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effzettFORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JÜLICH’S MAGAZINE

PYTHON The wonderful world of programming

LIGHT SIGNALS LIGHT WEIGHT XXREADER SURVEY Plants signal stress Fuel cells are xxxxx with light dropping the pounds xxx Tell us what you think! 2 AS WE SEE IT

Deep breaths

Deep breaths – what you see here is not a discarded prototype of a Darth Vader mask but a “gasomat”, a device that was used at Jülich’s Institute of Medicine in 1964 to examine lung function. Curing lung diseases, including carcinomas, was one of the early tasks of Jülich’s medical research. The photo comes from the film and photo archive of Forschungszentrum Jülich.

From June, further insights into 60 years of research will be available at historie.fz-juelich.de TOPICS 3

NEWS IN BRIEF Branches of The ways of 5 knowledge waves

60 years – research at the centre

COVER STORY 16

Tangible evidence

The brain shows visible Researchers observe changes in individuals suffering atmospheric gravity waves. from depression. 25 18

SECTIONS The lighter the better Editorial Something 4 completely Publication details different 4

Multitalent with a fun factor: the unexpected journey of the What’s your research programming language Python. all about? 8 19 Paving the way for a start-up: early-career scientists improve fuel cells. 2.2 plus RESEARCH 20 26

The secret Reader survey: light of plants Do you like it? From climate killer to 27 raw material?

How CO2 from exhaust gases can be utilized. 22 Research in a tweet How plant stress can be observed from space. 28 14 4 EDITORIAL

Award-winning!

Forschungszentrum Jülich can claim this in many areas – but since No- vember 2015, this has also applied to effzett and the Annual Report. The International Corporate Media Award panel honoured both publications with their Award of Excellence. We are delighted – and would like to thank everyone involved in the publication of these magazines: particu- larly our scientists for their time, patience, and openness to talk about research in a different, fascinating way; our authors for the well-written articles; our photographers for capturing special moments; and our agency, SeitenPlan, for advising us and bringing everything together in the end.

Now we’re interested in your opinion on effzett! What do you like, what’s missing, and what can we improve? We have prepared an online reader survey for this purpose. You will find details at the end of the magazine. We are looking forward to receiving your suggestions and comments. Everyone who takes part until 20 May will be entered into a prize draw.

Want to read effzett on your tablet? Either But before you go right to the end of the magazine: right down to the last scan the QR code with page, we have filled this effzett with many stories on Jülich’s research. your tablet or visit our website: Why not have a good read? www.fz-juelich.de/effzett

We hope you enjoy it!

Your effzett editorial team

Impressum

effzett Forschungszentrum Jülich’s magazine, Graphics and layout: SeitenPlan GmbH, (p. 7 top); Andrzej Koston (cover, p. 3 top left, ­ ISSN 2364-2327 Corporate Publishing Dortmund, Germany p. 8–13); LynxVector/Shutterstock (p. 15 top (pot)); Martial Red/Shutterstock (p. 15 bottom); Maxx- Published by: Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Images: Forschungszentrum Jülich (p. 2, 5 bottom, Studio/­Shutterstock (p. 3 bottom centre, p. 22 left); 52425 Jülich, Germany p. 7 bottom; Forschungszentrum Jülich/Sebastian mediaphotos/istock (p. 27 top); Oak Ridge National Conception and editorial work: Annette Stettien, Bludau, Katrin Amunts (p. 18 (brain)); Forschungs­ Laboratory (p. 26 bottom); Photographee.eu/Shutter- Dr. Barbara Schunk, Christian Hohlfeld, Dr. Anne zentrum Jülich/Sascha Kreklau (p. 3 bottom left and stock (p.18 (background)); sappono/Shutterstock ­ Rother (responsible according to German press law) top centre, p.14–15, 19, 20–21); Forschungszentrum (p. 4); SeitenPlan GmbH (p. 25 (graphic)); SeitenPlan/ Jülich/Ralf-Uwe Limbach (p. 6 top, p. 12–13 portraits Jens Neubert (p. 16–17); Tricklabor (p. 6 bottom); Authors: Marcel Bülow, Dr. Frank Frick, Christian for illustrations, 24, 28); Forschungszentrum Jülich/ VectorA/Shutterstock (p. 15 centre); wk1003mike/ Hohlfeld, Katja Lüers, Katharina Menne, Dr. Regine Wilhelm-Peter Schneider (p. 6 centre); 1000 Words/ Shutterstock (p. 22 right); St. D. Miller, W.C. Straka III, Panknin, Birgit Pfeiffer, Prof. Bernd-A. Rusinek, Tobias Shutterstock (p. 5 top); bmaki/Shutterstock (p. 22 J. Yue, St. M. Smith, M. J. Alexander, L. Hoffmann, Schlößer, Dr. Barbara Schunk, Brigitte Stahl-Busse, centre); CIC Robotic Kit/Science Discovery (p. 27 M. Setvák, P. T. Partain - DOI: 10.1073/ Ilse Trautwein, Dr. Janine van Ackeren, Angela Wenzik, bottom); Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response pnas.1508084112 (p. 25 top) Erhard Zeiss, Peter Zekert Team, NASA/GSFC (p. 3 right); Fan jianhua/Shutter- Translation: Language Services, Forschungszentrum­ stock (p. 22 (background photo)); flatvector/Shutter- Contact: Corporate Communications, Jülich stock (p. 15 top (leaves)); Jojje/Shutterstock­ Tel.: +49 2461 61-4661, Fax: +49 2461 61-4666,­ Email: [email protected] NEWS IN BRIEF 5

