Surviving the Extreme: Scientists Discover Life in the Smoke of Underwater Volcanoes
In the depths of the ocean, along tectonic plate boundaries, hydrothermal vents emit hot fluids. These fluids lack oxygen and are rich in metals like…
Helmholtz Centre News
Vanishing Stars: The Alarming Global Trend of Losing Sight of the Night Sky
Visibility of Stars in the Night Sky Declines Faster Than Previously Thought This is shown by a study in the journal Science based on a…
Study Shows Siberian Tundra Could Virtually Disappear by Mid-Millennium
Research shows that only ambitious climate protection measures can still save a third of the tundra. Temperatures in the Arctic are climbing rapidly as a…
Tiny Plastic Particles From the Atmosphere Are Polluting Earth’s Oceans
In a new study, an international team of researchers investigates the atmosphere as a relevant source of plastic pollution in our planet’s waters. According to…
Antarctic Orca Submarine Volcano Blasted by Swarm of 85,000 Earthquakes
In a remote area, a mix of geophysical methods identifies magma transfer below the seafloor as the cause. Even off the coast of Antarctica, volcanoes…
The Global “Plastic Flood” – Even the High North Arctic Ocean Can’t Escape Microplastic Pollution
A new AWI-led study shows: there is now a concerning degree of plastic pollution in the Arctic Ocean. Even the High North can’t escape the…
“Important and Unexpected Finding” – Formation of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Was Very Different Than Previously Believed
AWI experts confirm the delayed spread of the ice sheet 35 million years ago. Roughly 35 million years ago, Earth cooled rapidly. At roughly the…
Massive Sponge Gardens Discovered on the Peaks of Extinct Underwater Volcanoes in the Arctic Deep Sea
Sponges grow in large numbers and to impressive size on the peaks of extinct underwater volcanoes. Massive sponge gardens thrive on top of seamounts in…
Ocean Eddies Could Explain Antarctic Sea-Ice Paradox: Why Sea-Ice Extent Hasn’t Changed Much Since 1979
AWI study provides the basis for reliable projections of the impacts of climate change in the Antarctic. Despite global warming and the sea-ice loss in…
“Spectacular Discovery” in Antarctica: Massive Icefish Breeding Colony With 60 Million Nests
Researchers detect around 60 million nests of Antarctic icefish over a 240 square kilometers area in the Weddell Sea. Near the Filchner Ice Shelf in…
Element Synthesis in the Universe: Where Does Gold Come From?
How are chemical elements produced in our Universe? Where do heavy elements like gold and uranium come from? Using computer simulations, a research team from…
New Insights Into the Dynamic Inner Structure of the Neutron
An international research team with participation from Mainz and Darmstadt measures neutron form factors with previously unattained precision. All known atomic nuclei and therefore almost…
Combating Maritime Litter: Innovative Solutions for Fighting Pollution in the Oceans
Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon categorizes innovative solutions for fighting pollution in the oceans. Marine litter is among the most urgent global pollution issues. Marine scientist Nikoleta Bellou…
What Is Happening Deep Beneath the Surface of Ice Planets?
Deep Oceans Dissolve the Rocky Shell of Water-Ice Planets What is happening deep beneath the surface of ice planets? Is there liquid water, and if…
Less Forest, More Species: Climate Change Drives Declining Biodiversity in Tibet’s Mountainous Regions
Study on declining biodiversity in Tibet’s mountainous regions in response to climate change. Normally, mountain forests are among the most diverse habitats in alpine regions….
Red Sea Is No Longer a Baby Ocean: Hidden Structures Reveal 13 Million Years of Seafloor Spreading
It is 2,250 kilometers long, but only 355 kilometers wide at its widest point — on a world map, the Red Sea hardly resembles an…
Surprise in the Deep Sea: Researchers Discover Unexpected Paths on the Ocean Floor
Sponges: They are considered to be one of the most primitive forms of animal life, because they have neither locomotion organs nor a nervous system….
Scientists Discover How Electrons Close to Earth Can Reach Almost the Speed of Light
New study found that electrons can reach ultra-relativistic energies for very special conditions in the magnetosphere when space is devoid of plasma. Recent measurements from…
