer- A, which is found on the insides of food cals in use in the EU, fewer than 5 per cent couch watching TV, meaning sity were able to determine a connection tins and in many plastic articles that need of which have been toxicologically tested, we don’t burn enough calories. between the chemical dimethyl phthalate to withstand heat, such as baby bottles and says Monica Lind. n All that’s needed is some simple desk and atherosclerosis. Dimethyl phthalate is lunch boxes. exercises to start our microcirculation and used as a softening agent and solvent in cos- double the body’s energy consumption. metics and plastics, for example. Risk of obesity Another explanation is the slow in- A study of one thousand 70-year-old Animal studies have shown that exposure crease in the size of our food helpings. In women revealed an association between during the foetal period can affect behav- the American book The Joy of Cooking, the atherosclerosis and metabolized products iour, reproduction, and brain development of dimethyl phthalate in the blood. and increase the risk of obesity and cancer. – This is the first time it has been possible – Our hypothesis is that the substance Fish and fruit can prevent asthma to show such an association in an epidemio- affects the metabolism of fat even at very logical study, says Monica Lind, a researcher low doses. This can lead to increased ab- SMOKERS run a greater risk of developing hand, can prevent the disease. This is shown effect of antioxidants. Another hypothesis at the Section for Occupational and Envi- dominal fat, which in turn is linked to high asthma than those who have never smoked. in a dissertation by Monica Uddenfeldt at is that intestinal micro flora help develop ronmental Medicine at the Department of blood pressure, disturbed blood fats, and But other lifestyle factors like obesity and the Department of Medical Sciences. The immunity. n PHOTO: MATTON PHOTO: Medical Sciences, Uppsala University. diabetes, and thereby to future cardiovas- Bisphenol A is found on the insides hard physical exercise can increase the risks. impact of diet on the risk of developing – We’re also studying the link with dia- cular diseases, says Monica Lind. of food tins, for example. A high intake of fish and fruit, on the other asthma may have to do with the protective

18 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 19 RESEARCH RESEARCH

New mineral Nobel Prize graphene in mining town Researchers at Uppsala University, working with Russian scientists, have discovered and described a – with own methods new mineral in material from Lång- Research on the superthin, strong material graphene is hot throughout the world ban Mine in western Bergslagen. – and a high-priority research field at Uppsala University. Nobel laureates Andre Geim and Konstatin Novoselov know about the research being done at Uppsala, and last year Andre Geim paid a visit to lecture and receive the Ångström Medal.

TEXT. GUNILLA STYHR, PHOTO: STAFFAN CLAESSON, GRAPHICS: KALLE ÅSTRAND

THE TWO RUSSIAN-BORN Nobel lau- graphene has an excellent Helena Grennberg, professor at the Department of Biochemistry reates have made advanced research un- and Organic Chemistry. derstandable to the general public. No one capacity to conduct current, even could have missed their portrayal of how in small formats, and could THUS be good graphene in larger quantities. To sepa- searchers from Linköping University and they happened upon graphene by getting rate the graphene layers from the crystals, Chalmers University of Technology. thin layers of the material to separate from used in electronic components. they use ultrasound in a solvent. Each university has its own orientation, each other using ordinary household tape, – It’s both faster and cheaper than work- and Uppsala’s strength lies in its breadth, until there was only a single layer of at- even in small formats, and could thus be – Research on graphene requires an ing manually with one layer at a time. with both interdisciplinary basic research oms left. The carbon material in graphene used in electronic components, for instance. interdisciplinary approach, says Helena and applied research. is made up of millions of layers of loosely The findings were published in the journal Grennberg, professor of organic chemistry Thousands of pieces – The competition is stiff, but we are linked graphene sheets. Science in 2004. and head of a research team in chemical The solvent separates thousands of pieces very close to the cutting edge with our suc- For the first time the two scientists Research on graphene is a high-priority synthesis. The coordinator for the work is of graphene that can then be placed where cessful concept here at Uppsala. showed that it was possible to produce a field at Uppsala University. It was selected Olle Eriksson, professor of theoretical mag- they want them, for instance on a plastic Nobel laureate Andre Geim, recently durable material with unique properties, in the research evaluation “Quality and netism. film, if they want the component with the stated in an article in Upsala Nya Tidning from a single layer of atoms. Graphene has Renewal“ to receive special funding from Helena Grennberg’s research team has graphene layer to be easy to bend, she says. that Uppsala research and the new methods WIFE/UPPSALA UNIVERSITY. ERIK JONSSON/SGU AND GARY PHOTO: The mineral has a unique structure. an excellent capacity to conduct current, 2008 to 2010. developed its own model for producing The Uppsala scientists collaborate with re- used “… are highly interesting.” n

GRAPHENE. Graphite and diamonds are made up purely PRODUCING GRAPHENE THE MINERAL will be named ”Långban- of the element carbon. Owing to their different structures, shyttanite” after the old name of the mining they nevertheless have very different properties. village in eastern Värmland where the ma- terial comes from. DIAMOND GRAPHITE 1 2 3 4 GRAPHENE Långbanshyttanite is a lead-manganese- In graphite each carbon atom A piece of graphite or graph- Ultrasound magnesium arsenate and represents a new binds with three other carbon ite powder is treated with The graphene is collected on a atoms, forming stacked layers. bromine in a solvent. Bromine suitable plane surface. Ready natural structural type that was previously The bindings within the layers molecules creep in between for applications. unknown. is stronger than between the the carbon layers and The village of Långban in eastern Värm- layers, and layers come apart increases the distance land is already famous for its unique flora easily. This is what happens between them. when you write with a pencil. of minerals and long geological develop- ment. The special character of the site has its origins in a comprehensive and explosive volcanism in what, 1.9 billion years ago, was When energy is then sup- Graphene consists of a single layer of a shallow marine area just off the edge of a plied through ultrasound carbon atoms. The material is flexible, In diamonds each carbon continent. atom is bound three-dimen- (the kind used to remove transparent, conductive, and 200 times sionally to four other carbon plaque from teeth), the stronger than steel. The mining village has preserved the old carbon layers separate mine and forge setting and today is a popular atoms. Bromine molecule The structure is homogeneous from each other ... voilà, destination for tourists and for mineralogists graphene silt! and extremely hard. and geologists from around the globe. n

