Helmholtz Association

2 months ago | phys.org | Helmholtz Association

Mangrove forests along the Amazon coast release significant amounts of trace elements such as neodymium and hafnium. These elements and their isotopic compositions can serve to understand the inputs of micronutrients which are vital for marine life.

Jan 22, 2025 | phys.org | Helmholtz Association

Thanks to a new technology called Moscot ("Multi-Omics Single-Cell Optimal Transport"), researchers can now observe millions of cells simultaneously as they develop into a new organ—for example, a pancreas. This method was developed by an international research team led by Helmholtz Munich and has been published in the journal Nature.

Jan 21, 2025 | phys.org | Helmholtz Association

Ferroelectrics at the nanoscale exhibit a wealth of polar and sometimes swirling (chiral) electromagnetic textures that not only represent fascinating physics, but also promise applications in future nanoelectronics. For example, ultra-high-density data storage or extremely energy-efficient field-effect transistors. However, a sticking point has been the stability of these topological textures and how they can be controlled and steered by an external electrical or optical stimulus.

Jan 20, 2025 | phys.org | Helmholtz Association

Over half of our genomes consist of thousands of remnants of ancient viral DNA, known as transposable elements, which are widespread across the tree of life. Once dismissed as the "dark side" of the genome, researchers at Helmholtz Munich and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) have now revealed their crucial role in early embryo development. The study is published in the journal Cell.

Jan 8, 2025 | techxplore.com | Helmholtz Association

Lithium-sulfur batteries have a number of advantages over conventional lithium batteries: they use the abundant raw material sulfur, do not require the critical elements cobalt or nickel, and can achieve extremely high specific energy densities. Prototype cells are already achieving up to 500 Wh/kg, almost twice as much as current lithium-ion batteries.