Cash transfers to mothers with low income may slow biological aging in children
Study reveals a causal impact
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Three supermassive black holes discovered in a single galaxy for the first time
Three supermassive black holes in a distant—and therefore very old—galaxy offer a glimpse into how black holes merged and grew in the early universe
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PISA scores at a new low
Young people in Germany are achieving their lowest scores in science, reading and mathematics since the PISA studies started. As a result, Germany now ranks only at the average level of OECD countries. About one-fifth of 15-year-olds lack sufficient basic skills in any of the three areas. The correlation between young people’s science skills and their families’ socioeconomic status is stronger than ever before.
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Female Dotterels have multiple mates across northern Europe
In the summer, the females migrate long distances in search of mates
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2026 ERC Starting Grants: the Max Planck winners
Nine Max Planck Society researchers, including four women, have been awarded European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants
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Exoskeleton Aims to Make Daily Life Easier for People with Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury
The network of nerves in the arm—known as the brachial plexus—transmits motor and sensory signals between the spinal cord and the shoulder, arm and hand. If this network is injured, for example due to a motorcycle accident, the result may be sensory disturbances, muscle weakness or even paralysis. The PLEXO project involves Fraunhofer researchers who are working with partners to develop a myoelectrically controlled...
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Animal-Free Chemical Testing
How can chemicals be assessed safely in the future while reducing animal testing and maintaining a high level of scientific confidence? The European research community is working hard to bring about this transformation. One major step toward regulatory implementation is the European Commission’s new roadmap for the gradual phase-out of animal testing in the safety assessment of chemicals. The Fraunhofer Institute...
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More Sustainable Microchip Production
The ecological footprint of microchip manufacturing is growing in step with increasing demand. In the GENESIS EU project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS is joining forces with partners to develop technologies that make manufacturing of these essential chips more sustainable.
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Enabling images of distant worlds
The Roman Space Telescope is designed to directly image exoplanets using complex opto-mechanical systems developed by the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
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Focus on the universe
Astronomical images not only look beautiful, they also provide a wealth of information. What's behind it and what distinguishes four prominent telescopes? An overview.
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Young golden eagles leave their parents’ territory late
Experience determines when the birds leave their home range
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Gamma-ray jet scans extragalactic background light in the universe
A highly concentrated beam of light from the center of the galaxy OP 313 allows researchers to infer the energy density of the light from all stars and galaxies around
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Metalheads can endure pain longer thanks to the festival experience
Listening to heavy metal music at the Wacken Open Air increases the audience's pain tolerance
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Gamma-ray Astronomy: New learnings from blazar OP 313
High-energy electrons are the driving force behind particle acceleration
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A star that feels our Galaxies central black hole rotate
A newly detected star orbits the central black hole of our Milky Way closer than any other known star and therefore experiences, how the rotating black hole drags the surrounding spacetime along
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How AI can contribute to human cultural evolution
New study shows the conditions under which AI can not only solve problems but also create a lasting expansion of human knowledge
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Christoph Igel Joins Fraunhofer FKIE’s Institute Management
Christoph Igel has been appointed Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE effective August 15, 2026. Igel will jointly lead the institute with Peter Martini, Executive Director of Fraunhofer FKIE. This shared leadership structure will strengthen Fraunhofer FKIE’s position as one of the largest defense technology research institutes within the...
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Secure collaboration on shared documents
Researchers develope end-to-end encryption for significantly more secure collaborative documents based on the Signal protocol
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Nature’s original bioplastic is food for animals
Various animal species possess enzymes that enable them to break down PHA plastics
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Thinking fast and slow
Wild fish reveal how cognition evolved in two closely related species
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Following the Trail of Slime
Snails can adjust the chemical composition of their mucus to make it liquid, solid or sticky as needed.
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Are gas turbines ready for the hydrogen economy?
A better understanding of hydrogen embrittlement enables the design of alloys for gas turbines for hydrogen combustion
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At the source of rainfall
New measurements reveal the possible origin of rainfall in one of the most dominant types of clouds
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Why apples react differently to climate change than wheat
Climate change is altering crop yields—but not to the same extent for all plants. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) found that yields are also influenced by the extent to which plants rely on insect pollination. The findings highlight how agriculture must adapt to climate change.
