Research in Germany

Towards the end of their lives, low-mass stars undergo an abrupt dip in their brightness, also known as the luminosity bump. Whereas the endpoint of this bump is well-understood, its onset has remained elusive. Now, in a paper published by The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Saskia Hekker, leader of the Theory and Observations of Stars group at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), finds that entropy is the key driver of the bump.

Just a few atomic layers at the surface can strongly influence how effectively a material binds pollutants from water or how efficiently a photocatalyst responds to light. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP use X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate the chemical states and interactions at the surfaces and interfaces of bio-based carbon materials and organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Their insights can support the targeted development of functional materials for future industrial applications.

Berlin, September 9, 2026. The service life of lithium-ion batteries is limited by complex aging processes, the causes of which are often difficult to distinguish from one another. Researchers at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) have now shown that the distribution of two lithium isotopes within the cells acts like a fingerprint directly linked to the degradation processes. This correlation opens new possibilities for better understanding aging mechanisms and optimizing batteries in a more targeted manner.

Together with partners from research and industry, the Fraunhofer Insti-tute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has modified the structure of battery electrodes so that the battery cells can store 10 to 15 percent more energy at the same weight. They achieved this by more than tripling the coating thickness of the battery electrodes—for example, in lithium-ion batteries—which simultaneously reduces the number of current collectors in the battery cell. The research team implemented the new electrode architecture in lithium-ion pouch cells manufactured using industry-standard processes. Furthermore, they successfully applied the concept to zinc-ion and sodium-ion battery cells.

A research team at the University of Cologne has identified a critical dependency in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) that can be exploited therapeutically / Publication in ‘Molecular Cancer’

The current outbreak of Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) in the DR Congo highlights the challenges of responding to rare but potentially devastating infectious diseases. Two studies led by researchers from the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), together with other national and international collaborators, now provide important insights for outbreak response. One demonstrates how diagnostic tests can be evaluated rapidly during an outbreak; the other investigates the biological properties of the 2026 BDBV strain and whether an existing Ebola vaccine could offer some cross-protection. Both studies were published this month in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.