Latest news from science communication

08.05.25

How can the memory of National Socialist crimes be kept alive? Many memorials, museums and archives rely on participatory and digital formats to reach more people, especially younger people. However, until now there has been a lack of scientific findings on their impact. A new study by researchers from the Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB) and the Hertie School in collaboration with the Arolsen Archives shows for the first time that active remembrance work motivates participants to get involved in remembrance work and an open society beyond the specific project.

In two randomized studies with around 1,500 participants, the researchers compared the effect of active remembrance work with pure information dissemination. The study focused on the #everynamecounts project, a digital crowdsourcing project run by the Arolsen Archives, in which volunteers digitize historical documents on the persecution of various groups during the Nazi era. Half of the participants actively took part in this project and digitized maps of prisoners of the Buchenwald concentration camp. The other group only received information about Nazi persecution and the archived documents (Study 1) or no information at all (Study 2). The groups were then interviewed.

Confidence in your own effectiveness

The results are clear: after the project, the participants in the active group were more motivated to get involved in memorial projects and were also willing to donate more on average. They also stated that they wanted to campaign against discrimination and for human rights - their willingness to join an initiative or sign a petition against anti-Semitism was particularly high. According to a report by Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw), the study shows that participatory remembrance work strengthens people's confidence in their own ability to act - possibly the decisive difference between participatory remembrance work and pure information dissemination. After the end of the project, participants from the active group were more likely to agree with the statements that they can contribute to keeping the Nazi crimes in memory and thus make an important contribution to a future without hatred and exclusion. “Our results demonstrate the potential of participatory approaches compared to traditional methods that focus purely on conveying information,” says study coordinator Ruth Ditlmann from the Hertie School. “They strengthen people's confidence in their own effectiveness - a key driver of civic engagement.

The study also shows that actively engaging with Nazi crimes can also raise awareness of other historical injustices, such as colonial crimes. Participants were subsequently more motivated to commemorate the victims of German colonialism or to support archives that document these injustices. “This contrasts, at least on an individual level, with the assumption that remembrance work is a zero-sum game in which different commemorative events compete for attention,” says WZB researcher Berenike Firestone. Floriane Azoulay, Director of the Arolsen Archives, emphasizes: “The active and low-threshold involvement of people in digital remembrance projects is extremely important to us. The study now even shows that when people get involved in #everynamecounts, collective and effective remembrance work is created that was previously not possible in this form - personally and at the same time globally connected and in exchange with others.”

Infos

• The study “Participating in a Digital-History Project Mobilizes People for Symbolic Justice and Better Intergroup Relations Today” by Ruth Ditlmann, Berenike Firestone and Oguzhan Turkoglu has been published in the journal Psychological Science.

• The study was funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.

• Scientific contact: Dr. Berenike Firestone, Department Transformations of Democracy

• Original publication: Participating in a Digital-History Project Mobilizes People for Symbolic Justice and Better Intergroup Relations Today - Ruth Ditlmann, Berenike Firestone, Oguzhan Turkoglu, 2025 

• Further Information: International center on the Nazi era - Arolsen Archives and #everynamecounts – Digital memorial for victims of National Socialism! 

05.05.25

The student team from Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences wins this year's TROPHELIA competition with its “Flexi-Nuggets” product idea. The ideas competition is aimed at food science students and was organized for the 16th time by the Forschungskreis der Ernährungsindustrie e. V. (FEI).

“Flexi-Nuggets” stand for innovative foods that combine sustainability and enjoyment. According to a report by Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw), they were developed by three food technology students at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. With just two ingredients, they offer a unique solution for conscious meat consumption: 50 percent tender chicken breast meat from brother chickens and 50 percent protein-rich white beans. Even the golden, crispy breading is made from 100% white beans - for a completely natural treat.

The team convinced the TROPHELIA jury “across the board, as the golden-crispy nuggets are ideal for anyone who wants to reduce their meat consumption without compromising on taste”, the press release continues. The focus is on the selection of ingredients in order to completely avoid additives, colorants and flavor enhancers.

“Once again this year, the teams have proven that they have not only applied a great deal of expertise to food, technology and ingredients, but also to difficult topics such as marketing, commercialization and upcycling,” says Martin Ammann, spokesperson for this year's TROPHELIA jury, reflecting their thoughts.

Second place went to the team from Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences with “Mooreals”, a convenience crunchy muesli that combines health and ecological benefits. To obtain a wholesome muesli with whole milk, the Mooreals are simply mixed with water.

