News Archive
New Master’s degree programme in Science of Materials launches at Humboldt-Universität
At the Adlershof Campus, Master’s students can gain qualifications in modern materials research:
From the 2026/27 winter semester, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin will be offering a new English-taught Master‘s degree programme in Science of Materials. Applications can be submitted until 31 August 2026. The…
AEMtec and Micross Sign Agreement to Drive Future Growth
Adlershof-based company AEMtec GmbH to become part of the US firm Micross Components, Inc.:
At the end of July, Micross Components, Inc. signed an agreement to acquire Berlin-based AEMtec GmbH. Through this acquisition, Micross is expanding its expertise in the fields of advanced packaging, photonics and…
Two attosecond flashes capture electrons in motion
Researchers at the Max Born Institute have developed a table-top technique in which attosecond pulses both initiate and probe electronic motion:
Using all-attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, the team resolved the oscillatory motion of an electron vacancy (an electronic “hole”) in xenon ions with a period of about three femtoseconds. The results have…
Taiga forests store carbon in the permafrost
HU study demonstrates the ecosystem service provided by boreal forests as a key contribution to climate protection:
A study by HU shows that, from Alaska to Siberia, boreal forests make a significant contribution to climate protection. The tree canopies protect the frozen ground from thawing deeper down, ensuring that the carbon…
Five Berlin-based research institutions join forces in data-driven materials research
Long-term collaboration agreed in the fields of research data, data infrastructures and AI:
Research data is regarded as key to materials research in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Five Berlin-based research institutions have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish long-term…
Designing mobility for older people – DLR identifies need for action
A study from the DLR Transport Research reveals older people’s requirements for safe, understandable and accessible mobility services:
The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) has conducted a study into the transport needs of people in their mid-60s and older. The study also analysed how current mobility services…
OptecNet Germany moves to Berlin
Umbrella organisation for optical technologies with new headquarters in Adlershof:
OptecNet Germany has relocated its headquarters to Berlin. With its new location, the association aims to be closer to federal policymakers and strengthen its dialogue with ministries and other key stakeholders. The…
PLATO space telescope – electronics ready for space
Telescope has passed all the necessary tests ahead of its planned launch in March 2027:
The PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) mission from the European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully completed its electromagnetic compatibility tests – and the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches…
Europe’s only gallium-oxide semiconductor producer raises €2M
Berlin-based Deeptech Startup NextGO Epi has received funding to become a global leader in next-generation power semiconductors:
NextGO Epi, a Berlin-based deep tech startup spun off from Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ), producing Gallium Oxide epitaxial wafers for next-generation power electronics, has secured a €2 million pre-seed…
New contact material boosts the efficiency of perovskite solar cells
The new carborane-based material improves efficiency and stability; it has since been patented and is already commercially available:
A newly developed material for the electron contact improves the efficiency of single perovskite solar cells and perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. The new material is based on a carborane molecule. It offers…
DFG continues to fund the HU project consortium FAIRmat until the end of 2038
In the new funding period, FAIRmat is placing greater emphasis on AI for data-driven science:
FAIRmat is a consortium for data infrastructure in the materials sciences, which has been coordinated by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) since its foundation in 2021. It forms part of the National Research Data…
Einstein Foundation awards grants to five researchers at Humboldt-Universität
The Foundation is strengthening Berlin as a centre of science and research while also supporting its international connectedness:
Einstein Chair Focus on Algebraic Curves Gavril Farkas, Professor of Algebraic Geometry at Humboldt-Universität since 2007, is to become an Einstein Professor. He is regarded as one of the world’s leading experts in…
Precision interface chemistry pushes the efficiency of perovskite solar cells
At HySPRINT at the HZB, the optimisation of solar cells will be significantly accelerated in future by autonomous robotic systems:
An international research collaboration has developed a new molecular strategy for controlling one of the most critical interfaces in perovskite solar cells. The resulting solar cells reached a power conversion…
New atomic trap boosts quantum performance by utilising surface forces
Researchers at HU have developed a new method for trapping and controlling atoms:
Trapping and controlling atoms is one of the technical foundations for utilising their quantum mechanical properties – for example, for secure communication in quantum networks or in quantum computing. Many novel…
Novel perovskite triple-junction solar cell with 27.3% efficiency developed
The triple-junction solar cell from HZB is not only efficient, but also long-term stable, lightweight and inexpensive:
Perovskite semiconductors efficiently convert sunlight into electrical energy; they are also inexpensive and extremely lightweight. A team at HZB has developed a triple-junction solar cell comprising different…
New sample environment at BESSY II allows glimpse into thermocatalytic processes
A novel measurement cell allows, for the first time, X-ray investigations under high pressures and temperatures:
A novel measurement cell allows, for the first time, soft and hard X-ray investigations under high pressures of up to 20 bar and temperatures of up to 400°C. This provides new insights into thermocatalytic processes,…
Spectacular high-speed flyby of the asteroid Torifune
DLR will support the scientific analysis of data taken by the Hayabusa2♯ asteroid probe:
On Sunday 5 July 2026, the Japanese Hayabusa2♯ asteroid mission flew past asteroid (98943) Torifune at very close range and at an extremely high speed of approximately five kilometres per second (18,000 kilometres per…
IKZ impresses in Leibniz evaluation with top rating and strategic momentum
Funding for the institute confirmed for a further seven-year period:
The Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ) has successfully completed its periodic evaluation by the Leibniz Association. The Leibniz Senate reviewed the evaluation report in July 2026 and confirmed the…
Autonomous rail transport: between optimism and scepticism
At the DLR Transport Research Institute, the acceptance conditions for automated rail transport were investigated:
In future, autonomous vehicles could be used for both local and long-distance transport. The Acceptance GoA3+ project, which investigated the attitudes of passengers and staff towards this, has now been…
New insights into quantum materials using magnetic imaging
Micro-flowers increase the local magnetic field and expand the range of applications for photoemission electron microscopy:
Materials with magnetic nanostructures have many potential applications such as in spintronics. To explore such materials, nanoscale magnetic-sensitive imaging techniques are very useful, but up to now only weak…