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Even though every twentieth child is affected by stuttering, it took four Oscars to get the attention of the general public. Researcher Per Alm will Control over soon be publishing findings that explain the mechanisms of stuttering. Stuttering in focus after acclaimed film assistance money TEXT: MAGNUS ALSNE The film The King’s Speech shows Are Swedish nonprofit PHOTO: LAURI SPARHAM how King George VI mastered organizations more efficient his stammer. or less efficient with enhanced – THE FILM The King’s Speech, about how King George VI learned to master his stam- financial control? A policy mer, has brought stuttering to the attention experiment was carried out of the general public. Personally I think the by researchers at the Center film is a realistic depiction that avoids pre- for Labor Studies together senting the stammerer as a victim, says Per Alm, a researcher and teacher at the De- with Sida. partment of Neuroscience. Research on stuttering is not a new phe- nomenon, but it has had a hard time getting TEXT: ANNELI WAARA a foothold as it straddles the lines between PHOTO: DENNIS SABANGAN/SCANPIX disciplines. However, recently more and more researchers seem to be subscribing to the neurological school, whether this is a The study audited information projects temporary trend or is here to stay. that spread information about the – The pendulum has swung between Third World in Sweden. The picture many explanatory models. With each swing The reason that it is speech that is im- stuttering, but also on not letting the fear of shows a shipment of rice sent to the we approach a truer, more complex pic- pacted is that stammerers’ speech is often stammering get the upper hand by avoiding Philippines. ture of how various aspects interact. Today governed from both halves of the brain – speaking situations. more evidence points to motor instability normally only the left brain half is in con- Today the choice of treatment is deter- – IT IS NOT CERTAIN that a stricter con- the Swedish National Audit Office. Sida The results show that the forewarned in speech as the basic problem, with psy- trol – which entails a greater risk of unsyn- mined by the age, motivation, and personal trol environment will lead to greater effi- therefore decided in early 2009 to perform organizations were more careful in justify- chological aspects, such as fear of speaking, chronized signals. will of the individual. ciency, says Niklas Bengtsson, a researcher its own audits of reports from so-called in- ing their expenses. Interestingly, they also as an effect of this. – These are hypotheses, but this autumn – Research on stuttering is like doing a in economics at Uppsala University. formation projects – projects designed to returned a large portion of their funding I plan to have articles supporting the theory huge puzzle. It takes time, but new pieces – Greater control can lead to higher spread knowledge about the Third World to Sida. Own experience ready for publication, says Per Alm. will gradually fall into place, thereby en- administrative costs, but above all, previ- in Sweden. In the unwarned group researchers Per Alm, who has personal experience of hancing the possibility of more and more ef- ous psychological and economic research found a clear tendency to maximize ex- stuttering, long felt a lack of satisfactory Huge puzzle fective treatment methods, says Per Alm. n shows that the willingness to make non- Warned about audit penses and not to return any funding at answers about how stuttering functions Back to The King’s Speech, it is suggested that profit commitments can decline. We were The study took the form of a randomized all. and what causes it. As an adult he began to George VI’s stammer could be explained curious to see whether this applies to as- experiment. A random sample of organi- – The study shows that material incen- do research in the field himself and took a by traumatic experiences in his childhood. For stutter- ers who have sistance workers. zations were warned that their financial tives and increased monitoring also affect doctorate in 2005 based on the brain’s ba- Today such explanatory models no longer learnt a certain Sida has traditionally delegated moni- accounting would be audited by Sida at organizations that are guided by great ideal- sal ganglia. After a few years abroad, Per re- have scientific support, nor is there any link speech tech- n to intelligence. Timelessly correct, however, toring to the assistance organizations’ the end of the year. A control group was istic commitment, says Niklas Bengtsson. turned to Uppsala University, where today nique it can be own agents, which has been criticized by not told about Sida’s intentions. he is studying the underlying mechanisms is the scene where the king reads aloud easier to speak of stammering. while listening to music in earphones. before an audi- – By charting exactly what happens in – For many stammerers their speech ence than at a New Center for Labor Studies the stammering moment, we can better un- works better in odd speech situations, such coffee table. derstand what it is that disrupts the speech as reading aloud with others, singing, imi- PER ALM HOW IS UNEMPLOYMENT affected An entirely new centre for labour mar- ket research have improved in recent years flow. tating dialects, or on stage. Marilyn Mon- by political reforms? What links are there ket research – Uppsala Center for Labor thanks to greater access to longitudinal Per Alm’s research shows that the stut- roe, for one, is said to have stuttered. For Stuttering in figures between unemployment and health? How Studies (UCLS) – has now been launched individual and company data. Apace with terers articulatory muscles are sometimes stutterers who have learnt a certain speech • Some 5 per cent of all children stutter for a does the shape of the educational system at Uppsala University with funding from this, new empirical methods have been de- insufficiently activated and that the wrong technique it can even be easier to speak be- period; some 0.7 per cent of all adults stutter affect success on the job market? These are the Swedish Council for Working Life and veloped. UCLS will be studying, for exam- muscles can be activated by mistake. It ap- fore an audience than around a coffee table, • About 75 per cent of all adult stutterers are men some of the questions being addressed by Social Research. Economists, political sci- ple, the game rules of the labour market, pears that this is due to the governing of since it’s easier to plan a talk, says Per Alm. • Researchers in the US recently discovered the new Center for Labor Studies at Upp- entists, and law scholars collaborate here. and the social insurance system, but also muscle activation from the supplementary Many forms of treatment for adults fo- a genetic deviation that can explain 5-10 per sala University. The preconditions for empirical job mar- income, education and labour law. n motor area, between the brain halves. cus on practical training in order to limit cent of all stammering

22 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 23 RESEARCH RESEARCH

The long-necked Euhelopus lived in On expedition in Patagonia China 140 million years ago, and the with a tooth from an ankylosaurus. Multiple joint expeditions were under- entists are hoping to gain better knowledge only known skeleton in the world PHOTO: FERNANDO NOVAS taken, and much of the material was sent of birds and the origin of their capacity is found at the Museum of to Uppsala and the greatest palaeontologist to fly. The ability to use the technology in Evolution, Uppsala University. of the day, Professor Carl Wiman, for de- Grenoble to look into the microstructures scription. of bones allows researchers to get much – The material is still incredibly excit- closer to extinct animals. ing, not least because the technologies for – This technology will teach us more

studying fossils have been revolutionized in MUSEUM OF EVOLUTION PHOTO: about attributes of skeletons, soft tissue, recent years, says Martin Kundrat. Fossiladinosaur eggs growth, metabolism, sex, patterns of move- He has already examined fossil dinosaur can be examined using x-rays. ment, and behaviour, quite simply more eggs and other fossils at the ESRF synchro- about how they lived. We even hope to be tron in Grenoble, France. By shooting in- to find fossil dinosaur eggs with preserved able to reach conclusions about the evolu- credibly powerful x-rays through the stone, embryos inside. tion of dinosaur DNA, something that was 3D pictures can be created and the fossils considered completely impossible just a studied in great detail, without opening Bird-like characteristics few years ago. or damaging the stone in any way. Martin – In that project we are especially interest- This summer he is travelling with Per Kundrat has access to fossil material not ed in the evolution of herbivorous titans, as Ahlberg to Siberia on an expedition tar- only from Uppsala but also from other mu- well as the bird-like characteristics of their geting tetrapods, the first land animals, and seums in the world and from a month-long carnivorous cousins, which ruled Patagonia this autumn they will be making a first visit expedition in Patagonia in Argentina that he and China in that period, says Martin Kun- to China, where they have been invited to was invited to join last winter. drat. participate in a dinosaur expedition. This is Argentina, alongside China, is regarded Birds evolved from predatory dinosaurs an invitation that not many foreign scien- as an eldorado for dinosaur enthusiasts. more than 150 million years ago. This evo- tists have received. During the Cretaceous Period this region lution from land-based dinosaurs to flying – It’s great to be able to link in with the was inhabited by some of the largest car- birds is one of the most revolutionary steps period when Uppsala was the leader in dino- nivores and herbivores the world has ever in the evolutionary history of vertebrates. saur research. We are delighted that our col- seen. The trip led to many promising finds, By comparing the foetal development leagues in China have presented us with this and a new and longer journey is being of extinct dinosaurs with that of modern unique opportunity to carry on the tradition planned for next winter, when they hope crocodiles and present-day birds, these sci- of jointly researching prehistoric animals. n PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT PHOTO: – I’ve been lucky, says Martin Kundrat. The collections here are of interest to Exciting canine tooth studied with new technology the whole world. FOSSILS from Peking Man are rare indeed, what they ate, says Per Ahlberg, professor of

