Over the decades, plant breeding has continuously increased the yield of arable plants. But would these modern high-performance varieties be superior to their predecessors from before the intensification of agriculture even without fertilizers, chemical pesticides and changing climatic conditions? Researchers at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, together with colleagues from other German universities and the Julius Kühn Institute, have presented empirical facts on this controversial question for the first time.

The history of surfactants began more than 4,500 years ago with the production of the first soap-like substance from olive oil and wood ash. Today, it is impossible to imagine everyday life without these active washing substances, which can be found in practically every detergent. As emulsifiers they have even found their way into food, because surface-active agents reduce the interfacial tension between two phases and make it possible to blend water and oil. Modern surfactants are also usually biodegradable.

Tailoring peptides is a declared goal of many researchers. Scientists are emulating nature in which microorganisms are able to assemble tiny protein molecules like on an assembly line. Researchers at Frankfurt's Goethe University had already taken an important step in peptide synthesis last year.

Electric cars or a fully regenerative power supply: Both areas of energy system transformation, which are so important for climate protection, require efficient power storage systems. So far, however, batteries have often been ecologically and socially problematic because they require certain metals that can only be mined to the detriment of humans and the environment.

Moss has no roots. Unlike other plants, moss does not need them to absorb nutrients from the soil, as moss feeds from the air. When moss arose 400 million years ago, there was a lot of ash in the air due to numerous volcanic eruptions. Even today, mosses remove fine dust and carbon dioxide from the air to supply themselves with nutrients. Many urban areas therefore form an optimal natural habitat for these evergreen land plants.

DNA is not only the carrier of genetic information. For some biotechnologists, the molecule is also a material with fascinating properties - for example, for bioengineers working with DNA origami. Biomechanics at the TU Munich have now created a promising application for pharmaceutical development.

SUVs have large bodies and electric cars have rechargeable batteries: modern vehicles weigh far more than models one to two decades ago. But the weight costs range, increases fuel consumption and increases CO2 emissions. Manufacturers are therefore increasingly focusing on lightweight components, but these usually have ecological or economic drawbacks. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research have developed a promising alternative, which Porsche is now bringing into low-volume production.

Out of carbon dioxide and solar energy, land plants produce biomass, which contains valuable building blocks for the bioeconomy. It is easy to forget that algae also remove enormous amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere - about as much as the entire land vegetation. Algae primarily produce multiple sugars, whose degradation products are important food sources for numerous marine organisms. One of these degradation processes has now been investigated by an international team of researchers.

Carbon dioxide forms the basis for many organisms to produce carbon compounds through their metabolism. Plants and certain bacteria use photosynthesis, other bacteria use chemosynthesis. However, animals do not possess this ability and have therefore formed symbioses with protozoa. The bacterium Kentron has also been regarded as a chemosynthetic symbiont of the ciliate Kentrophoros.

Proteins are an important component of animal feed. However, protein-rich crops such as lupins and peas are still niche products on European fields. The protein used in European cattle feed mainly comes from soya and fish meal imports.