Another team from the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences took third place with “Cooliflower”, a vegan cauliflower-based ice cream praline in raspberry flavor. It is characterized by its innovative formulation and impressive nutritional profile - this convinced the jury to also award the development team with this year's special prize for the most innovative product idea.

Three other teams who presented their product ideas to the jury were recognized for their participation: “Bohnique”, a layered dessert based on the powerful field bean, by a team from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), “Sokara Chips”, a sustainable snack whose raw material Okara is a by-product of tofu and soy milk production, and “Algify”, an innovative vegan superfood drink powder that combines the power of microalgae with contemporary nutritional requirements - both developed by teams from the Technical University of Berlin. A total of 14 student teams from 5 universities had registered for TROPHELIA Germany to present their ideas for innovative food products with an ecological benefit. The best six teams were selected for the final, which took place on April 30, 2025 as part of the FEI Cooperation Forum in Bonn. The jury recognized the quality of this year's proposals as well as the high level of expertise and initiative of the teams: all product ideas were convincing in their eco-innovative properties and would already enrich the existing range today.

05.05.25

The expansion of onshore wind energy plays a key role in supplying Germany with climate-friendly electricity. Local direct democratic procedures and lawsuits against wind turbines have contributed to a slowdown in the expansion of wind energy since 2018. This is the core topic of the hybrid lecture series in the research focus Energy, Environment & Sustainability at the FernUniversität Hagen. According to a report by Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw), the lecture brings together the specialist perspectives of political science, law and psychology in order to gain a better understanding of how protests, citizens' referendums and legal action against wind turbines arise and have an impact.

The speakers will report on their research in the joint BMWK-funded research project “Lawsuits and citizens' petitions as obstacles to wind energy expansion in Germany” at the research focus Energy/Environment/Sustainability. Interested parties can also take part in the (free) event online on Tuesday, May 13, 6 to 8 pm.

05.05.25

Together with the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), BUND Naturschutz (BN) has created the citizen science project “ Mein Baum” (My Tree). The app was launched on April 25. This was reported by the Science Information Service (idw).

Climate change has effects such as drought and therefore also threatens the existence of urban trees. However, these are important as they not only provide a habitat for numerous animals and plants, but also bind CO₂ and filter pollutants. According to Martin Geilhufe, BN state representative, in order to counteract this threat, we need to gain a better understanding of the condition and distribution of trees in urban areas.

With the help of the App „Mein Baum“, citizens can now also record various information about urban trees such as location, tree species, surroundings, root area, trunk or treetop, as well as document animals and fungi that live on the trees. The data is collected and analyzed. The data is not only used to answer scientific questions or develop protective measures, but can also be used for sustainable urban planning.

Citizens become active for the environment

Prof. Dr. Barbara Darr, Professor of Urban Forest Management at the Faculty of Forestry at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, emphasizes the advantage of active support from citizens to BUND Naturschutz: "Cities are facing challenges such as climate change and the loss of biodiversity. The ‘Mein Baum’ project combines research and citizen participation, enabling citizens to actively improve their urban environment."

Scientific supervision

Together with Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Pauleit, Chair of Strategy and Management of Landscape Development (TUM), and Prof. Dr. Thomas Rötzer, Professor of Ecological Modeling (TUM), Darr has taken over the scientific supervision of the project.

Information about the app

Anyone who wants to get involved in “ Mein Baum” can download the free app and register once. The app also has a community area where users can exchange ideas or take part in activities such as watering trees during dry periods. Further information and statements can be found in the BUND Naturschutz press release: Bürgerinnen und Bürger schützen und erfassen Stadtbäume (in German language).

Scientific contact

Prof. Dr. Barbara Darr
University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf
Department of Forestry and Forestry Management

Further information

05.05.25

Professional match analysis in soccer is usually reserved for the professionals. Professional clubs employ their own match analysis teams and use expensive analysis tools. Amateur footballers often cannot afford this and are left out. According to a report by Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw), the Cologne-based start-up N12 Tactics wants to close this gap. The team wants to facilitate access to professional match analysis with innovative software solutions. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), tactical analysis should now be accessible to everyone. To this end, the Institute of Training Science and Sports Informatics has acquired EXIST funding of around 150,000 euros for one year, which is financed by Project Management Jülich (Sustainable Development and Innovation, Start-up, Transfer and Innovation Promotion) and Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH. "Tactics are not only crucial for coaches, but also for players. Our software helps to take understanding the game to a new level," explains Prof. Dr. Daniel Memmert, Managing Director of the Institute of Training Science and Sports Informatics at the German Sport University Cologne. As the scientific mentor of the N12 Tactics team, he contributes his expertise from various current AI and ML projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) to the project.

