On these pages you will find a selection of research news from the Leibniz Institutes.
  1. Flaming gas cooker

    Energy and Gender
    12/14/2021 · Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

    Switching to modern cooking fuels like gas or to electricity can improve the well-being of woman in the global South. Furthermore, expanding access to modern energy is likely to accelerate the demographic transition. 

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  2. Bat killed by wind turbine

    Dangerous wind turbines
    12/14/2021 · Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research

    Many bats die at wind turbines when colliding with the spinning blades. A comparison of age, sex and geographic origin now reveals that juveniles are killed more frequently than adults.

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  3. Solarpanel

    Precise forecasts
    12/02/2021 · Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research

    The expansion of renewable energies requires precise forecasts as to how much solar power will be fed into the grid. Air quality models could improve the accuracy of that projections in the future. 

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  4. Mother breastfeeding her child at a market, other women and children sitting in the background

    Spicy breast milk?
    11/25/2021 · Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich

    In part of a recent study, it was found that after eating pepper, the alkaloid piperine was present in the milk of breastfeeding woman. The findings help decipher mechanisms that shape our food preferences from infancy.

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  5. Great group of Guinea baboons

    Who's the boss?
    11/10/2021 · German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research

    In Guinea baboons, females are more free and less subordinate to males than in other species. Therefore, male and female guinea baboons are equally successful in leading the group.

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  6. Row of young maize plants on fresh field

    Maize loses, wheat wins
    11/03/2021 · Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

    Farmers worldwide must adapt to new climate realities. Maize crop yields are projected to decline by almost a quarter.

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  7. Anti-immigration attitudes and the reality check
    10/22/2021 · WZB Berlin Social Science Center

    A new study shows: Exclusionary beliefs and behaviours in Germany are weaker in regions with a high proportion of refugees. 

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  8. "Caramel receptor" identified
    10/12/2021 · Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology

    Furaneol is a natural odorant that gives numerous fruits, but also coffee or bread, a caramel-like scent. A new study shows which types of olfactory receptors humans use to perceive this odorant. 

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  9. Tomato bush with red, purple and unripe tomatoes.

    Red beet, purple tomatoes
    10/05/2021 · Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry

    Researchers have recently created purple tomatoes using genetic engineering methods. These sorts of methods will play an important role in the future, especially in drug manufacturing.

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  10. The tethered balloon "BELUGA" shortly before takeoff, in the background view of the Kongsfjord.

    Tethered balloon in action on Spitsbergen
    10/04/2021 · Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research

    Leibniz researchers are currently using a tethered balloon to study the air layers near the ground in the Arctic. The measurements should help to better understand the strong warming of the Arctic.

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  11. A circa 10 millimeter adult male of the newly discovered species Danionella cerebrum

    Translucent fish species discovered
    09/28/2021 · Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

    Scientists have described a new species of the fish genus Danionella. Due to the transparent body, the species is considered an ideal model organism for neurophysiological research.

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  12. Half-opened hand containing cocoa beans

    News on fine cocoa flavor
    09/28/2021 · Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology

    Scientists have developed a new methodology that quickly and precisely quantifies the flavor profile of cocoa samples. The new method is already suitable for practical use in companies.

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  13. Microscopic view of oxin-producing bacteria inside the hyphae.

    Microbes united against their enemy
    09/10/2021 · Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute

    The symbiosis with a bacterium protects a fungus against its predator. The results open up new approaches for the development of natural biocontrol agents in agriculture. 

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  14. Babbling juvenile of the large bag-winged bat Saccopteryx bilineata

    Baby bats babble like human infants
    09/01/2021 · Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science

    "Mamama", "dadada": Typical child development involves babbling. A new study shows that the babbling behaviour of bat pups is characterized by similar key features as human infant babbling.

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  15. Close-up of the European noble crayfish

    When economy triumphs over conservation
    08/30/2021 · Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

    For the past 150 years, the European crayfish has been devastated by the crayfish plague. For economically compensation, signal crayfish have been deliberately released into European rivers - a colossal mistake.

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  16. Leibniz Strategy Forum “Technological Sovereignty” started its work
    08/26/2021 · Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ)

    Leibniz Institutes join expertise to strengthen national and European technology sovereignty.

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  17. Container terminal at the port of Singapore

    Global instead of national
    08/10/2021 · ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research

    Despite the Corona pandemic, German companies continue to rely on global supply chains. Large companies are relying on a wider pool of suppliers, smaller enterprises are planning to increase their warehousing.

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  18. Night view of the observatory in Melpitz/Saxony, which belongs to ACTRIS

    Understanding Climate Change
    08/06/2021 · Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research

    Germany is getting a new infrastructure for research on particulate matter, clouds, and trace gases. ACTRIS will enable better forecasts for air quality, weather, and climate in the future.

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  19. Rat on a tree trunk

    Expensive Invasion
    07/29/2021 · Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

    Non-native species have incurred costs of more than 116 billion Euros in Europe between 1960 and 2020. Rats alone has caused around 5.5 billion euros.

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  20. The planetary nebula NGC 7294 ("Helix Nebula"), an object from the near vicinity of the Sun

    Needle in a haystack
    07/26/2021 · Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam

    Planetary nebulae are known in the neighbourhood of the sun as colourful objects. Researchers succeeded now in detecting them in distant galaxies.

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