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The thistle tortoise beetle feeds on thistle leaves. However, the beetle is only able to digest the plant cell walls because of a symbiont bacteria that compensates for the lack of digestive enzymes.

Chemistry Microorganisms Chemistry

Bacteria enable beetles to digest leaves

Researchers from Jena report that the symbiosis of the thistle tortoise beetles with a specific bacterium allows them to digest plant cell walls.

Munich-based researchers deciphered the complex genome sequence of goatgras. The original qualities of this wheat-ancestor could improve targeted breeding of the modern, cultivated plant.

Food Plants Agriculture sciences

Original genes optimise wheat cultivation

Researchers in Munich deciphered the complex genome sequence of goatgras. This ancestor of the common wheat could improve targeted breeding.

When the green algae come close to Pseudomonas protegens bacteria, the bacteria release orfamid A, a lipopeptide that causes the algae to lose their flagella and inhibits their growth.

Chemistry Microorganisms Biodiversity

How bacteria and algae talk

Pseudomonas bacteria can immobilise microalgae within moments. Researchers from Jena identified orfamid A as the chemical culprit.

Membranadsorber von Sartorius
Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH is specialised in the production of membrane adsorbers.

Pharmaceutical industry unspecific Biotechnology/Systems biology

The gentle purification of valuable proteins

Membrane adsorbers can assist in the gentle and loss-free purification of proteins. Now, biotechnologists have optimised the technology in order to obtain cytokines for use in biomedicine.

adidas Laufschuhe aus  Biosteel-Faser

Chemistry Plants

Running shoes

The demands on modern running shoes are high. They should be light and stable, tear-resistant and stretchy, even when wet.

Der ursprünglich aus Mittelamerika stammende Westliche Maiswurzelbohrer (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) tritt immer häufiger auch in Deutschland auf.
The western corn rootworm is a devastating pest of maize plants, which originates from Central America but has spread throughout Europe. It uses the defensive toxins of the plant to ward off enemies of itself.

Agriculture and forestry Animals Agriculture sciences

Maize pest turns plant defense on its head

Researchers in Jena found out why the corn rootworm is such a devastating pest: it exploits the plants defenses and then uses it against potential enemies.

Mussels are developing their shells early in life: between their first and second day they form a calcified shell, which equals the weight of the rest of their body. If the pH levels in the water are too low they cannot form the shell.

Chemistry Animals Biodiversity

Acidic oceans destroy mussel shells

According to researchers in Kiel, the increasing acidification of the oceans cause growing problems for mussels when developing their shells.

kompostierbare Einwegwindeln

Consumables Microorganisms

Diapers

A baby or toddler "produces" up to ten full diapers a day. Not only parents can imagine the huge mountains of rubbish.

The nova-Institute surveyed 224 biorefineries across Europe and categorized them according to the biomass used and their end products. The different categories are clustered depending on available raw material.

Chemistry unspecific Energy technologies

Mapping European biorefineries

According to a recent study, there are 224 biorefineries online in Europe. The platforms differ by region, depending on the available resources.

At the end of the GreenUp Invest event in Berlin two winners were chosen: Munich-based Hawa Dawa who develop a high-resolution air quality map (2nd from left), and Scandinavian Polylabs, who produce biobased plastic (2nd from right).

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Greentech start-ups looking for investors

17 green start-ups were competing for potential investors in Berlin. Biobased plastic produced in Sweden and a map for air quality developed in Munich convinced the panel.

A new DNA origami technique by Hendrik Dietz and colleagues allows for the self-organisation of „gear-wheels“ from V-shaped building blocks. In a next step, these gears form tubes with a size comparable to virus capsids or organelles.

Chemistry unspecific Biotechnology/Systems biology

Nanotechnology allows for larger 3D structures

A new technique enables Hendrik Dietz at TU Munich to build DNA origami structures the size of viruses, while also reducing the cost of production substantially.

Fließbandarbeit: Das Chaperonin-System hilft dabei, die Rubisco-Untereinheiten korrekt zu falten und zum funktionellen Enzym zusammenzusetzen. Rubisco ist das Schlüsselenzym der Photosynthese.

Food Microorganisms Agriculture sciences

Bioengineering improves photosynthesis

Biochemists in Munich managed to improve the photosynthesis process by generating the Rubisco enzyme in a bacterial host. This could also boost future crop yields.

In order to efficiently cultivate microorganisms in bioreactors, optimal cultivating conditions are required. Ralf Pörtner and his team of bioprocess engineers calculate the best conditions in complex computer models.