UPPSALA HOT FOR WESTBERG TOMMY PHOTO: but a unique discovery has been made at evolutionary developmental biology. the Museum of Evolution at Uppsala Uni- The Museum of Evolution has the best versity: a canine tooth from a Peking Man, collection of Chinese fossils of dinosaurs untouched since it was excavated in China and other vertebrates, and recently 40 car- in the 1920s. tons were unpacked that had been set aside. – This is an absolutely incredible find. The Museum’s three teeth from Peking We and our Chinese colleagues are over- Man have been seen as among the most dinosaur reseachers whelmed. A canine tooth that has not been valuable items of the collection. And now Dinosaurs never cease to fascinate us. Despite intensive research over TEXT: ANNELI WAARA touched can tell us so much more with to- a fourth tooth has been found – completely Canine tooth from Peking Man. the years, the last ten years have revolutionized the picture of these day’s technology than in the past, such as untouched. n spectacular animals. With new technology, researchers have zeroed in on their mythical lives. From twitter to “brain scanning” IN LATE MARCH Uppsala University sent and could later tweet his followers: ”So I WHEN ONE OF THE WORLD’S fore- Since he came to Uppsala in 2010, Mar- collections found here are of interest to out a news item via Twitter: An 80-million- just witnessed an intact dinosaur skull be- most researchers on fossil dinosaur embryos tin Kundrat and Professor Per Ahlberg’s re- the whole world. I’ve been lucky, and I’m year-old skull from a hadrosaurid, or duck- ing examined with magnetic x-rays…” meets one of the leading experts on the first search team in evolutionary developmental proud to be here. billed, dinosaur Tanius from the Museum The Tanius skull came to Uppsala from land animals and starts to collaborate, new biology have been able to pass through one In fact, this is the largest and finest col- of Evolution was to be x-rayed at the Akad- China in the 1920s and is part of the China interest is suddenly directed towards Upp- open door after another. lection of fossil Chinese dinosaurs outside emiska University Hospital. collection at the Museum of Evolution. sala and the incredible collections that have – It’s fantastic to see how many people of China – a result of successful collabora- “That would be cool to go to,” tweeted It was the first time CT scanning and 3D long been preserved at the University’s Mu- are interested in working together. Upp- tion between Swedish and Chinese palae- the student Olof Pettersson. Soon after- technology were used to reconstruct the seum of Evolution. sala University is highly respected, and the ontologists nearly 100 years ago. ward he was invited to attend the scanning brain of this unique Uppsala dinosaur. n The duck-billed dinosaur Tanius.

24 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 25 EDUCATION

Studies plus elite-level training? Yes, it’s possible – with a strong will. And patience. Kalle Andrén is about to take his degree at Ångström Laboratory – while aspiring to a world championship berth in karate. Studies go better when the body is on endorphins TEXT: CATARINA BALDO ZAGADOU, PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT

IN THE COMING year Kalle Andrén – if And since Kalle always sees opportuni- rate, since that would entail certain risks for everything goes his way – can reach his two ties and aims high, he has managed in a brief injuries. Normally there ‘s only about one personal goals: a master’s degree in engi- time to establish himself at the top level of competition a month. It has happened that neering and a place on the Swedish national the sport in Sweden. Recently he won a I’ve had to use my nights for studying … team in karate. At the same time. heavy-weight bronze medal at an interna- What have you had to give up in order But now he’s sitting calm and relaxed at tional competition in Folkstone in England. to participate? the dinner table in his spacious student flat Violent? Yes, but absolutely not abusive – Sometimes the thought hits me: on Kantorsgatan. With a really good macchi- violence, he stresses. ”Damn, I don’t have time to see my friends!” ato in front of him. Coffee, in all its forms, is – There are so many myths about karate. And if somebody throws a big blast, I’m not one of Kalle’s many accomplishments. the guy who stays until four in the morning. He explains: With me it’s midnight and home. – My programme actually takes four Do you get better study outcomes when and a half years. For me it has taken a bit BY PUSHING you’re in great shape? longer. And I don’t regret it. I’ve acquired – Let me say this: to be able to study well experience I couldn’t have attained at the YOURSELF AND you need to be relaxed and have a com- University. Above all entrepreneurship and TESTING YOUR OWN pletely open mind. It’s easier to reach that leadership. After all, I’ll be putting in thirty- condition if your body is on endorphins. So, five years of working … LIMITS, YOU LEARN yes: it helps to be in great shape if you want MORE ABOUT your studies to go well. A few make-up exams left Personally, Kalle feels that his years of Kalle Andrén has a green belt in karate. He has a few make-up exams left, plus his YOURSELF studying have been incredibly rewarding – About Kalle master’s thesis. precisely because he has done things in his Name: Karl-Johan Andrén – It’s all about developing a technologi- own way. And had “a lot of fun.” Education: Almost completed master’s cal system for flat bass speakers, basically a – By pushing yourself and testing your Kalle’s recipe for success degree in engineering physics specializing modern application of an old construction Healthy self-confidence own limits, you learn more about yourself. in materials. Kalle has his own “recipe” for success, both in studying and Family: Co-hab Rebecca Lindgren. principle. When I ask whether he will be continuing So what have you learnt? with physical training. Here it is: Age: 26. Sound and sound reproduction are Ka- with his sport, he answers: – In terms of training, I know that I need Also does: Trains and competes at the elite lle’s special interest and have been for a long – There aren’t many people under thirty to sleep a certain number of hours in order 1) Learn to be focused. Turn off your surroundings. level in karate, (does between six and nine time. Perhaps it’s not so strange for a guy who have been world champions in karate. to perform well. In terms of studying, I‘ve 90-minute sessions a week). Listens to and who has always devoted so much to music. No, nothing wrong with his self-confi- learnt that I need to set aside enough time 2) Work from a level you feel you can handle. So you have the plays music. Works in own company that self-confidence to move forward, one step at a time. sells speaker systems to the whole world. and have the right learning strategy to suc- A friend got him started on speakers; today dence. He has to agree: Moonlights as a karate teacher. Referees an they are running their own company to- – But you can always work on your per- ceed. I have a hard time sitting for thirteen 3) Don’t lose sight of your goal, the reason you’re studying or occasional football game. gether with two others. sonality. To be a more humble person. hours in a row, just slogging. For me it works training. If you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t Belt in karate: Green. (Four steps But how did you get involved in karate? How have you managed to coordinate better to study for five hours and then go get any exchange. to master’s black.) – Before I did my national service I all of your commitments? Advanced engi- and do something different. Hidden talent: Expert on coffee. Roasts 4) Make sure you have structure. This makes it easier to move his own beans (from Guatemala) in the oven. You don’t think your level of ambition played floor ball. I was a reserve on the Stor- neering studies combined with sports at the towards your goal. Rich dark roast (twelve minutes at 200°C) vreta elite team. But when I started studying elite level. Your day has only 24 hours, like might daunt “ordinary mortals”? – It doesn’t have to be set times, like going to training at is his favourite. at the University I decided to try something mine … – I recently saw a TV programme, the five o’clock every day. It’s enough to determine that you Favourite student nation: V-Dala. “I have new, some individual sport where I could – I train 10–12 hours per week, so it World of Science, that claimed that virtu- will be doing a certain number of training sessions per family in Dalecarlia. And the opening hours train when it suited my own schedule. hasn’t always been easy. Mornings and week- ally everybody could become a professor week. are good, the pub food is good, and it’s the only place they serve a really good Sunday of mathematics. It’s very much a matter of It turned out to be karate, which he ends I’m busy, and when there’s a competi- 5) Take care not to push yourself too hard! Sometimes you brunch.” feels provides all-round training in strength, tion I lose a few evenings too. Fortunately will. And patience. Something that’s in short need to take a step backward. Take a break. It’s important Describes himself: As ”one happy dude stamina, limberness, and coordination. you can’t compete very intensively in ka- supply nowadays. n that you think it’s fun, too! with lots of drive.”

