The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA) is coming to an end. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) celebrated IYA with exhibition 'Out of this World – Wonders of the Solar System' in the Gasometer Oberhausen and the 'Astronomy Question of the Week'. Once a week, DLR experts answered a question. Many interested parties took the opportunity to use the special IYA website to ask questions. The final Astronomy Question of the Week is: "How old is the universe?"

Astronomy Question of the Week: How old is the Universe?

Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München led by Professor Karsten Suhre have identified new gene variants associated with disturbances in the lipid metabolism. Some of these common human gene variants are already known to be risk factors for diabetes mellitus. The pathomechanisms of diabetes have intrigued physicians and been the subject of much debate for many decades. These new research results may contribute to a better understanding of the clinical picture of diabetes and its pathogenesis – and could lead to new approaches in early diagnosis and therapy. The findings have been published in the current online issue of the renowned journal Nature Genetics.

Genetic Causes Identified for Disturbances in Lipid Metabolism

Glückauf 2009!

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year

An exciting, eventful and successful year is coming to an end for the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Our review of the year presents the highlights of the year - from the DLR HALO research aircraft through the appointment of ‘our’ astronaut, Alexander Gerst, to the first flight of the fuel cell aircraft Antares and the record number of visitors on Aerospace Day. Enjoy, Season’s Greetings and a good New Year!

DLR review of the year 2009

If a glitter ball falls from the Christmas tree and smashes on the floor between the gifts, then that is a result of the force of gravity. The physicist, disguised for Christmas with a red jelly bag cap knows: that ball was accelerated with 9.81 meters per square-second towards the centre of the Earth, and that is sufficient to cause it to splinter on the ground. But where does this value for the gravitational force of the Earth come from?

Gravity in Potsdam and a dignified Christmas tree ball

Representatives of Helmholtz Zentrum München and the French research center INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris) initiated a strategic research partnership agreement in the field of lung biology and disease on December 15, 2009 in Munich. Together with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), the partners intend to achieve substantial synergistic effects and enhance their existing competence and excellence in lung research. Plans include coordinated research projects, a joint summer school for students, a coordinated approach in preclinical research, and the joint use of databases.

New German-French Research Partnership: Helmholtz Zentrum München and INSERM Initiate a New Strategic Partnership in Chronic Lung Disease

Germany’s largest accelerator centre celebrates its birthday on 18 December: the research centre Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY turns 50. Since its foundation in 1959, DESY has developed into an internationally renowned centre for fundamental research. “DESY stands for top-level research in the development of particle accelerators and in the utilisation of these facilities to study the structure and function of matter,” says Professor Helmut Dosch, Chairman of the DESY Board of Directors.

DESY turns 50!

40 years ago, on December 17, 1969, the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung was founded in Darmstadt then still under the name Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung. GSI is a research center financed by the German federation and the federal state of Hesse with a yearly budget of over 100 million euros. GSI runs a large, worldwide unique accelerator facility for ion beams, i.e. beams of charged atoms. Annually more than 1,200 scientists from all over the world use the ion beams for their experiments in fundmental research.

40 Years GSI - 40 Years of Leading International Research

There are more and more signs that lakes exist on Saturn's moon Titan, filled with liquid hydrocarbons. Scientists from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have made another important discovery. With a spectrometer onboard the planetary space probe Cassini, they found glints that have their origin in reflections of the Sun’s radiation from the surface of a large lake near Titan's North Pole.

Kraken Mare: a reflecting surface of a lake on Saturn's moon Titan

Two of the three new Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) have been awarded to Helmholtz Research Centres. The European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) announced the decision yesterday evening. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was singled out for its InnoEnergy concept, which promotes innovation in the field of sustainable energy. The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (part of the Leibniz Association) will collaborate in a Climate KIC to accelerate European efforts to address the Earth’s changing climate.

Two KICs for Helmholtz