Real-time analysis

The start-up's two core products “Frames” and “Patterns” make it possible to automatically segment match scenes, analyze positioning and create tactical concepts interactively - whether on the pitch, in the dressing room or from the comfort of your own home. “Frames” allows coaches and analysts alike to analyze matches in real time and automatically highlight key moments. “Patterns”, on the other hand, is designed as the perfect complement for mobile devices to visualize tactics and make them directly accessible to the players: mobile, fast, user-friendly. Particularly innovative: the software automatically simulates movements of the opposing teams as well as the optimal goalkeeper positioning - “a unique function on the market to date”, emphasizes N12 Tactics.

These are the makers

Behind the project are Ryosuke Yano (M.A. Sport, Media and Communication Research, German Sport University Cologne), Erik Tabuchi Barczak (research assistant at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) and Gota Shirato (University of Bonn), who are contributing their many years of experience in soccer analysis, software development and AI to the start-up. The team is supported by the German Sport University Cologne, in particular by the “Transfer and Foundation” department, whose expertise in the field of innovation and foundation has contributed significantly to the successful acquisition of funds. “Without this valuable help, the project would not have been possible in this form,” emphasizes Daniel Memmert. With a growing social media community of over 700,000 followers and initial collaborations with international clubs, N12 Tactics hopes to play a decisive role in shaping the digital transformation of soccer. The project officially launches in May 2025.

A board of advisors supports the start-up team with content expertise and provides advice; the board consists of Prof. Dr. Daniel Memmert (Institute for Training Science and Sports Informatics, mentor), Hiroshi Miyazawa (coach of Mumbai City FC in India and former player of Sanfreece Hiroshima, Shonan Bellmare and JEF United Chiba in Japan) and Wynton Rufer (former soccer player of the New Zealand national team as well as Werder Bremen and 1. FC Kaiserslautern).

02.05.25

• BIOMASS is the first satellite in space to use a powerful radar wavelength (P-band). This allows it to penetrate the entire forest canopy for the first time.

• BIOMASS will create a detailed map of the biomass in the Earth's dense forests and thus monitor their condition and further development over five years.

• Why this is important: Forests store huge amounts of carbon and thus mitigate the negative effects of man-made emissions on the climate. By knowing where and how much carbon is stored, scientists and governments can make better decisions on measures for nature conservation, climate adaptation and climate change mitigation, writes the German Science Information Service (idw).

The mission 

The BIOMASS mission serves the global mapping and monitoring of our forests. It will record the structure of different forest types and provide data on above-ground biomass. The latter is an important indicator of the carbon stocks of terrestrial ecosystems and the basis for global climate protection measures. “With the successful launch of BIOMASS, we will look at tropical forests through a completely new lens. This is the first satellite with a P-band radar in space, which will allow us to look deeper into the canopy than ever before and thus determine the biomass and its changes much more precisely,” says Dr. Nuno Carvalhais, project manager of the BIOMASS project office at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena.

Forests play a key role in the global carbon cycle

Monitoring the amount of carbon stored in large and dense forests is of great importance, as these ecosystems provide a third of all photosynthesis on the land surface and store about half of the world's carbon in biomass. This corresponds to four times the annual global CO₂ emissions from anthropogenic activities. Tropical forests in particular are also invaluable for their biodiversity and ecosystem services. They stabilize the global climate and ensure human well-being.

However, tropical rainforests are increasingly vulnerable to climatic and human influences. This makes it all the more important to track the decline of forests due to deforestation and other disturbances, as well as changes in associated carbon emissions. Until now, it has been difficult to collect reliable data on global biomass, especially in the tropics, due to the limited capabilities of existing satellite technologies. BIOMASS closes this gap with a new level of detail and sensitivity.

Important findings for all parts of society

Mapping the different forest ecosystems will not only provide researchers, but also policy makers and conservationists around the world with important information to counteract increasing deforestation and support climate change adaptation measures. The measurements are essential to the global carbon budget and will feed into global climate models to inform policy frameworks such as the Paris Agreement, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programs.

Freely accessible data for science

BIOMASS will orbit the Earth for at least five years, collecting freely accessible data for the scientific community, environmental organizations and governments, thereby also promoting international cooperation in climate and Earth system research. BIOMASS is a core component of ESA's Earth Explorer program and plays an important role in meeting international climate agreements.