26 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 27 EDUCATION EDUCATION

Patients win when students collaborate A boost In January there was a somewhat different experimental workshop at the for creativity Biomedical Centre (BMC) – students were practising collaboration across A strategic step is now being occupational boundaries at a student-run health clinic for seniors. This taken to exploit all the creativity autumn the clinic will return with expanded opening hours. and the many inspiring examples

TEXT: HELENA EDSTRÖM, PHOTO: STAFFAN CLAESSON found in University programmes. The Kruut Project, creative edu- AS USUAL the BMC corridors, laborato- – For us as students it’s extremely re- interact, and we got questions that neither cational development at Uppsala ries, and lecture halls are bustling with life. warding. Even though I often meet nurses of us wouldn’t have been able to answer on University, started in autumn There’s some extra bustle on the under- and physicians when I’m out practising, our own, says David Kruppé-Magnusson, 2010 and will run up to 2012. ground level, however, where a new stu- we don’t work together like this. And since in his fifth semester on the dietetics pro- dent-run health clinic has opened its doors you have to eat to get the energy to exer- gramme. THE LODESTAR of Kruut is to exploit the for the first time. Students nearing the end cise, I think it’s extra fun to try out working Besides collaborating across occupa- University’s breadth, stimulate educational of their programmes in dietetics, medicine, with a dietician, says Emelie Cassel, who is tional borders, the students practise holding development, and facilitate the spread of physiotherapy, and nursing are collaborat- completing her final semester in the physi- open, long, and inspiring dialogues with the good ideas. ing across occupational borders in health- otherapy programme. focus on a patient. The senior volunteers – We’re creating forums and arranging oriented conversations with seniors, or as participating as clients at the clinics are ba- activities to stimulate the exchange of ideas they are called at the clinic, clients. Complement each other sically healthy. across departmental and faculty borders. In one of the examination rooms sit When asked whether they have noticed – The idea is for us to come up with ad- Rotary opens I think this will be a giant step forward in physiotherapy student Emelie Cassel and that they complement each other, whether vice to make them even healthier. This is a our work. There are many fantastic mod- dietetics student David Kruppé-Magnus- this collaboration has added value for the great thing, but it also places demands on els throughout the University, says Thomas son. They say they have been inspired by client, they both exclaim: Absolutely! the conversation, says Emelie Cassel. Peace Center in Uppsala Bull, professor at the Department of Law having a chance to work with each other – It was perfect! This client wanted to and project director of Kruut. and with students in medicine and nursing. know more about how diet and exercise Must have time In stiff international competition Uppsala University has been In the project they have selected high- The idea is that the clinic will be a regular priority areas, such as linkage to research, feature in the final phase of the four health named one of Rotary International’s seven international Peace innovative teaching, and connections to and caring programmes. This is something Centers. This means that students from all over the world will be working life. The plan is for developmen- everyone in the examination room at BMC getting Rotary fellowships to take a master programme in peace tal work to be summarized in the spring of hopes. and conflict studies at Uppsala. 2012 and to run it through peer reviews, – Most people want to feel good and are both within the University and by an inter- happy to get advice from caring staff. But it national panel. takes time to talk about a healthful lifestyle TEXT: ANNELI WAARA, PHOTO: MATTON – Our ambition is to be a university at the right level for each patient. That has operating in the international arena, so we been the most important difference here must see to it that we have windows that compared with the practicum places I have – WE’RE EXTREMELY PROUD about – Of course, it’s a great honour to be re- open on the outside world – also in terms of worked at – finding time to talk, says Eme- Rotary’s decision. Peace, security, and de- garded as offering a world-class programme, educational issues, says Thomas Bull. n lie Cassel. n mocracy are one of our University’s strong- says Peter Wallensteen, who holds the Dag est fields in research and education, and it Hammarskjöld Chair in Peace and Conflict is highly gratifying to have been selected Research at the University. This is a prod- Sven Knutsson converses with among more than 100 universities in the uct of our long-term quality work in educa- physiotherapy student Emelie Cassel and dietetics student world, says Anders Hallberg, Vice Chancel- tion and research. It has already resulted in David Kruppé-Magnusson. lor of Uppsala University. bright international students finding their Rotary Peace Fellowships from the Ro- way here. tary Foundation enable students, in tough – We have had the staunch support of Facts competition, to receive grants to pursue Swedish Rotary in this process, and we look Basically healthy seniors eager to retain their peace and conflict studies at an internation- forward to continuing collaboration, both everyday good health were invited to come to ally leading university. at home and abroad. n the health clinic at BMC. There, as they saw fit, they could meet with two students in the final phase of their programmes in dietet- ics, medicine, physiotherapy, or nursing. The OF COURSE, IT’S A GREAT HONOUR TO BE conversations lasted for 90 minutes and could include physical exercise and routine check- REGARDED AS A WORLD-CLASS PROGRAMME THOMAS BULL

ups such as blood pressure and circulation. WESTBERG TOMMY PHOTO:

28 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 29 INNOVATION INNOVATION

Anders’ instrument soon to be in orbit Breakthrough for more plified, the sensor has been integrated with with a Vietnamese satellite weighing a kilo How do you go about measuring magnetic fields in space if you electronics in a system – a so-called mag- – about a thousandth of a normal satellite. netometer – that weighs less than a gram The Japanese space programme is also in- efficient drug development have to fit your instrument in and fits on a fingertip. Late this year this terested in using the magnetometer in the a satellite smaller than a milk magnetometer will make its maiden voyage near future. n Developing a new drug is a very costly and time-consuming process. The findings carton? Of twenty candidates, 19 are abandoned because they don’t work or are of great importance to have undesirable side effects. Now a research team directed DOCTORAL STUDENT Anders Persson the industry, by Professor Lars Baltzer at Uppsala University have and several ma- has developed an instrument that fits on developed a tiny molecular “binder“ that has jor companies your fingertip. At the end of the year his magnetometer will take its maiden voyage the potential to fundamentally have shown an interest. with a Vietnamese satellite. alter this landscape. With so-called micro- and nanotechnol-

