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.

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.

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).

Burkard Baschek from the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung in Geesthacht has been investigating a mysterious habitat and would like to share his enthusiasm with the public.

The Planet Earth in 3D, and more precise than ever before! Research scientists create, with the aid of two satellites, a map of the world that has 30 times more precision.

Angelika Humbert coaxes secrets from the cold element. For this purpose, she conducts her research in the Antarctic, in Greenland and in Bremerhaven. The glaciologist wants to find out what the climate was like in past eras, and what it will look like in the future.

A unique research expedition is in progress in the Baltic Sea Region. Marine biologists are attempting to understand the influence that the countless water eddies have upon the sea’s nutrition and energy inventory. Here, for the first time in coastal and marine research, a zeppelin has been deployed.

Permafrost was understood for many years as a “niche topic” – until scientists found out that the permanently frozen terrain could turn into a time-bomb in the context of climate change. A conference with the worldwide leading research scientists is now taking place in Potsdam.