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Spectacular Success for TUM Spin-off Isar Aerospace
A historic achievement for space startup Isar Aerospace: On just its second launch attempt, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) spin-off successfully placed its Spectrum launch vehicle and payload into Earth orbit. The milestone marks a major step toward establishing independent European access to space for the company based in Ottobrunn near Munich.
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If computers simply work
Newly appointed computer science professor Reto Achermann studies resilient computing systems that can operate reliably under complex conditions. His work lays the foundation for the digital infrastructures that people depend on every day.
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Prof. Andreas Meyer to become Scientific Director of FRM II
The Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is welcoming a new Scientific Director. Physicist and TUM alumnus Prof. Andreas Meyer will take over from Prof. Christian Pfleiderer on 1 October 2026. Since 2021, Andreas Meyer has served as the German Associate Director of the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble.
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Sorting Potatoes with AI
Karevo’s machines can sort up to ten tons of potatoes per hour. The AI-powered optical recognition system achieves 95 percent accuracy. The founder’s journey took him from a potato farm to the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and ultimately to his own startup.
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TUM study reveals substantial misdirection in EU automotive regulation
CirculaTUM, the interdisciplinary research network of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), has been researching the decarbonization of the automotive sector since the beginning of the year. The findings of the most comprehensive study in this field to date reveal substantial misdirection in the European Union’s climate policy regulation. They were presented today, Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at a press briefing...
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New technique enhances coastal water level monitoring
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Oxford have developed a new measurement method that captures the variability of tidal levels more accurately than previously used methods. Using this method, they were able to demonstrate tidal differences of up to one meter within a bay 90 kilometers long. The results could improve coastal protection and navigation in areas where...
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TUM launches program for experienced leaders
How can decades of leadership experience be used for new social tasks? With Lifelong Leadership, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is launching an executive impact program for experienced leaders who want to start something new after their operational careers and commit themselves to society.
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TUM develops single-photon sources for quantum communication
Absolutely secure transmission of large amounts of data: Quantum communication promises many advantages over today’s standard technologies. However, it requires single photons—and generating them is very difficult. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST) have developed a new method that overcomes the problems of previous approaches.
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TUM is the best university in Germany
According to the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities ("Shanghai Ranking"), the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is the top-ranked university in Germany. TUM ranks 45th worldwide in the prestigious university ranking, making it one of only two German universities in the top 50.
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From solar eclipse to research questions
How do spectacular images of the night sky lead to scientific insights? Students in the astrophotography seminar at the TUM School of Engineering and Design develop their own research projects and observe stars, planets, and satellites. They recently used the partial solar eclipse as an opportunity to collect data and test scientific methods.
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TUM publishes its second Sustainable Futures Report
The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has published its second sustainability report, providing an interim assessment of its progress. The university has made particular progress in reducing emissions from purchased energy. TUM has also advanced its sustainability efforts in research and teaching: 50 percent of its professorships now address sustainability-related topics.
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Applications Open for the EuroTech Rising Stars Award 2026
With the EuroTech Rising Stars Award 2026, the EuroTech Universities Alliance honors outstanding early-career researchers at its partner universities. Applications for the categories "Rising Research Stars" and "Rising Innovation Stars" can be submitted through September 25, 2026. The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is a founding member of this partnership.
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University of Bayreuth: Study identifies potential savings in material requirements for wind energy expansion
A recent study by the University of Bayreuth examines the material requirements of wind energy expansion in Germany and identifies ways in which resource consumption can be reduced in future. The study focuses on the material flows associated with wind turbines and on how materials can be saved through resource-efficient repowering and the reuse of existing infrastructure. The findings were published in the journal...
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AI-Designed Proteins Enable a New Generation of RNA Transporters
Researchers at Helmholtz Munich and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed Synthetic Transfer Vehicles (STVs), an entirely new class of RNA transporters. To do so, they combined naturally occurring protein building blocks with synthetic protein structures designed using generative AI. Systematic screening identified STV-C8 as the most efficient candidate: In cell culture, it transports RNA far more...