LARS BALTZER ogy Anders Persson, at the Ångström Space Technology Centre, has developed a sensor that is so small that hundreds fit across a TEXT: ANNELI WAARA, PHOTOS: MATTON, MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT strand of hair. The sensor determines the strength and direction of a magnetic field with its extremely thin magnetic and non- He believes that the possibility of rap- The new peptide is 5 000 Dalton or only magnetic layers. idly developing new drugs will be consid- 1/30 as large as a typical antibody, smaller – If you take all the volumes of the Na- erably enhanced with the help of this new than was previously thought possible. The tional Encyclopaedia, stacked together, as concept, which runs somewhat counter to peptides in this study have been success- representing the thickness of aluminium foil, what is usually done in drug development. fully linked to the inflammation marker the thinnest layer of the magnetic field sensor THE CONCEPT is a tiny polypeptide con- Traditionally, it’s a matter of synthesiz- CRP, which, among other things, signals a

would be one page, explains Anders Persson. LEKHOLM PHOTO:VILLE sisting of 42 amino acids, to which you link ing drugs from A to Z, and certain demands risk of premature death among heart pa- Since its signal must be isolated and am- The magnetometer weighs less than a gram and fits on a fingertip. virtually any target-seeking organic mol- must be met to succeed. The drugs must tients. Several other studies are underway ecule whatsoever. be low molecular (500 Dalton), have high and showing the same successful results. In the body they then seek out sites that fat solubility, and no more than 10 binding These findings are of great importance to need treatment. What’s unique is that the sites to get through the cell membrane. the industry, and several major companies polypeptide greatly enhances the proper- But most prove to be ineffective or toxic, have shown an interest. The company that ties of the little molecule in a simple and and there are now ways to get larger mol- previously spun out of Baltzer’s research Diagnostics projects Research for Lasers refine solar very general way. ecules through cell membranes. Recently, team will now refine the concept to help get support small companies panel production – They’re amazingly good binders. They therapeutic antibodies have emerged as al- the pharmaceuticals industry determine bind more strongly and more specifically ternatives. They are large (150 000 Dalton) at a considerably earlier stage than today UPPSALA BIO works to bridge the gap be- UU INNOVATION at Uppsala University THROUGH THE USE of laser technology than other alternatives, says Lars Baltzer, and bind to the outside of cells that they whether a drug candidate is worth pursuing tween academic research and industrial de- has been granted SEK 11 million from the in the production of solar panels, the process professor of organic chemistry. then “block.” further or not. n velopment. Recently BIO-X research grants EU’s Structural Funds to develop collabora- can be made more efficient. This is shown in were awarded to projects in diagnostics. tion between small companies and the two a dissertation by engineer Per-Oskar Westin. Two of the projects are at Uppsala Uni- universities in Uppsala. The development of thin-film solar cells of versity: – We have received funding for a 3-year the so-called CIGS type at Ångström Labo- The company that combats noise • Professor Per Venge and his research project where we, together with the Swed- ratory has led to the spin-out company Soli- team have found a marker in the blood ish University of Agricultural Sciences, are bro Research AB and the world’s currently The two researchers have developed and (HNL) that distinguishes bacterial infec- to stimulate our collaboration with small most efficient solar cells of this type on an applied for a patent for a new method, RB- tions from virus infections with a high companies. This especially targets the fields industrial scale, 13 per cent. NCC. By taking advantage of the fact that degree of certainty. The project is getting of life science, materials science, clean tech/ Per-Oskar Westin has studied the use of two different images of a specific object up to SEK 2 million over two years. green tech, and arts/social sciences, says laser technology in the production of these These pairs of pictures of the same object have better and better image quality. should be perfectly correlated with each • Senior lecturer Tobias Sjöblom and his Lars-Eric Larsson, deputy head of depart- solar panels. His dissertation work was other, you can determine a measure of how research team are developing a method ment at UU Innovation. done in collaboration between Ångström ADVANCED IMAGE ANALYSIS is used company based on their method. much noise the image contains. The corre- for the automatic extraction of DNA The project has been named “SMURF Solar Center and Solibro Research AB. in many medical technology companies, Images from fluorescence microscopy lation between objects one and two can be and RNA from samples. They are receiv- – Small Companies in the Uppsala Region – It turns out that all the patterning but “noise“ often causes problems. Upp- are often used to understand what has hap- calculated under noiseless conditions. ing up to SEK 0.5 million for one year Collaborating with Researchers at the Uni- stages can be performed using lasers. The sala researchers Ingela Parmryd and Jeremy pened in a cell. But the images always con- There are many applications for the to verify that the method works. n versities.” In the project, companies can ap- most obvious benefit is that the surface of Adler have developed a method to solve tain noise that can lead to incorrect judge- method, but the company is initially target- ply for funding for research projects in col- the solar panel can be utilized better, says such problems and are now starting a new ments. ing the fluorescence microscopy market. n laboration with researchers, for example. n Per-Oskar Westin. n

30 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 31 CULTURE CULTURE

Focus on nurses

IN STARCHED CAPS and white aprons, the nurses pose for the camera while tend- ing to their patients and working in their laboratory. Forgotten photos from the Akademiska Hospital of the 1920s make up the core of Museum Gustavianum’s new exhibition, Nursing – A Profession in Transition. The exhibit also includes pictures for nurses’ everyday work today. Student, mid- career, and retired nurses were asked the same questions about their work and why – specially crafted for the University they chose to pursue nursing. The exhibit is on display until September 4. n Master furniture-maker. This is Neil Jonsson’s title, and if there’s one thing he knows, it’s handcrafted furniture. Right now his focus is on the thirty chairs he has in his workshop. The turned, ornamented oak chairs are not just any chairs – they were exclusively crafted for the reception halls of the University Main Building. One thing you notice is that the flower-like studs that decoratively cover the heads

of the furniture nails seem to come from at least two lots. MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT PHOTO:

University Main Building, Uppsala. TEXT AND PHOTO: JOHANNES BORGEGÅRD The Library’s new

