Interview: “I would like to see an improvement in support for the 2 degree target.”
Achievements from previous summit meetings have been rather modest. Will this change now? Am interview with meteorologist Daniela Jacob, Director of Climate Service Center Germany at Helmholtz Geesthacht
Resistance to cancer in elephants – inspiration for human medicine?
Elephants are rarely afflicted with cancer. Scientists have now discovered what it is that protects these thick-skinned creatures – they possess many copies of the gene p53, which plays an essential role in the appearance of cancer. Is it possible that an overdose of the p53 gene could also protect humans from tumours?
Stinging nettle: So, who says they’re just weeds?
Cotton is pervasive in the production of textiles. However, research scientists and enterprises are looking for alternatives – and placing their bets on a domestic plant. It has an impressive life-cycle assessment, but the mere thought of wearing a t-shirt made of stinging nettle fibre might be too creepy for many people.
HELMHOLTZ Extreme: The fastest code in the field of laser-plasma physics
Ultra fast, scalable and free of charge – what began as a “youth conducts research” project, is today one of the most powerful programme codes for calculations in the field of astrophysics and plasma physics.
Portrait: Energy from straw
Nicolaus Dahmen wants to obtain high-quality petrol from straw, waste wood and other waste material from agriculture and forestry. In a large pilot facility on the grounds of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), this has already become reality. In five years, the procedure should be ready to put into practice.
EU science policy: The council of wise women and men
Seven top research scientists are to provide scientific advice to the EU Commission in the future, thus assuming the role of the former “Chief Scientific Adviser”. How should the committee work? And how independent can it be? Commentary by Annika Thies, Director of the Brussels Helmholtz Office.
