Nitrogen is an important nutrient for all living things. Our atmosphere is full of it, but the only living organisms that can bind and use this nitrogen directly are some microorganisms. They use certain enzymes called nitrogenases to do this. But researchers are also interested in these enzymes for a second reason: nitrogenases can bind carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide and form methane or ethylene from them. This turns problematic waste materials into valuable chemical resources.

They are small, light and long-lasting and therefore extremely popular: lithium-ion batteries. These powerful energy sources are not only found in many electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops and digital cameras. The automotive industry also mostly relies on lithium-ion batteries for the production of electric cars. The problem is that lithium is only available in limited quantities and has to be imported. Mining the raw material is also often problematic for both people and the environment.

The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia wants to further strengthen its already extensive activities in the bio-based economy by establishing a Bioeconomy Council. "In North Rhine-Westphalia, we have long recognized the enormous potential of the bioeconomy for competitive, sustainable companies and start-ups and are ambitiously driving forward the expansion of a bio-based economy. By appointing the Bioeconomy Council, the state government is implementing an important project from the coalition agreement.

An estimated 80 % of all plants live in symbiosis with so-called mycorrhizal fungi, which colonize the roots of plants. This subterranean symbiosis has proven itself over millions of years as it is extremely beneficial for both the plant and the fungus. In order for the symbiosis to come about, the fungi colonize the root and form small tree-like structures in the root cells - the arbuscules. Important nutrients such as phosphate and nitrogen then reach the plant via the fine root system in the soil, the so-called hyphae.

Plants have the ability to bind carbon dioxide from the air through photosynthesis. The same applies to algae and bacteria, which bind around 70 gigatons of carbon per year through photosynthetic CO₂ fixation, the so-called Calvin cycle, and thus remove it from the atmosphere. The metabolic pathways of the microorganisms that achieve this impressive feat are the focus of Tobias Erb's research. The Marburg microbiologist is primarily dedicated to the processes involved in the conversion of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and is redesigning them.

The construction sector is facing the challenge of saving CO₂ emissions and resources. This applies to both new builds and the renovation of old buildings. Until now, cracks in concrete have been filled with plastic-modified materials such as epoxy resin. But there is also a more sustainable way, with the help of special microorganisms. Microbes of the species Sporosarcina pasteurii have the talent to seal cracks and pores in concrete under certain conditions and thus protect buildings from further damage.

Straw to fuel: It was the first large-scale plant for the commercial production of cellulosic ethanol, a second-generation biofuel, which started operations in Podari, Romania, in June last year. Now the specialty chemicals group Clariant has surprisingly announced the end of the new plant. As the Swiss company announced on December 6, the Board of Directors decided to close the flagship plant for ethanol production using the Sunliquid process. Development activities at the German sites in Munich, Planegg and Straubing are also to be scaled back accordingly.