– SOMEWHAT ODD, but I’m trying to No one remembers how this renovation Web Store find out where they might have come from, was done or who did it. Strange, but it was PLACE a couple of dissertations in your says Neil Jonsson and goes on: There aren’t probably done very quickly. cart, click to check out, and pay with a card. very many producers today, but it is possi- Now the chairs are to be restored to The University Library is now selling publi- ble to get new furniture nails, if needed. their original condition. The paint and col- cations in its ACTA Series on the Web. The chairs were designed by Herman our have been studied in pieces of furniture The Web Store was developed on com- Teodor Holmgren who also designed the that had broken before the previous renova- mission from the editorial committee for building. The blueprints were submitted in tion but had nonetheless been saved. Their Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. n 1878 together with the plans for the Upp- surface was a kind of spirit-based shellac. www.mamut.net/acta/shop/ sala University Main Building, decorations, Now it will be with the same shellac, but paintings, and other furniture. Holmgren with attention paid to the environment. had designed it all, and his plans were large- – We have to ensure that the chairs are Authors ly realized. It would be his masterpiece, preserved and look the way they were in- making Holmgren famous. But soon after- tended to, but we also have to avoid unnec- met students ward the building and its style were regard- essary environmental impact. ed as outdated. The grand edifice did not FOR ONE SEMESTER the authors Ola become the national monument Holmgren Larsmo and Cecilia Davidsson were writ- had hoped, and the builder, Hallström, who Furniture-maker. This is Neil Jonsson´s ers in residence at the Uppsala University title, and if there´s one thing he knows, was forced to pay for much of the construc- In a hundred Department of Literature. it´s handcrafted furniture. tion out of pocket, went bankrupt. years everything – This was much appreciated by both Over the years, the building and its fur- students and teachers. Of course, it gave niture have been renovated. Sometimes will look the way Neil Jonsson has a lot to say about vari- problems involving glide studs and carpets them an opportunity to talk about their with sensitivity to its original style, some- it did when the ous types of glue and prefers animal-based and scratching the floor. own works but also about the problems times not. In the 1970s the chairs were glues for the old joints. He will probably – It’s the environment as a whole that is you face as a writer, says Senior Lecturer The chairs were designed by Herman sandblasted, and the dark oak colour dis- building was use pearl glue – an animal-based glue with valuable, that the building is still used for Patrik Mehrens. Teodor Holmgren, who also designed the building. The blueprints were sub- appeared. The chairs were shellacked and constructed an ancient history. Corner blocks will be what it was originally designed for. And so it Ola Larsmo and Cecilia Davidsson were took on a different style. needed under the seats, and they will be should be in the future. In a hundred years given 25 per cent positions and contributed mitted in 1878 together with the plans in 1887. for the Uppsala University Main Build- – Japanese oak was fashionable then, of birch, for maximum toughness. Then everything will look the way it did when their expertise at both the undergraduate ing, decorations and other furniture. and it had to be light, explains Neil Jonsson. he continues his lecture, now focusing on the building was constructed in 1887. n and higher levels. n

32 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 33 ALUMN ALUMN

It was a big step for Eric Liu to go from Beijing to Uppsala let them know that Uppsala University is to study computer science. But it paid off – in valuable knowledge, very much an international university. It Scholarships has international master programmes and contacts, and memories for life. Now Eric is setting up a network the professors also come from different for students for former Uppsala students in Beijing. countries. What are the most popular activities? from China – Every autumn we have a reunion to welcome new members returning from Uppsala University has estab- “Uppsala gave me Sweden. At these meetings, all the mem- lished a scholarship fund for bers can meet to share their memories from Sweden, get to know each other, and have students from China together fun together. Seminars are another impor- with the Kjell and Märta Beijer many fine memories” tant part of the reunion. Senior executives Foundation. The scholarships are The network of students reaches around the globe. Shown here, however, are TEXT: ANNICA HULTH, PHOTO: PRIVAT from well-known Swedish companies like only those students who have agreed to have their addresses shown in the alumn named for Anders Wall. He is Ericsson, Volvo, and IKEA are invited to system. give talks and help recent graduates find an honorary member of Uppsala employment. University and turns 80 this Are there big differences between stud- year. ying at Uppsala compared with China? Alumn network growing – The biggest difference is that at Swed- THE FUND comprises SEK 4 million per ish universities the students work autono- Today there are some 15 000 the world have University alumns, that is, year for five years and is to be used for mously. The role of lectures is to guide registered alumns in the Uppsala those who have registered in the network. scholarships for students from China. They students to develop their own research University network for former – For instance, if you search for London, can be used for both the basic and advanced interests. Students have creative ideas and you get all University alumns living there. levels and for one or more years. make them reality. Chinese universities students. Recently a new Web- This network opens up multiple possibili- Since tuition fees were introduced for are more traditional; students follow their based system was launched ties, says Sarah Havrén Schütz. students outside the EU, considerably fewer teachers’ instruction and the textbook. for alumn contacts. The system At Uppsala University there are numer- students in this group have applied for pro- Why do you think students choose to provides many services and will ous alumn associations that are linked to grammes in Sweden. The scholarship fund study at Uppsala? programmes and departments. The student will comprise a total of SEK 20 million and – Uppsala University is the oldest uni- ultimately contain career offers nations also have broad alumn activities. thereby be able to cover the tuition fees for versity in the Nordic countries. Its long and job advertisements. Being a member of an alumn associa- at least 100 students. history and good academic reputation lead tion is one way to stay in touch with the – I am indeed honoured, says Anders many Chinese students to choose Uppsala programme and your fellow students. Al- TEXT: GUNILLA STHYR Wall. This is an excellent initiative from Eric Lui spent two intensive years in Uppsala, on the Master Programme University. Furthermore, the University has umn associations have also been started for Uppsala University. It will help forge closer in Computer Science. established many joint programmes with former Uppsala students abroad as well. relations with China. I am convinced that well-known Chinese universities. Through THE NEW SYSTEM for the University’s – We recently launched an English-lan- this will be a boon both to the Uppsala re- ERIC LIU TOOK the Master Programme the latest one Ericsson, the Swedish Cham- programmes like these, the best students alumn network was launched during the guage version of the alumn system, so our gion and Sweden in general. in Computer Science at Uppsala in 2006– ber of Commerce, and IKEA took part. On in China have an opportunity to study at spring. international students can more readily stay Scholarships will be available for 2012. n 2008. After working in Europe for a year, New Year’s Day 2011 the network hosted a Uppsala, says Eric Liu. – We plan to successively develop its in touch with the University, says Sara Ha- he is back in Beijing and working with wind banquet that was attended by, among oth- functions, such as the possibility of posting vrén Schütz. n energy. ers, Uppsala University Vice Chancellor Happy memories career offers and job advertisements from Exchange between His ties to Uppsala are still strong. Eric Anders Hallberg. He personally likes to think back on his both universities and external companies, – We plan to has helped set up the network UU Beijing Why did you start the network? days at Uppsala, and he remembers that says Alumn Coordinator Sarah Havrén successively Uppsala and US Chapter, which today has 80 members in – We have many shared memories of Upp- time warmly. For example, he remembers Schütz. develop its Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, sala’s student nations, the beautiful cathe- working all night on a robot project in the Thus far 15 000 former students, alumns, functions, such FROM AUTUMN 2012 scholarships will and the US. dral, Walpurgis Eve … Even though we’ve laboratory with his classmates, and all the have registered in the alumn network. Any- as the possibil- be awarded to students who are US citi- Since it started in 2010, the network has graduated and left Uppsala University, we evenings he spent behind the bar as a bar- one who registers in the alumn network ity of posting zens. The scholarships will be given by the forged links with the Swedish embassy, the all still have warm feelings for our Alma tender at Gästrike-Hälsinge nation. and goes to the Web page will have access career offers. Scholarship Foundation at the Swedish- Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Ericsson, Mater. We want to get together to pay back – During the day it was the innova- to news and events from Uppsala Univer- American Chamber of Commerce in New IKEA, and three Chinese universities: Bei- something to our home University and tive academic environment that made the sity specifically targeting alumns. York for studies at Uppsala University, and jing Foreign Studies University, Commu- other alumns. strongest impression on me. In the evenings The network exists for anyone who has SARAH HAVRÉN SCHÜTZ managed by Uppsala University Founda- nication University of China, and Beijing – Our activities might help market Upp- it was the colourful life at the student na- studied, works, or worked at Uppsala Uni- tions Management of Estates and Funds. International MBA School. sala University to more Chinese students. tions that provided me with happy memo- versity. Honorary doctors, guest researchers, Register in the alumn network! The aim is to promote student exchange For one thing, the network has provided What’s more, we have lots of fun together. ries, says Eric Liu. board members, and others close to the Have you ever studied at Uppsala University? between Uppsala and the US now that fees Just go ahead and register with the network. an introductory course at the Swedish em- What are the most frequent questions – During those two years I made many University are also counted as alumns. Thus far 15 000 alumns are registered in the have been introduced in Sweden. As of au- bassy for exchange students on their way to you get from students? friends, both students and teachers. It has On the welcoming page there is also a alumn network. tumn 2011, all citizens of countries outside Uppsala. Every autumn there’s a reunion; in – “Do the teachers teach in Swedish?” I enriched my life. n world map where you can see what parts of www.alumnnatverk.uu.se the EU, EEA, and Switzerland must pay tuition at Swedish universities. n 34 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 35 COLLABORATION COLLABORATION

