Enzymes are the driving forces behind chemical reactions in living cells. They are therefore also called biocatalysts and are used in biotechnological processes to enable reactions. Scientists at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU) and the University of Pavia have now discovered an enzyme that has a mechanism that is so far unknown in this combination: In addition to its normal function, blue light can trigger another reaction, but this requires the presence of a specific molecule, as the team reports in the technical journal

The countdown has started: On July 9th the winners of the REGIOSTARS Awards will be announced by the European Commission. The prize is awarded annually as part of a competition to innovative EU regional funding projects. This year's nominees include the INTERREG V A-project "Bioeconomy-Green Chemistry" of the Ems-Dollart-Region (EDR). The team is competing with more than 50 applicants in the category "Circular economy for a green Europe" for the victory. The prize is awarded in a total of five categories.

Data is the central resource for science and business. They are produced in enormous quantities, for example by satellites, sensors and high-throughput technologies in the life sciences. Evaluating, managing, securing and making this data available requires a great effort from the IT infrastructure. Up to now, decentralized solutions have dominated. With the establishment of a National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI), the data stocks of science and research are now to be systematically indexed, sustainably secured and made accessible to the research community. Nat

Beech, oak, spruce and pine: Drought and pest infestation have significantly decimated the tree population in our forests over the past 35 years, as the forest condition report in April showed. An international study, in which researchers from the Technical University of Munich were also involved, now summarizes how old forests stand worldwide. Together with scientists from the USA, Great Britain, Panama, Austria and Switzerland, a team led by Rupert Seidl explored the question of how global change could change forests in the future.

For millions of years, plants have been generating energy from photosynthesis. This complex biochemical process is controlled by two major proteins: the photosystems (PS) I and II. These natural photosynthetic protein complexes are also the heart of biosolar cells. They enable the conversion of the energy of sunlight into chemically bound energy. A special role is played by PSII, which can use water as an electron source for power generation. However, the green part of the sunlight has not been usable so far.

Attentive buyers of plants may have noticed them in recent months, the small labels that have been available since December 2019: As a plant health passport they are intended to prevent the spread of dangerous pests within the European Union and enable the traceability of indoor, garden and balcony plants, plant parts and seeds. This passport is mandatory for certain species.

Population growth and climate change pose major challenges for agriculture as a food and feed producer.

If you have a fruit tree in your garden, you know the experience: First one enjoys the full blossom, but then a late frost hits the tree and in summer there are no fruits. This is also what researchers at the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) are concerned with, including Henryk Flachowsky, Head of Fruit Breeding Research: "In many regions of Germany we are currently observing that apple trees are ending their winter rest and blossoming up to two weeks earlier as a result of global warming." A late night frost can then have s

The coal exit has been decided. In 2038, the extraction and use of the fossil raw material is to come to an end nationwide. This was laid down by the German government in the Coal Exit Act at the beginning of July. Regions like Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg are now facing the challenge of structural change. In Central Germany, the bioeconomy as a promising economic sector is expected to guarantee the urgently needed innovation push.

How must certain plastic packaging be designed so that it can be easily recycled? Since the beginning of 2019, this question has been answered by software from Henkel. The company has now presented a new program version that also analyses packaging made of paper/cardboard, glass, aluminium and tinplate. The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT tested the quality of the application.