On these pages you will find a selection of research news from the Leibniz Institutes.
  1. Illustration with four powerful-looking elephants at a waterhole in the jungle, with zebras, a rhinoceros and apes in the foreground.

    The rise and fall of elephants
    07/07/2021 · Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science

    The history of the proboscideans is one of glory and decline. A new study reveals how earth-historical events were mainly responsible for the evolution of more than 180 species.

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  2. TRiC knows the trick
    07/06/2021 · Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute

    Planarians are able to survive long periods of starvation by maintaining their stem cell pool and regenerative capacity.

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  3. Gender-neutral language in German Companies
    07/06/2021 · ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research

    35 percent of companies in Germany use gender-neutral language for external communication, while only 25 percent adopt it for in-house purposes.

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  4. Three common marmosets at the DPZ, sitting on a tree trunk​.

    Monkeys also learn to communicate
    07/05/2021 · German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research

    A Behavioral study on common marmosets provides new insights into the evolution of language.

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  5. Close-up of a mushroom growing on the ground.

    Endangered life belowground
    06/24/2021 · Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

    Current conservation practices in farmlands may be good for species living above the earth such as birds and bees, but are probably not helping life belowground.

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  6. A man is sitting alone in a room at a table, his face in his hand.

    Social isolation increases the likelihood of selfish behaviour
    06/24/2021 · Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) – Member of the Leibniz Association

    Social distancing as a counter-measure to the COVID-19 pandemic has far-reaching social consequences which have so far hardly been discussed from an economic perspective.

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  7. There's no cheating old age
    06/22/2021 · German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research

    The average life expectancy of people has increased over the last 150 years. Studies with humans and non-human primates indicates that it is not the rate at which humans age that slows down.

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  8. Water bodies with massive algae growth

    Asteroid caused brief bloom of algae
    06/21/2021 · Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

    The asteroid that likely caused dinosaur extinction 66 million years ago also caused a global algal bloom and a mass extinction in marine ecosystems.

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  9. Animated map showing all rivers in Europe

    Dry Rivers
    06/17/2021 · Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

    60 percent of the world's streams dry up for at least one day a year - across all continents and climate zones. This can lead to impaired access to water for millions of people.

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  10. Animated graphic of the rotational motion in the universe

    Rotation in the universe
    06/15/2021 · Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam

    Astronomers have found that long tendrils of galaxies spin on the scale of hundreds of millions of light years. A rotation on such enormous scales has never been seen before.

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  11. Close-up of the amber with the enclosed live birth

    Fossilized Birth
    06/09/2021 · Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

    Researchers found a fossilized female land snail enclosed in a 99-million-year-old piece of amber together with her five young. This is the oldest record of a live birth in this class of animals.

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  12. Four organ donor cards placed on top of each other

    Organ donation during Coronavirus Pandemic
    06/03/2021 · ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research

    In Germany, the organ donation rate in 2020 was similar to that in 2019. In contrast, other European countries saw organ donation rates fall sharply.

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  13. Romanian hydroelectric power station on a small river surrounded by green trees

    More harm than good
    05/31/2021 · Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

    Around half of the hydropower plants in Romania are located in nature conservation areas. The small plants contribute only 3 percent of Romania's electricity generation, but threaten biodiversity.

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  14. Large sugar beet with long leaves, half buried in the ground

    Sustainable cultivation of sugar beet
    05/26/2021 · Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics

    A new joint project aims to enable sustainable and pesticide-free cultivation of field crops. For this purpose, field robots and artificial intelligence are to be investigated.

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  15. Close-up of a coral with blue tentacles

    Jellyfish chips and sea cucumber soup
    05/26/2021 · Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research

    Resources such as fertile land and mineral fertilizers are becoming scarce. Scientists investigate the extent to which the sea harbours unused food resources.

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  16. Close-up of the phase transformation

    On the track of fast phase transformations
    05/21/2021 · Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden

    Researchers have succeeded in live-observing the phase transformations of a metallic glas.

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  17. Iceberg in calm sea, water partly frozen

    New early-warning signals detected
    05/18/2021 · Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

    Parts of Greenland may be on the verge of tipping. Because of rising temperatures the destabilization of the ice sheet has begun and the process of melting may escalate already at limited warming levels.

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  18. Cake counter in a café, various cakes and price board

    Industries have different opinions on Coronavirus Aid
    05/11/2021 · ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research

    While the hospitality industry finds the aid satisfactory, retailers are much more critical.

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  19. slightly bent giraffe in front of a green background

    Giraffe genomics support four species
    05/10/2021 · Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

    Comprehensive genetic analyses confirm four different giraffe species and seven subspecies. The results have great significance for animal conservation.

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  20. Aerial view of the old town of Görlitz.

    Testing the city of the future
    05/05/2021 · Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development

    From autumm 2021, it will once again be possible to test living and working in Görlitz for free. The participants should use their stay to deal with the topics of climate neutrality and sustainable urban development.

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