The Celsius pastry is sold at Fruitful exchange cafés during the International Party for Indian Research under scrutiny with South Korea Year of Chemistry. Nobel laureate The year 2011 has been pro- In May an all-day symposium claimed the International Year THE INDIAN poet and author Rabind- ranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize for Lit- on biomarkers was held together of Chemistry by the UN, and in erature in 1913, as the first non-Western with invited researchers from Uppsala it will not go unnoticed. laureate. In the 1920s he lectured twice in Hallym University in South In Uppsala the motto for the year the University’s Grand Auditorium. In May, Korea. It was the fourth joint is “When the Chemistry Is Right.” Tagore’s 150th birthday, with festivities in- volving the ambassadors of India and Bang- conference between the two The launch was an “Open House” ladesh. “Rabindra Shongit” was performed, universities devoted to developing at Ångström Laboratory with songs with both music and lyrics by Tagore. their research collaboration in loads of activities. Suranjana Ghosh, Trio Creation, and Bubu the field of medicine. Munshi Eklund provided the music. n TEXT: GUNILLA STYHR, PHOTO: JOHANNES BORGEGÅRD – SOUTH KOREA has very prominent re- search in all areas where we have a strong research interest, says Kjell Öberg, profes- Chemistry, chemistry … all year sor of oncological endocrinology, who was UPPSALA, with its two universities, boasts Cafés are selling a specially created choco- in charge of planning. comprehensive and successful chemistry late pastry: the Celsius pastry, with a deco- Hallym University is one of South Ko- research, and many prominent scientists ration in the form of a thermometer. rea’s highest ranked universities, and it is have worked at Uppsala University, such as The main sponsor of the International PHOTO: JIM ELFSTRÖM PHOTO: especially strong in medicine. The three Experts on site in Uppsala. Arrhenius, Scheele, Tiselius, Svedberg, and Year of Chemistry in Uppsala is the Chemis- previous conferences have led to concrete Berzelius. Two have won the Nobel Prize try Section at Uppsala University. Cosponsors research collaboration in cardiovascular dis- – thus far. are the Swedish University of Agricultural Some 200 international experts are evaluating all research at Upp- eases, stroke, and neurodegenerative disor- Chemistry research at Uppsala Univer- Sciences, the National Food Administration, President of Estonia sala University. For two weeks in May departments had a chance to ders like Alzheimer’s. sity has many world-class projects today, the Medical Products Agency, Uppsala BIO, in Grand Auditorium present themselves and answer questions about current research. This time the symposium was about some of them even leading the world. Upp- and GE Healthcare, with more companies biomarkers from basic research to clinical sala chemists lie behind many of the bio- soon to join in. n IN JANUARY Estonian President Toomas use, a subject of importance to virtually all technology companies that have started up Hendrik Ilves visited Uppsala University, A TOTAL OF 25 subject-wise internation- research, and the results have been of great research on pathologies. n in the region. No fewer than 17 of the 117 International Year of Chemistry together with Prince Carl Philip and Minis- al expert panels came to Uppsala. The visit value to the University in making its stra- basic elements have associations with Upp- events ter for Defence Sten Tolgfors. The president is one of the components that, together tegic commitments, says Project Leader – South sala and Uppland. and his party toured Ångström Laboratory. with assessments of self-evaluations and a Joseph Nordgren, who was also in charge of Korea has very The Year of Chemistry at Ångström • On August 27 a research tent was The president also delivered a public lecture bibliometric analysis, are included in a com- evaluation work last time. prominent Laboratory was inaugurated with an “Open research in all raised on Forum Square in Upp- in the University’s Grand Auditorium. n prehensive review of research, Quality and This year’s evaluation, Quality and Re- House” - a big chemistry exhibition and areas where sala, with the theme of “Sports and Renewal 2011, being carried out at Upp- newal 2011, (Q&R2011), will also serve as popular-science seminars on solar cells, bat- we have a Chemistry.” Everything from the sala University this year. At the same time a kind of evaluation of the commitments teries, the chemistry of love, the chemistry strong research materials chemistry research behind it is a follow-up of the first evaluation from made since the last round. The results will of chocolate, poisonings in literature, and interest. sports to tips about diet and bever- Innovative duo win 2007. now be compiled and analysed in a final the conservation of the warship . Wasa ages in connection with training. – We were pioneers in Sweden in hav- report that is expected to be submitted in All the parking lots outside Ångström KJELL ÖBERG • On Culture Night September 10, Johan Skytte Prize ing such a comprehensive evaluation of all November. n Laboratory were full, with more than 3,000 popular-science lectures was held visitors, mostly families with children. RONALD INGLEHART of the University at the City Library and Museum of Michigan and Pippa Norris of Harvard Gustavianum. Bubbles and smokes University were awarded this year’s Johan • Biomedical Centre (BMC) has open Energy researchers and industry people solved problems jointly For children and young people there were Skytte Prize, for their successful and in- house October 7–8, with the theme many exciting things that bubbled or novative research on values and political of “Health and Chemistry.” BATTERIES that don’t do the job, process- tions to these problems together. He is codirector of the project with Ma- smoked, or for smelling or tasting. They behaviour in a global context. The Johan • In November there will be activities es that gobble up energy: industry is facing – This is a new way for us to meet. In- lin Olofsson, KTH. could make slime, for example, or candy, Skytte Prize is one of the largest and most on the theme of “Food,” e.g. during problems in the field of energy that are a dustry had submitted questions in advance During AIMday the centre of attention chemical gardens, and solar cells, or see an prestigious prizes in political science. Ron- autumn break in the Botanical Gar- drag on profitability and long-term growth. for us to put in the hands of the right spe- was the knowledge needs of companies. exciting chemistry show. ald Inglehart, professor of sociology at the den’s Tropical Greenhouse. On AIMday InnoEnergy in March, in- cialists from our two institutions. The focus Most of the day was devoted to workshops Every month of the year has a special University of Michigan and Pippa Norris, • A popular lecture series is planned dustry people and energy researchers from was on storing energy and so-called “smart where researchers and company represent- chemistry theme, and researchers will turn professor of political science at Harvard in collaboration with Folkuniversite- Uppsala University and the Royal Institute grids,” says Fredrik Engelmark of Uppsala atives met in small groups to discuss con- up in unexpected places in Uppsala to University, will jointly receive this “Nobel tet in the autumn. of Technology (KTH) met to tackle solu- University. crete issues and possible solutions. n highlight chemistry in various perspectives. Prize“ for political science in September. n

