Less than two years ago, a team of researchers at the University of Leipzig reported that they had discovered an enzyme that degrades the plastic polyethylene terephthalate - better known as PET - at high speed. Now the experts have followed up and improved this enzyme even further.

It has been ten years since AMSilk first processed biotechnologically produced spider silk into fibers. Today, the artificial spider silk threads called Biosteel are used in numerous high-tech products such as running shoes, watch straps, door handle loops and aircraft wings. Spider silk proteins are also used in medicine and cosmetics.

Wastewater has long since become a valuable resource for recycling nutrients such as phosphate or returning water to the cycle. For this, however, all pollutants such as pharmaceutical residues or corrosion protection agents must be removed from the wastewater. This is usually done with activated carbon, because the pollutants easily stick to this carbonaceous and porous material. But activated carbon is mainly obtained from lignite and hard coal.

For decades, moors were deliberately drained for land reclamation. Only about five percent of Germany's land area is still moorland. The drainage not only destroyed the habitat of many plants and animals, but also an important CO2 reservoir. Two years ago, the federal and state governments therefore agreed to invest more than 330 million euros in projects to protect peatlands. The main focus is on the large-scale rewetting of drained peatlands. Paludiculture stands for reviving peatlands as CO2 reservoirs in a sustainable and gentle way.

In vehicle construction, in aviation, in the furniture industry or in medical technology: Composite materials are used wherever lightweight and load-bearing elements are required. By combining different materials, composite materials are created that have certain properties and meet specific requirements. However, conventional composites are usually made from fossil raw materials such as concrete and are not sustainable. Not only does the production process cause significant CO2 emissions. Recycling is also energy-intensive.

The end of fossil raw materials such as crude oil, natural gas and coal is approaching. Although they are now mainly used for energy, companies are also looking for sustainable alternatives for material use. At the "Renewable Raw Materials Conference" in Siegburg in May, the "Renewable Raw Material of the Year 2023" will be voted on. From 30 applications, the organizer nova-Institut and the conference advisory board have selected six candidates for the final - including two German start-ups.

Spent grain, which is a by-product of beer brewing, contains many valuable ingredients. With its high protein content, spent grain can be used as animal feed, for example. In reality, however, it is usually disposed of as waste. Researchers have now discovered the residual material as a source of raw materials for new biobased products. Researchers at the University of Jena, for example, have joined forces with Spanish partners to test whether brewer's grains are also suitable for the production of modern electrochemical energy storage systems.

Photosynthesis is the basis of all plant life: plants use the chemical reaction chain to build biomass from carbon dioxide in the air and solar energy. Of central importance in this process are the so-called photosystems I and II - enzyme complexes that catalyze the chemical reactions. For a long time, researchers have been trying to technically imitate photosynthesis in order to produce chemical compounds cheaply and sustainably.