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Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf


Visualizing invisible flows

Dr. Karin Schwarzenberger aims to directly visualize and measure flows at gas-liquid interfaces using custom-developed tracer particles, shedding light on mass transport in technological and natural systems. The project tackles the Marangoni effect and its impact on interface mobility and mass transfer.

A look inside stars and planets

A research team has produced the first experimental verification of a theoretically predicted flow state in the interiors of rapidly rotating celestial bodies. The experiment replicated the physical processes that occur in stars and planets, providing a robust experimental basis for testing theoretical models.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 26, 2026

CASUS and Microsoft Research join forces

The Skala AI model, developed by Microsoft Research AI for Science, is now available through the CP2K software ecosystem. CASUS and Microsoft Research collaborated to integrate Skala into CP2K, enabling more accurate quantum mechanical simulations of larger molecular systems. The collaboration aims to improve the accuracy and efficienc...

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 21, 2026

When quantum computers freeze

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf demonstrate that increasing qubits in adiabatic quantum computers makes them increasingly sensitive to disturbances, leading to a 'quantum Zeno effect' that can freeze computational processes. Mitigating measures like shielding and active protection methods can help overcome this issue.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNew Journal of Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 24, 2026

New solutions to the PFAS problem

Scientists at HZDR have developed two new processes to degrade PFAS: one uses hydrodynamic cavitation and the other employs cold atmospheric plasma. These methods show promise for reducing PFAS release into water bodies, a significant step towards securing Germany's drinking water supply.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 17, 2026

A second look to aim better

The study creates a radiohybrid approach that labels a single molecule with two different diagnostic radionuclides, enabling long-term visualization of therapeutic agent distribution. This allows for personalized cancer medicine by calculating optimal radiation doses for individual patients.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2026

Biobased spintronics

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have developed biobased spintronics using iron, cellulose, and starch to create sustainable magnetic field sensors. These sensors achieve levels of sensitivity comparable to commercial solutions and can be safely degraded or recycled.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 28, 2026

Understanding extreme states of matter faster

Researchers have developed a new procedure to speed up elaborate computer simulations analyzing matter under extreme conditions. The method, which uses mathematical transformation into imaginary time, enables faster evaluation of X-ray scattering experiments, improving fields like fusion research and laboratory astrophysics.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 26, 2026

Surrounded by stardust

Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf analyze ancient Antarctic ice to reveal the Local Interstellar Cloud's role in storing and supplying iron-60. The findings confirm a long-past stellar explosion as the source of this rare radioactive isotope, shedding new light on the origins of the Cloud.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2026

A probing look at hot plasma

A team of researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf has created a hot plasma composed of charged particles by combining two state-of-the-art lasers. This new method delivers fundamental insights into the interaction of high-energy lasers and matter under extreme conditions, opening up possibilities for diagnostics in laser fu...

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 14, 2026

Vegetation patterns and ecosystem resilience: relationship status “complicated”

Researchers challenge long-held assumptions about vegetation patterns in dryland ecosystems, finding that such patterns can actually indicate reduced ecosystem resilience. The new theoretical framework takes into account spatial constraints and environmental heterogeneities, revealing that ecosystem stability depends on specific enviro...

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 1, 2026

Model connects animal movement and population dynamics

Researchers developed a new theoretical framework that links individual animal movements to population dynamics across space and time. The range-resident logistic model incorporates interactions between multiple animals, providing a more accurate prediction of population sizes and helping inform real-world conservation recommendations.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalEcology Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 5, 2026

How uranium from mining enters the environment

A study investigates uranium exposure in children living near gold mining dumps and finds higher levels of uranium in their hair compared to children from reference sites. The study collected over 400 hair samples and analyzed them alongside information on the children's age, gender, and living conditions.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalEnvironmental Geochemistry and Health·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 29, 2026

Solar pacifiers

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf has developed a model that derives the Sun's known activity cycles from the cyclical influence of the planets' tidal forces. This synchronization automatically curbs solar activity, leading to subdued radiation eruptions and reduced geomagnetic storms.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalSolar Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2025

Flash-freezing silicon mimics Big Bang

A team of scientists from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf analyzed the behavior of flash-frozen silicon surfaces, revealing a strong impact of cooling rates on crystal growth. The results show that slow cooling produces large, ordered domains with a uniform honeycomb structure.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 22, 2025

Understanding carbon traps

Researchers have discovered a zinc-based metal-organic framework (MOF) that efficiently captures CO2 while resisting interference from water. The study reveals the unique adaptability of CALF-20 under varying conditions, making it a promising solution for industrial carbon capture

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalSmall·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2025

Quantum heat dynamics toggled by magnetic fields

Researchers found dramatically enhanced heat oscillations in ZrTe₅ under strong magnetic fields and low temperatures, attributed to a novel mechanism involving electron-phonon interactions. This phenomenon is counterintuitive and has significant implications for understanding quantum transport in semimetals.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (dupe)·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 19, 2025

From defect to high-tech material

Researchers at HZDR and TU Dresden developed a method to produce well-defined nanoparticles with controlled composition and structure, enabling the creation of complex materials with integrated functions. The team's innovative approach combined cation exchange with advanced synthetic, experimental, and theoretical methods.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalSmall·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 25, 2025

Anomaly in the deep sea

Researchers have found an unexpected accumulation of rare beryllium-10 isotopes in Pacific seabed samples, which could serve as a global time marker for dating geological archives spanning millions of years. The team proposes two possible explanations for the anomaly: changes in ocean currents or astrophysical events 10 million years ago.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 10, 2025

Temporarily apart

Researchers induced fast switching between electrically neutral and charged luminescent particles in an ultra-thin, two-dimensional material. The result opens up new perspectives for optical data processing and flexible detectors.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2024

Hair-thin wire with extreme conditions

A research team has successfully created and observed extreme conditions with a much smaller laser than before. They used a copper wire finer than a human hair to simulate the pressure and temperature of stars and planets, reaching densities eight times higher than normal copper and temperatures of 100,000 degrees Celsius.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 12, 2024

Metal foil as 3D scanner for electron beam

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have developed a novel method to measure the structure of microbunched plasma-wakefield-accelerated electron beams using metal foil. This technique enables precise control over the electron bunches, leading to brighter and more stable light in free-electron lasers.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2024