36 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 37 COLLABORATION OVERHEARD

New book: Rise of cities UPPSALA 2011 UNIVERSITET – a challenge Collect Walpurgis FOR TWO DAYS 40 scholars from diffe- rent countries studied the global develop- pins on the Hill ment of urban life – from the first urban settlements 10,000 years ago and onward. THIS YEAR’S WALPURGIS celebrations The result is a 600-page book on the men- in Uppsala were spiced up with a new tal and environmental processes behind the technology. The first 500 Walpurgis revel- growth of cities: Urban Mind – Cultural lers who came to the donning of the caps and Environmental Dynamics. got a “Walpurgis Pin.” And those who col- – This is our contribution to society, lected digital “pins” on their smart phone on which today faces major challenges in the the way there were guaranteed a genuine form of resource shortages and climate “collector’s pin.” change. To create sustainable cities, you – It’s a fun way to use new technology in have to pay attention to citizens’ thoughts an effort to attract more students to Caro- and values, says Paul Sinclair, professor of lina Hill at 3 o’clock, says Pernilla Björk, African and Comparative Archaeology. director of communication at Uppsala Uni- The research project is coordinated from versity. Uppsala University and involves researchers A “Walpurgis pin” is a symbol of spring on from many countries and subject areas. a pin that will appear in a new version every Today more than 50 per cent of the year. A complete set after five years means world’s population lives in cities and is in The present: a reward. Smart phone owners can use the acute need of strategies to cope with lack of Ulf Danielsson, professor Gowalla app to collect digital “pins”. n resources and environmental problems. n of theoretical physics. Knowing that time can bend makes Fabian Ovik Karlsson want to learn His present was a researcher more. Rowing race on River Fyris young people and trying to awaken their UPPSALA UNIVERSITY won a major vic- students and employees at Uppsala Uni- fascination and curiosity. My driving force tory in this year’s Academic Rowing Race versity and SLU compete to see who can Fabian Ovik Karlsson had his burning interest in theoretical physics is to arouse a person’s interest so that he on the River Fyris in Uppsala on May 21. row the fastest in a 300-meter run between or she will want to pursue that interest and Uppsala University beat SLU – the Haglund Bridge and St. Olof Bridge on the TEXT: HELENA EDSTRÖM boosted after an unexpected 17th-birthday present – a meeting with find out even more, says Ulf Danielsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Fyris. The Academic Rowing Race is ar- PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT Ulf Danielsson, professor of theoretical physics. who loves popular science. – in both classes, for students and for em- ranged every year by Uppsala University, – An important condition for trust in re- ployees. A welcome revenge, after several the Swedish University of Agricultural Sci- − AT FIRST I was a little worried, wonder- He himself is a jazz musician and of- On delivery day for his present Fabian search is that we researchers try to get out years of SLU victories. ences, and the Uppsala Academic Rowing ing what questions I would ask a professor. ten plays together with various big bands Ovik Karlsson was met in the lobby of and explain research and science. In that It’s all about honour and glory when Society, UARS. n It seems like an opportunity you don’t want in Uppsala, such as Uppsala Big Band and Ångström Laboratory. What followed was way we can contribute to mass education to miss, says Fabian Ovik Karlsson, who is Rockford Big Band. a thorough presentation of cosmology and and critical thinking and counteract super- just finishing his first year on the science It was through these contacts that he got particle physics. stition, he continues. programme specializing in choral singing a tip about Ulf Danielsson. – We sat in his office and talked about Back to the birthday boy, who has two at Kungsholmen upper-secondary school in – It was a contact in Rockford Big Band string theory. I couldn’t quite remember years of school left before he needs to think Stockholm. who put me in touch. I sent an e-mail, and the questions I had prepared, but that was about his future choices. It was in February, with a 17th birthday he replied immediately, saying he’d be OK, because he answered my questions Were you more interested in theoretical approaching, that Peter Asplund started to happy to meet with Fabian, says Peter As- anyway, says Fabian Ovik Karlsson. physics after your meeting with the profes- ponder a highly unconventional present for plund. sor? his girlfriend’s son. – I jumped at this opportunity since it Beyond the limits of knowing − I’m a very curious person. If I can’t – People have so many belongings today was so unusual. I’ve never been a birthday Meeting beyond the limits of our knowl- understand something, I need to figure it that it seemed like a fun alternative to come present before, but it was lots of fun, says edge and talking about such a complex out. So it kind of hurt when I heard that up with an experience in some field that I Ulf Danielsson, professor of theoretical subject as theoretical physics can be chal- time can bend! That’s hard to grasp! In that

know Fabian likes, such as mathematics or physics at the Department of Physics and lenging even for a professor. sense I clearly got more interested, says Fa- JOHAN MÅNFLOD PHOTO: physics, says Peter Asplund. Astronomy. – It was really good training in meeting bian Ovik Karlsson. n The rowing race on the Fyris is an annual tradition.

38 NEW HORIZONS 1:2 39 The last word

PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT

ULF DANIELSSON, VICE RECTOR, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: String theory for the curious

IN THE LAST WEEK of June, one of the in store? Perhaps in the next few years we’ll world’s most exciting conferences was held find new clues. The giant accelerator LHC in Uppsala: Strings 2011. The conference at CERN is colliding protons at higher en- has circled the globe over the years, and ergy levels than ever before achieved, and now it has finally came to Sweden. It’s a computers are sifting through the constant tough selection process, and for us organ- flow of data looking for signs of theun- izers it’s like bringing home the Olympic known or something new. The European HUNDREDS OF Games. Planck satellite is investigating cosmic back- Hundreds of re serachers from all over ground radiation, looking for signs of what RESEARCHERS FROM the world, including a Nobel laureate or happened in the Big Bang, and in about a ALL OVER THE WORLD, two, came to Uppsala to discuss the very year we’ll know what it has found. latest in basic physics. The subject was string For those who wanted to know more, a INCLUDING A NOBEL theory, and the ambition is to link together unique opportunity was provided in con- LAUREATE OR TWO, all of physics into a functioning whole that nection with the conference in the Uni- can be used to describe everything between versity’s Grand Auditorium. Brian Greene, WILL COME TO UPPSALA heaven and earth, from the smallest to the string theorist and world-renowned popu- TO DISCUSS THE VERY largest. lar science author, Andrei Linde, cosmolo- The idea is that nature consists of strings gist and one of the scientists behind cosmic LATEST IN BASIC whose vibrations form all the particles we inflation theory, and Stephen Hawking, one PHYSICS. know from particle physics. The theory also of the world’s most famous scientists, each makes it possible to construct models and gave a popular talk about the universe and describe our entire universe and its crea- its creation. For the curious, it hardly gets tion. And it might also provide us with an any better. n answer to the question of whether our uni- verse is the only one or if there are several. But strings are tiny, and thus far no one has seen any signs of them. Do they really exist? Or does nature have something else

PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT

40 NEW HORIZONS 1:2