News - Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres

The latecomer

Wendelstein 7-X is the world’s largest and most advanced nuclear fusion device of the stellarator type. Its objective is to test whether a new source of energy could emerge for humanity from fusing light atomic nuclei.

Solar fuels

The quest for the perfect energy storage system

Our sun delivers huge amounts of energy to us every day. But we are only making use of a small percentage of it. If Kathrin Aziz-Lange had her way, this situation would soon be changed.

HELMHOLTZ Extreme

The loudest workstation

The explosion is up to 263 decibels loud that Thomas Jordan creates at his work-station. Compared to this, a jet taking off with its 110 decibels sounds almost like a whisper.

All articles

Biodiversity

Research for Diversity

Every year thousands of animal and plant species become extinct; now a world panel of renowned biodiversity scientists, the IPBES, wants to change that. This group of scientists is identifying ways in which the decline in biodiversity might be stopped.

Climate change

How much will the sea level rise?

Will the sea level rise by 12, 24, 36 inches, or even more than three feet by the end of the century? Climate models and data studies attempt to predict what awaits humanity. Humanity itself, however, presents the biggest factor of uncertainty in the predictions.

Plastic litter

By-catch with Deadly Consequences

Millions of tons of plastic litter are floating in the world’s oceans, but where is the reliable data documenting this extraordinary phenomenon? Now, for the first time, the online platform ‘litterbase’, assembled by the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany, makes the existing scientific literature on the oceanic litter load widely accessible.

All articles

Molecular biology

The power of the rings

The cells in our bodies are full of small, circular RNA molecules. Researchers have now discovered that these molecules impact the ways in which we think and learn.

Nutrition

Does sugar cause depression?

Men who like to eat sweets are more likely to become depressed. This is according to studies conducted by scientists at University College London. Helmholtz researcher Paul Pfluger takes a critical stance in regards to the study.

Naked mole

Naked Survival Artist

Naked mole rats have been developing protective mechanisms against cancer, strokes and heart attacks for millions of years. Without oxygen, they can survive for up to 18 minutes. All of this makes them highly interesting to scientists.

All articles

Year of Space

From the ISS to Mercury

Alexander Gerst in command of the ISS, a mole landing on Mars, and a launch toward Mercury: These are just three major events in space exploration we have to look forward to in 2018. What follows is an overview of some of this year’s highlights, which are increasingly being shaped by private initiatives.

Helmholtz Extreme

Growing fresh food in the Antarctic

Scientists are working to grow fresh vegetables in a greenhouse surrounded by perennial ice. The experiment will supply the winter crew at Neumayer Station with fresh food, but it is primarily designed to provide experience and data for future Mars missions.

Interview

How dirty is diesel really?

Most people think diesel engines are significant contributors to air pollution. But modern models produce hardly any particulates or nitrogen oxides. We spoke with Thomas Koch about a technology that has fallen into such disrepute.

All articles

IceCube Neutrino Observatory

Astrophysics in the Antarctic

Temperatures fall as low as negative 100 degrees during the winter. Darkness prevails for six months. Work at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station demands a lot from the researchers there. Emanuel Jacobi lived and worked there for a year, learning a lot about himself along the way.

Portrait

Making the invisible visible

Understanding the structures of molecules is an important part of developing new medicines. X-ray flashes can provide valuable assistance in this process, and this is an area in which physicist Henry Chapman and his team have already achieved the first pioneering breakthroughs.

Nuclear Physics

Four new elements in the periodic table

The periodic table of elements has now been expanded by four new additions. The IUPAC have now officially consented to the introduction of the elements 113, 115, 117 and 118.

All articles

Portrait

Learning from superheroes

For the ELiSE Procedure, the group of scientists and engineers led by Christian Hamm take nature as their model to create building components in an entirely new manner.

Helmholtz Extreme

The fastest wireless data transmission

Research scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) hold a remarkable record: They succeeded in transmitting data at a rate of 100 gigabit per second.

Series: Founder Portraits

Founding their own enterprise using luminous bacteria

Microorganisms are highly suitable for the production of nutrients and medical substances. But how can the most productive organisms be found?

All articles

Freedom of Science

March for Science 2018: Demonstration and Dialog

The March for Science 2018 mobilized supporters across the globe to speak up for science. Also in 19 German cities there have been demonstrations and activities for freedom of science. This year, the main focus was on the exchanges with non-scientists.

March for Science

"Science is international"

On the day of the March for Science in April scientists in many locations around the world take to the streets. Helmholtz President Otmar D. Wiestler explains why he supports the movement.

Open Access

A discussion about transparency

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has initiated an open-access strategy. A discussion with the activist Christian Heise.

All articles

Horizon Europe

Setting the course for Europe's research

The European Commission has presented its proposal for the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation titled "Horizon Europe". The objective of the program is to ensure Europe’s competitiveness and innovative strength from 2021 to 2027. A commentary from the Helmholtz office in Brussels.

National research consortia

An example for Europe?

The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) is considered a model of success. Since 2012, leading researchers have been working together to bring promising research results to patients as quickly as possible. In Brussels, scientists and politicians will discuss whether this model can be applied at the European level.

Israel

"Intelligence is the only natural resource we have"

Despite its sparse population and adverse conditions, Israel exhibits impressive scientific achievements and a bustling start-up scene. This is not only a result of large investments in research and development.

All articles