28.04.25

Forest dieback in German water protection areas is leading to a deterioration in drinking water quality. A recent study by the University of Freiburg shows that the average nitrate concentrations in affected water protection areas have doubled, reports Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw). Forest dieback during the drought years from 2018 to 2020 poses a previously underestimated threat to drinking water quality in Germany. This is the result of an interdisciplinary study by the University of Freiburg, which was published in the journal Earth's Future. The research team investigated the nitrate concentrations in the groundwater of exemplary German water protection areas. In areas that had suffered significant forest loss, the average nitrate concentrations doubled.

“In Germany, 43 percent of water protection areas are forested, so the health of the forests is crucial for maintaining water quality,” explains Dr. Carolin Winter, lead author of the study and hydrologist at the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Freiburg. The researchers were able to show that within three years of the start of the 2018 drought, around five percent of the forest areas in water protection areas had died off. The impact on water quality varied greatly between the different areas. The researchers also warn of potential delayed effects that might only become apparent in the coming years.

Forest health is important for drinking water quality

It has long been known that forests act as natural guarantors of drinking water quality. The majority of drinking water in Germany comes from groundwater that is extracted in designated protected areas. Strict rules apply in these areas to minimize the risk of contamination. One of the aims is to prevent nitrate from entering the groundwater and making it unusable for the drinking water supply. Typical sources of nitrate are agriculture, cities and industry, while forests actively retain nitrate and thus protect the groundwater. However, the rapid death of trees can impair this protective function and turn forests themselves into a source of nitrate pollution.

Enormous forest loss in German water protection areas

By combining existing forest data with a comprehensive new mapping of all water protection areas in Germany, the researchers found that around 43 percent of water protection areas are forested. They were also able to show that five percent of these forest areas had died within three years of the start of the 2018 drought period. “This represents a high loss within a very short time, especially in view of the crucial importance for the water protection areas and the normal rotation period of tree species in Germany, which ranges from 60 to 160 years,” explains Dr. Florian Schnabel, last author of the study and forest scientist at the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources. Forests with a high proportion of spruce were particularly affected, but tree species such as beech also recorded unusually high losses.

28.04.25

Technische Universität Berlin is actively involved in the open access transformation. From May 2025, it will be involved with the publishing house BerlinUP in setting up the national service center for Diamond Open Access (SeDOA), which is funded by the German Research Foundation. Together with 14 other institutions, TU Berlin is committed to further developing and establishing the sustainable and free publication model of Diamond Open Access, according to a press release from Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw).

Strengthening open science

Scientific findings should be freely accessible and available without financial barriers. This is precisely where the SeDOA project comes in: the service center will act as a central platform to facilitate access to a sustainable, science-based publication culture for researchers, editors and institutions. The aim is to better network existing decentralized open access services and increase their efficiency.

26.04.25

With the Helmholtz KLIMA Dialogue Platform, the Helmholtz Association has strengthened its commitment to climate communication and created an interface for climate-related issues between the 18 centers of the Helmholtz Association and politics. The aim of the platform is to identify ways to achieve climate neutrality and adapt to climate change.

Helmholtz KLIMA uses dialog formats to bring scientists and political decision-makers into contact with one another in order to jointly develop solutions for the future. “In this way, we want to ensure that evidence-based findings from climate-relevant research flow even more strongly into political decision-making processes,” says Prof. Dr. Katja Matthes, Coordinator of the Helmholtz KLIMA Steering Board and Director of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.

As a Helmholtz-wide information and dialog portal for all aspects of climate-relevant research, Helmholtz KLIMA complements the Helmholtz Association's existing digital offering, reports Informationsdienst Wissenschaft e.V. In particular, the publicly accessible database on the website with profiles of scientists from the 18 Helmholtz Centers enables keyword-based searches for expertise for political institutions, editorial offices and civil society actors.

24.04.25  

The exhibition “Planet Africa - An Archaeological Journey Through Time” is making an international stop: after opening in Ghana and Eswatini, it will be on display at the Munich State Archaeological Collection from May 2025.

A significant milestone was also celebrated in Eswatini at the beginning of April: The Prime Minister, His Excellency Russell Mmiso Dlamini, officially opened the dual exhibition on San culture in Eswatini and “Planet Africa” at the Lobamba National Museum. With the support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Pretoria and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), visitors can learn more about an important historical era in the kingdom itself, while also gaining an insight into the archaeology of the entire African continent.

