The quillwort is an aquatic plant belonging to an ancient lineage of vascular plants, meaning plants that have tissues to transport water, sap and nutrients. This lineage diverged from the other vascular plants more than 400 million years ago. A large international research team, including the University of Göttingen, have now sequenced the whole genome of this curious plant, uncovering the secrets of its unique method of photosynthesis, as well…

It shows that recurrent strict lockdowns are not necessary for long-term control of pandemics – as long as moderate precautionary measures are sustained. The researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS) investigated which measures are required under which conditions to avoid strict lockdowns. They conclude that long-term policies and individual compliance ultimately determine if pandemic control can be…

The solar observatory Sunrise III, which will observe the Sun from a helium balloon at an altitude of 35 kilometers, has reached an important milestone: today scientists and engineers at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Germany performed measurements with sunlight for the first time. For the so-called hang test, the huge gate of the MPS balloon hall opened to allow the observatory to look directly into the Sun. The test…

The degradation and regeneration of myelin sheaths characterise neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Cholesterol is an indispensable component of myelin sheaths. The cholesterol for the regenerated myelin sheaths must therefore either be recycled from damaged myelin or produced again locally. In a recent study, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine in Göttingen, led by Gesine Saher, found that in the case…

During protein synthesis, both transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and messenger RNA (mRNA) move rapidly through the ribosome. This movement is GTPase-powered by elongation factor G (EF-G). Niels Fischer, Marina Rodnina, and co-workers at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen have visualized the steps of ongoing translocation by time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) revealing how a small local event drives large-scale…

The director at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen was honored by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) for her research in the field of biochemistry. She received the prize in a ceremony on October 21, 2021. Proteins are involved in virtually all processes in living cells. However, they can only fulfill their tasks if they are produced without errors. Ribosomes, the ‘protein factories’ of living cells, play a…

Three years have passed since a spontaneous idea provided the impetus for the biotope project BioDiversum. With this project, the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen wants to provide habitats for endangered animal and plant species. On October 18, the BioDiversum was finally inaugurated. Guest of honor was the well-known ornithologist and conservationist Peter Berthold, who despite his old age never tires of…

The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants that can spread rapidly and undermine vaccine-induced immunity threatens the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The delta variant (B.1.617.2) emerged in India and subsequently spread globally within a short time period. Also in Germany, almost all recent infections are due to this variant. In addition to Delta, so-called Delta Plus sub-variants have been observed, which carry additional mutations that may make…

By this, he demonstrated that climate models can deliver reliable predictions despite short-term weather fluctuations, proving also the connection of increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and global warming. Klaus Hasselmann completed his doctoral thesis at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS) in 1957 before he continued his scientific career at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg. The…

The mechanism of molecular self-organization was assessed in a new model by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS). In their study, they simulated how environmental factors such as temperature influence the size of oil droplets in elastic matrices. The study will also help understanding droplet formation in biological cells, where biological molecules self-organize in condensates. The full paper was…