Chemistry Microorganisms Biotechnology/Systems biology

Calculating the best conditions for cell factories

Microbes require optimised conditions in order to grow efficiently. To this end, Hamburg-based bioprocess engineers are developing smart computer models.

T-Shirt aus Holzfasern

Textiles Plants

T-Shirt

Wood has many different properties. There are obviously no limits to new ideas for products and areas of application. This is demonstrated by a young company from Wuppertal.

Researchers introduced the metabolic pathway of astaxanthin into the model plant tobacco. Subsequently they used horizontal gene transfer between the model plant and the tree tobacco, resulting in an orange-colored tree tobacco plant (left)

Chemistry Microorganisms Agriculture sciences

Transforming plants into bio-factories

Molecular plant physiologists in Golm managed to engineer the chloroplast DNA of the tobacco plant. Via horizontal gene transfer they were able to produce the carotenoid astaxanthin.

Researcher at the University Mannheim and BRAIN AG develop new 3D skin models in order to provide better tests for cosmetics. Picture: 3D spheroids aged 7 days; red: basal cell layer; green: differentiated epidermal layer.

Chemistry unspecific Biotechnology/Systems biology

3D skin models to reduce allergens

Researchers at the Mannheim University of Applied Sciences and BRAIN AG develop new three-dimensional skin models. These allow for more realistic screenings for health care and cosmetics.

Project partners from all over Germany have developed new, more efficient rapeseed lines.

Food Plants Agriculture sciences

More variety for rapeseed fields

Rapeseed is an important oilseed, however, it is genetically impoverished. Thus, 14 project partners from industry and science have developed rapeseed lines with additional features.

Kunst-und Designstudenten sind aufgerufen, ihre Visionen der Bioökonomie von Morgen zu entwerfen.
Students are invited to submit their artistic visions of the future of bioeconomy in an art competition for the global bioeconomy summit taking place in April in Berlin.

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Visions in bioeconomy

Students from all over the globe are invited to present new ideas for a biobased economy as part of an art competition. The winners will be exhibited at the global summit in Berlin.

Potentilla reptans (Kriechendes Fingerkraut) in der Simulation mit dichtwachsenden Nachbarn.
Plants can choose the best strategy to receive sufficient light – depending on the surrounding growth. Here: The plant Potentilla reptans is growing under simulated sparse vegetation.

Agriculture and forestry Plants Agriculture sciences

Knowing when and where to grow

Plants have several strategies to receive sufficient light. Now, Biologists from Tübingen University demonstrate that plants can choose between alternative responses to competition.

Fraunhofer researchers develop paintings and varnishes based on potato starch.

Construction Plants Biotechnology/Systems biology

More than mash: paints from potatoes

Fraunhofer researcher from Potsdam and Stuttgart develop new paints and varnishes based on potato starch. A special chemical process is optimising the starch for this application.

Christopher Zeppenfeld, Gründer und Geschäftsführer von SWARM-Protein

Food Animals Nutritional sciences

Fitness bars made of crickets

SWARM founder Christopher Zeppenfeld and his team are hoping to popularise insect-based snacks with a first fitness bar made from crickets. Their new product is set to open the market to innovative protein alternatives.

Bernhard Feringa during his lecture "The Joy of Discovery" at the 67th Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau.

Chemistry unspecific Chemistry

Lindau: Spotlight on green chemistry

This year's Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting at Lake Constance covers topics such as the future of chemistry, climate change and the trust in scientific data.

Tomaten gibt es in beeindruckender Vielfalt. Viele der erhältlichen Sorten entstanden durch Smart Breeding.
Tomatoes come in an impressive variety of forms and flavours. Many of today’s varieties are the result of ‘smart’ breeding.

Agriculture and forestry Plants Agriculture sciences

Genetic markers for new tomato strain

Different shapes, colours, and aromas - the tomato is a truly diverse plant. The Gatersleben-based company TraitGenetics deciphers new molecular markers within the genetic material of plants – including tomatoes – with the aim of speeding up the breeding of new varieties.  

Zukünftig könnten Tannen und Douglasien die ökonomisch bedeutsamen Fichten in Mitteleuropa ersetzen.
Silver and Douglas fir might replace the economically important spruce in Central Europe in future.

unspecific Plants unspecific

Drought-tolerant fir can replace spruce

Both the Silver and the Douglas fir are more tolerant to drought than the Norway spruce, researchers from Freiburg found out by studying hundreds of trees across the black forest.

Chemistry Microorganisms Biotechnology/Systems biology

Microorganisms transform exhaust fumes into bioplastic

Johannes Gescher investigates the many and varied metabolic capacities of bacteria. With his work he is trying to get microbes to produce bioplastics from the carbon dioxide contained in waste gases.