TRAFFIC RESEARCH Wriggling past

Traffic at a standstill – the daily routine on the streets of Bangkok. But a small group wriggles through: motorbikes and bicycles make use of every gap that opens up in order to pass the waiting cars. In developing countries, this is common practice. Jülich and Berlin researchers have now developed a computer model with which they can precisely simulate the complex traffic behaviour of bikes. – INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED SIMULATION –

MATERIALS RESEARCH Cool chips of the future

p-type semiconductor A new class of materials will prevent computer chips from over- heating in future: topological insulators. They conduct electric n-type semiconductor current at their surface, but not on the inside. Researchers from silicon Jülich and Aachen have found a way to optimize the properties of these only recently discovered materials. Instead of mixing two semiconductors, as usual, they stacked alternating atom layers of the materials on top of each other. Thus, the desired properties can be produced more precisely and more reliably – e. g. the By varying the layer thickness of the semiconductor surfaces and edges of the insulators should conduct electric sandwiches made of silicon, bismuth telluride (an n-type semiconductor), and antimony telluride current more rapidly and with less electrical and thermal (a p-type semiconductor), topological insulators resistance than materials in use today. can be made to measure. – PETER GRÜNBERG INSTITUTE – 6 NEWS IN BRIEF

ERC GRANT Millions of funding awarded

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded two Jülich scientists Consolidator Grants. Nanophysicist Dr. Samir Lounis (top), who is also junior professor at RWTH Aachen University, and climate researcher Dr. Hendrik Fuchs (bottom) will use the funding to further expand their research. Samir Lounis investigates skyrmi- ons, complex magnetic nanostructures for information technology. A Jülich calculation method, which he wants to further develop with his team, will play a role in this. Spread over five years, he will receive funding totalling around € 2 million. Hendrik Fuchs is concerned with the “detergent” of the atmosphere: the hydroxyl (HO) radical. It removes contaminants from the air. Using his almost € 1.9 million in funding, the climate researcher wants to find out how the cleaning process works in areas where plants emit large amounts of organic compounds into the atmosphere. – INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED SIMULATION AND PETER GRÜNBERG INSTITUTE – – INSTITUTE OF ENERGY AND CLIMATE RESEARCH –

Preselecting active substances

A new test is hoped to help researchers recognize promising active substances against Alzheimer’s disease. It verifies how well a substance eliminates various particularly toxic protein accumulations. They are thought to cause nerve cells to die. An active substance is viewed as promising if it very efficiently destroys these accumulations, called oligomers. A targeted and precise preselection can decrease the number of necessary animal experiments and avoid failures in clinical tests. The Düsseldorf and Jülich researchers are currently working on optimizing their method even further.

– INSTITUTE OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS –

In the brain, the amyloid beta protein is cut out of a larger protein (left). As a single molecule, it is harmless, but over time, it can accumulate to form oligomers, from which insoluble fibrils and plaques develop later. 7

ANNIVERSARY For the curious

Forschungszentrum Jülich will open its doors to the public once again this year: this year’s Open Day will take place from 10:00 to 17:00 on Sunday, 5 June 2016. Visitors of all ages will have the oppor- tunity to explore the campus, experience research up close, and talk to the scientists. In the spirit of “60 years – research at the centre”, Jülich will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Further information is available at – WWW.TAGDERNEUGIER.DE – 3.5 seconds . . .

