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.

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Global Warming Report

"Act Now to Save the World"

Storms, heavy rainfall, droughts – we are all at risk from the disastrous consequences of global warming. The IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C spells it out clearly: We need to act right away.

Marine Science

An Oceanographer’s Paradise

Björn Fiedler and his family left their home in Kiel, Germany to spend six months in Cape Verde. The marine chemist had been posted at the new Ocean Science Centre Mindelo.

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.

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Award

Detecting and treating prostate cancer

Four scientists from Heidelberg have developed a more reliable method to diagnose prostate cancer and even fight it in a targeted manner. They have now been awarded the Erwin Schrödinger Prize 2018 for their interdisciplinary research.

Deep Learning

Machines – and how they make decisions

Helmholtz researcher Fabian Theis teaches machines to learn so they can support the work of doctors and scientists. Theis spoke about the benefits offered by big data and machine learning at the Symposium for Individualized Infection Medicine in Hanover, Germany.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

HELMHOLTZ Extreme

The smallest timber-framing construction

The construction style of medieval buildings shows that timber framing ensures long-term stability. KIT research scientists have created a nano-structure with interesting prospects for the future.

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Portrait

Driven by curiosity

Israel has been home to astounding scientific achievements. Physicist Daniel Zajfman, one of the country’s most noteworthy researchers, believes this success is due in part to a willingness to think outside the box and cross boundaries.

Helmholtz-Notebook

Revealing the laws of nature

In 2017, the Helmholtz Association received a special gift – an original manuscript of natural scientist and universal scholar Hermann von Helmholtz. History professor and Helmholtz expert David Cahan offers an initial scientific assessment of its content.

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.

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Helmholtz Juniors

On the Future of Science

The business practices of 'predatory publishers' drew a great deal of attention in the media. We asked seven young Helmholtz researchers about their ideas on how to cope with these issues.

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.

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