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The Fingerprint of Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reaches the Deep North Atlantic
In a new study, researchers from Bremen map how the Suess effect spreads in the North Atlantic The use of fossil fuels alters both the concentration and the carbon isotope composition of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since surface water exchanges carbon dioxide with the atmosphere, this also alters the isotopic composition of the carbon dissolved in the ocean. In a study, a team from MARUM – Center for Marine...
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Researchers from Tel Aviv University and IPF Develop Hydrogels to Create a Programmable Niche for Blood Stem Cells
A research team from Tel Aviv University and the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF), led by Ayala Lampel and Carsten Werner, has developed a peptide-glycosaminoglycan hydrogel system that creates a programmable niche for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). The system mimics key biochemical and mechanical cues of the bone marrow microenvironment, enabling researchers to investigate how...
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The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin publishes a guide on dealing with colonial natural history objects
Natural history artefacts from former colonial territories bear witness not only to scientific curiosity, but also to power dynamics and the use of force. What responsibilities does this entail for natural history museums today? The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin has been addressing this question for years through various initiatives and research projects. Examining its own history sheds light on past and present...
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Light-Based 3D Printing: Innovative “Ink” Enables a Closed-Loop Material Cycle
Polymers used for light-based 3D printing are very stable due to their chemical structure, but they are typically hard to recycle. A research team led by Prof. Dr. Eva Blasco, a researcher at the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM) at Heidelberg University, has now designed a polymer material that can be disassembled into its individual components when needed. A chemical “key”...
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Study shows ‘summer of the century’ characterised by late-onset heat and drought under current climate conditions
The summers of recent years have been hot, but not unusual from a meteorological perspective. According to researchers at Leipzig University, though, the next extreme summer would far exceed anything we have experienced so far. To be prepared for this, it is important to understand what a ‘summer of the century’ might look like in the current climate. This is precisely what researchers at Leipzig University have...
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From Scrap and Used Parts to High-Performance Materials: Fraunhofer IWU Opens New Circular Pathways for Aluminum Foam
Aluminum is a key material for sustainable mobility and resource-efficient products, yet its production requires substantial amounts of energy. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU have now demonstrated how production scrap, aluminum chips, and end-of-life aluminum foam components can be systematically reintegrated into the manufacturing process. Their findings open up...
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PUSHING THE 15 MIN CITY - HCU researchers conclude their work on EU project
Researchers at HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU) have contributed to extend the 15- Minutes-City concept into suburban areas. In collaboration with 18 partners (including associate partners) across seven countries, the FORTHCOMING (FOsteRing THe City Of proximity through MaaS INteGration") project has successfully concluded in June 2026, advancing evidence-based strategies for proximity planning and sustainable...
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Sugar from the salty ocean can rise high into the atmosphere and plays an important role in the Arctic climate system
Ny-Ålesund/Leipzig. Salt and sugar from the sea can rise as far as the free troposphere, thereby influenc-ing both cloud formation and the Arctic climate. This is the finding of balloon measurements carried out by a team of researchers on Spitsbergen in autumn 2021 and spring 2022. With the Arctic becoming in-creasingly ice-free, more and more of these cloud-forming ingredients from seawater could enter the...
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Majority Still Favours Ambitious Climate Protection, but Support is Waning
80 percent of people in Germany are concerned about climate change. 54 percent wish to see more government spending on climate protection, and 56 percent support further measures for the energy, transport, and heating transitions. These findings are the result of this year's survey by the Social Sustainability Barometer of Transformation, a project of the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Research Institute for...
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Inspired by butterflies: smart propulsion for the robots of the future
Researchers at the University of Stuttgart and the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research have developed tiny rolls that can be unrolled and rolled up in a controlled manner using a magnet. The model for this was the proboscis of butterflies. These smart materials enable the development of more efficient drive technologies for micro- and soft robotics, a field of research of great economic importance. The...
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