Collecting bees get disoriented by neonicotinoid-residues in pollen and morning dew. Consequently their mortality rate increases.

Agriculture and forestry Animals Agriculture sciences

Neonics hurt honeybees and wild bees

Pesticides such as neonicotinoids damage bee health and survival. This is only one result of three remarkable field trial studies.

Bayer invests in growing Animal Health sector and the major production site in Kiel with €92 million.

Chemistry Microorganisms Agriculture sciences

Kiel: Bayer invests millions in animal health site

Bayer aims to further build its Animal Health sector by investing €92 million in its production site in Kiel.

Johannes Kabisch

Chemistry Plants Biotechnology/Systems biology

From biomass to hydrocarbons

As part of the project ‘DropIn Biofuels’, Johannes Kabisch and his team of researchers are synthesising microbial hydrocarbons for use in the production of biofuels. The end product is hoped to serve as a potential future replacement for kerosene and diesel, and could thus also contribute to making air traffic more environmentally friendly.

Unser Weizen stammt vom Wilden Emmer ab. Nun haben Pflanzenforscher das Genom des Getreides entschlüsselt.

Agriculture and forestry Plants Agriculture sciences

Wild wheat genome: the roots of domestication

A team including researchers from Gatersleben and Munich has published the genome sequence of Wild Emmer wheat. It is the wild form of nearly all the domesticated wheat in the world.

Holzpellets
Holzpellets

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Study (2017): Global Wood Pellet Industry and Trade

A study conducted for the International Energy Agency (IEA) provides a comprehensive inventory regarding the wood pellet industry and the markets of more than 30 countries.

German scientist Paul Zabel will grow vegetables in Antarctica in a newly engineered closed grrenhouse using Aeroponics.

Food Plants Agriculture sciences

A greenhouse for farming in space

A closed-loop greenhouse using Aeroponics to grow vegetables will be tested in Antarctica by German scientists. The set-up of the test run was recently presented to the public.

A new study illustrates the four-fold increase in production volume on the wood pellet market over the last ten years.

Energy Plants Forestry

Global wood pellet market with dynamic growth

A new study has analysed the wood pellet market in more than thirty countries. The study was published by the German Centre for Biomass Research.

Florian Hammerstein, Original Food

Food Plants Agriculture sciences

Compostable coffee capsules

With his fully compostable coffee capsule, the founder of the company Original Food, Florian Hammerstein, once again proves to be a pioneer of sustainable ideas. Above all, the work of the entrepreneur serves as a reminder that things can be done differently.

A model of the zeolithe catalyst that enables faster and less energy-intensive reactions.

Chemistry unspecific Biotechnology/Systems biology

Turning organic waste into fuel

Using zeolite catalysts, Munich-based chemists have managed to reduce temperature and energy requirements to efficiently turn waste into biofuels.

Dübel aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen

Construction unspecific

Dowel

The first plastic dowel revolutionized the possibilities of wall mounting in 1958. About 50 years after its invention, there is another innovation: the dowel turns green", and will now be made of a plastic, that consists of more than 50% of castor oil.

Der Roboter von IBM-Watson war ein Besuchermagnet auf der Hannovermesse. Auch Evonik setzt künftig auf die Hilfe der künstlichen Intelligenz.
Evonik cooperates with IBM to further develop the supercomputer and cognitive assistant "Watson".

Consumables unspecific ICT

Evonik on the path to digitalisation

The specialty chemicals company Evonik aims to invest €100 million in digitalisation. The company will use the artificial intelligence capacities of IBM's supercomputer „Watson“.

Reinigungsmittel

Chemistry Plants

Cleaner

Straw, in former times hats were made out of it as well as baskets or drinking-straws. It is still used for insulation in house building. Recently it has also been used for cleaning agents.

For the first time researchers were able to visualise and track the ubiquitous energy currency ATP in living plants.

Agriculture and forestry Plants Agriculture sciences

Watching the inner workings of plants

For the first time the distribution and utilisation of the ubiquitous energy currency ATP was visualised in living plants. This may aid future plant breeding schemes.

Bier

Chemistry Plants

Beer

The times when people with celiac disease (gluten intolerance) had to renounce beer are over. Due to specific methods, the gluten protein can be separated out, after the brewing process.

Plastikmüll

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Study (2017): Production, use, and fate of plastics

About 70 years ago, plastic became a mass product. 8.3 billion tons have been produced since then - the majority of which (79%) are stored on landfill sites or in the environment.