Exhibition on a USB stick

For the exhibition concept in Africa, it quickly became clear that various reasons - such as enormous distances, logistical problems, different legal, linguistic and political circumstances - would make it impossible for the exhibition to travel physically. “Planet Africa” therefore focuses on stories rather than objects, using visual material, street art, graphics, texts and cinematics: ”This means that the exhibition content can be stored on digital media and conveniently travel to the location where it is to be shown. There it can be printed out and its films shown on screens. If necessary, the content can be adapted to local requirements and objects from our own collections can be added without having to cross customs or national borders,” explains Jörg Linstädter, Senior Director of the Commission for the Archaeology of Non-European Cultures at the DAI. Depending on the available space and financial resources, the exhibition can be shown at will, supplemented with local objects and at the same time always remain up to date.

One exhibition on two continents

While the exhibition will be set up separately at each location in Africa, “Planet Africa” will move from Berlin to Munich in May: On May 16, the exhibition will open to visitors at the Archaeological State Collection, where it will be on display until September 28, 2025.

24.04. 25  

New study by researchers from the University of Granada and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence

Researchers from the University of Granada and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence show that there is a link between urbanization and the plumage color of birds. Bird species that thrive in the city are less brown and have more striking colors in their plumage. This is probably due to the urban habitat structure (less forest), different background colors and the lower number of raptor species in the city. The study is based on data from more than 1200 bird species and is a vivid example of the impact urbanization can have on wildlife.

Warmth and camouflage

Color fulfills numerous important functions in the animal kingdom: For example, it helps to keep animals warm or protect them from overheating (thermoregulation). It can also play a role in camouflage, mate selection and competition. In cities, it is generally warmer, there are fewer predators, but more artificial light and different background colors, for example due to concrete and asphalt. It is therefore quite conceivable that the urban environment has an influence on the coloration of animals. Under the leadership of Bart Kempenaers, researchers at the MPI for Biological Intelligence and the University of Granada got to the bottom of this issue. They used a global dataset with the abundance of over 1200 bird species in habitats with varying degrees of urbanization. The team combined this with data on plumage color and analyzed the extent to which the relative abundance of species in urban areas can be determined by color.

Are gray plumages more of a disadvantage in the city?

The study showed that the bird species that are successful in the city are less brown. “Shades of brown are more common in nature than in the city. We therefore assume that brown birds have disadvantages in a rather gray city. The predominant city colors and the lack of suitable habitats can therefore be decisive for which bird species do well there,” explains Kaspar Delhey, one of the two first authors of the study. In the city, there are also more bird species that have striking colors in their plumage - this is particularly true for females. Urban habitats therefore seem to favor more colourful bird species. This could be because there are fewer predators in urban areas and “being seen” is less of a risk than in the countryside.

24.04. 25

An international team of scientists has investigated how genetic and environmental factors influence our enjoyment of music.

Music plays an important role in human emotions, social bonds and cultural interaction. But not everyone feels the same way. Why do some people enjoy music more than others, for example? “The answer to this question can give us an insight into more general aspects of the human mind - for example, how experiences become pleasures,” explains first author Giacomo Bignardi from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics. “We wanted to understand whether genetic differences between individuals lead to differences in music enjoyment and what these differences can tell us about musicality in general.”

Data from more than 9,000 twins examined

To find out whether genetic factors influence music enjoyment or the perception of reward from music, the team used a research design comparing the similarity between identical and fraternal twins: If identical twins are more similar than fraternal twins, genetics probably plays a role. In collaboration with the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, the researchers were able to use data from more than 9,000 twins, including information on the perception of reward through music and the ability to perceive musical characteristics such as pitch, melody and rhythm.

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

This year's Academic Freedom Index shows that eight of the countries included in the index have significantly higher academic freedom in 2024 than ten years ago, while scores have fallen in 34 countries or territories. Countries where the decline in academic freedom was statistically and substantially significant include several democracies, such as Argentina, Finland, Greece, Israel, Portugal and the United States, to name just a few examples. The decline in academic freedom was also measurable in Austria and Germany, but in both cases the decline remains small and is not yet substantially significant, according to the authors of the report. Although academic freedom is still much better protected in democracies than in autocracies, these examples illustrate that academic freedom can also come under pressure in democracies. This is why this year's Academic Freedom Index report focuses on countries where multiple parties are allowed to stand for election.

Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology (SIT) presents study ‘Ethics, law and security of digital afterlife’

New technologies such as AI make it possible to live on after death in the form of digital representations (avatars) or chatbots. The digital afterlife industry, which offers such possibilities, is considered a promising growth market. An interdisciplinary research team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology SIT and the University of Tübingen has developed design proposals for dealing with avatars and summarised them in the study ‘Ethics, law and security of digital afterlife’. The study can be downloaded free of charge here: www.sit.fraunhofer.de/edilife-studie (in German language).