Research in Germany

An unusual combination of chromosome organisation and selective inheritance enables a Brazilian sedge to maintain its genetic identity across generations.

What characterizes regional organic value chain networks in Berlin and Brandenburg? How can they be strengthened and developed to be fit for the future? These questions were at the heart of the research carried out as part of the RegBio2B collaborative project.

ActiTrexx GmbH, in collaboration with University Medical Center Mainz and partners in Dresden, Münster, and Dortmund, has successfully conducted the first clinical trial using activated regulatory T cells (ATregs, Actileucel) - derived from white blood cells of healthy blood donors. This novel cell therapy aims to prevent the graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) following an allogeneic stem cell transplant. The Phase I/II study has yielded extremely encouraging results: ATregs can be produced within 24 hours and injected immediately afterward; administration is safe and well-tolerated by patients - a significant step toward a widely available cell therapy.

Fossil plankton shells show that three million years ago, under warmer climate, nitrogen fixation was reduced.

The new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) has been in effect since August 12, 2026. Under this regulation, starting in January 2030, the foodservice industry may no longer buy food or toiletries packaged in single-use plastic—for example, ketchup packets or individually wrapped bars of soap. This is increasing pressure on hotels, restaurants, and catering businesses to act. But how can a fast-paced and hospitable hotel routine be reconciled with resource conservation? And how can travelers contribute to greater sustainability in hotels? This is shown in a new report by WWF Germany, Kühne Logistics University (KLU), Motel One, and Leonardo Hotels.

A team of researchers at the University of Stuttgart has developed a new method that could make MRI even more precise by eliminating “dead time,” a key limiting factor in the measurement process, thereby enabling the detection of signals that are lost using conventional methods. This method opens up new possibilities for medical diagnostics and non-destructive materials testing. The research team presents the new approach in Science Advances.