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.

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.

MOSAiC-Expedition

What climate researchers are planning for the Polarstern

In a little over two years, the research ship Polarstern will be embarking on an adventurous expedition. The ship will be drifting through the Arctic for a whole year, frozen into the ice. Thus, scientists hope to gain new insights into climate change.

World Climate Summit

‘We are moving toward an uncertain future’

The climate summit in Marrakech can by all means put forward a few findings. But all of the uncertainty that was hovering over it concerned how the USA will conduct itself in the future. A commentary by Reimund Schwarze, Environmental Economist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ).

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.

Alzheimer’s Research

Using Big Data Against Memory Loss

In an unprecedented project, researchers are attempting to find ways of diagnosing Alzheimer’s, even before the onset of symptoms. A new computer architecture is expected to help in this effort, as it is able to process huge amounts of information faster than ever before.

Portrait

Breaking through biofilms: Giving antibiotics free rein

At the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research in Saarbrücken, Alexander Titz is tackling dangerous hospital bugs head-on. New substances are expected to be effective in destroying the biofilms in which the pathogens thrive, increasing the effectiveness of antibiotics and preventing certain deadly infections.

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.

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.

Aircraft Development

The data of the skies

Complex and expensive tests are necessary in order to develop aircraft. The subsequent maintenance is also very costly for the airlines. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is seeking to change all this through the use of supercomputers and the evaluation of huge amounts of data.

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.

Astronomy

“We’re finally on the right path to genuine gravitational wave astronomy!”

Scientists have made a breakthrough involving great expectations for a new access to the universe.

Interview

A new window to the universe

The earth is being incessantly bombarded by a stream of energy-rich particles from the universe. By means of a new observatory a group of astrophysicists aims at tracking down the cosmic events that trigger this particle storm.

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?

March for Science

“Science is international”

This coming April 22, scientists in many locations around the world will 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.

Portrait

“We are in it for the long haul”

How can we deal sparingly with environmental resources such as water, fossil fuels, or wood? How are we supposed to manage the energy transition? Like leitmotifs – these issues crop up again and again in the daily work routine of Erik Gawel.

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.

Politics

Lateral Entry into Brussels

By developing from a lateral-entry newcomer to a highly-respected interlocutor, Carlos Moedas has accomplished a noteworthy track-record during the first eighteen months of his term in office with the European Commission.

Commentary on Brexit

“A long, hard road of negotiations ahead”

The unthinkable has happened. The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union. The consequences – including for science – can hardly be foreseen.