… instead of the previously usual 10–60 minutes: that’s how little time a Jülich transmission electron microscope needs to record a series of around 3,500 individual images. This was made possible by a new method developed by Jülich researchers. The individual images are transformed into 3D images – just like in computed tomography. The Jülich research- ers can now observe chemical reactions, for example, on the nanometre scale, in 3D, and almost in real time. In addition, the required electron beam is much weaker. This means that cells, bacteria, and viruses can be examined without damaging them. – ERNST RUSKA-CENTRE – – PETER GRÜNBERG INSTITUTE –

TAILORING MATERIALS KINDLING ENTHUSIASM FEEDING ALGAE

Seven Helmholtz centres have estab- In mid-December 2015, the JuLab A coal-fired power plant in lished a joint laboratory platform for schools laboratory of Forschungs­ ­Niederaußem supplies Jülich’s plant the purposes of developing powerful, zentrum Jülich celebrated its 10th researchers with carbon dioxide

tailored materials for the transfor­ anniversary. So far, more than (CO2). The scientists feed it to their mation of the German energy sector 40,000 children and young adults algae, from which base materials (Energiewende). The Helmholtz from the region have experi­ for the chemical industry, fuels, and Energy Materials Characterization mented, marvelled, and learned foodstuffs can be produced. The Platform (HEMCP) is also open to about scientific work there. Addi- operator of the Niederaußem power other scientists as well as to industry. tionally, around 100 teachers come plant, RWE, is researching how ­

Forschungszentrum Jülich coordi- to JuLab every year for further CO2 can be efficiently separated nates the platform. professional training. from flue gases. 8 COVER STORY

Comedy and computing In 1989, Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum christened his newly developed programming language Python – not because of any particular love for snakes but, “being in a slightly irreverent mood” as he would later say in interviews, as a tribute to the British comedy group Monty Python. The slightly absurd humour rapidly became the trademark of the new language – the instructions for Python programs often include references to Monty Python sketches, such as spam and egg, which refers to the famous spam sketch. The Python project dulwich, for example, is named after a sketch by the group that takes place in London Dulwich. If you delve further into Python instructions, you will also encounter references to the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. 9

something completely different

It is behind YouTube, Google, and animated movies. And at the same time, it is also an everyday tool in research: the programming language Python has evolved from a little but ambitious pastime to a global language among programmers. This may be due to the fact that it is “something completely different”, as the British comedy group Monty Python would put it.

December 1989: Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum wants himself, and I was impressed by how much you can achieve to solve two problems: First, he wants to avoid being bored with little effort. So I started teaching myself Python,” the at all costs over the upcoming Christmas holidays. Second, early-career scientist explains. He benefited from the fact that he wants to invent a programming language that will permit he had already participated in a general programming course him to make fast and easy headway in his current software at university and gained some experience with MATLAB, a project. He succeeds in both. It’s the birth of the programming commercial program widely used in science. language Python. WANTED: TAILOR-MADE SOLUTIONS Even van Rossum is surprised by what follows: Python grows Many scientists encounter similar situations: existing pro- up into a multitalent. Programmers solve even very complex grams often don’t suffice to tell instruments and computers -ex problems with the code. The open-source language has since actly what they should measure and calculate, or to evaluate conquered lecture halls, classrooms, and research laborato- data. Tailor-made programs cannot usually be simply bought ries. In 2015, the renowned specialist journal Nature expressly or ordered. Several times, Zimmermann experienced this recommended that early-career scientists learn Python. while at the Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI). “When we plan novel experiments or want to simulate certain properties of Jülich physicist Dr. Bernd Zimmermann has been working materials on a computer, we often have to program solutions with the programming language for seven years. “In 2009, I ourselves,” says Zimmermann. He researches the interaction wanted to combine and evaluate data from various simula- of the magnetic and electronic properties of solids on the tions for my Diplom thesis. But there wasn’t a suitable program nanoscale, which scientists hope will lead to breakthroughs for this purpose,” he remembers. There was nothing for it but in information technology. Complex data sets are the result, to roll up his sleeves and program something himself. Two with an abundance of various parameters, which the scien- aspects were important: in a best-case scenario, the program tists want to analyse and visualize. “For example, we investi- should be available for free, and it should be possible to learn gate what magnetic properties a metal has when it has been it rapidly, since time for the Diplom thesis was limited. “My intentionally contaminated with atoms from a different solid. office colleague recommended Python. He worked with it Can any laws be identified that could be used for developing 10 COVER STORY

components?” says Zimmermann. In order to find out, the researchers translate known physical theories into models and mathematical equations and thus simulate extensive scenar- The programming ios on the computer. The results are complex data sets out of which the scientists can filter the insights important to them. language is very efficient Python is particularly well suited for this: The programming when it comes to rapidly language is very efficient when it comes to rapidly writing program sequences and elegantly structuring and clearly writing program sequences displaying large volumes of data. and elegantly structuring Since the publication of the first full version in 1994, Python large volumes of data. has become an alternative to expensive, licensed software products for many scientists. At Jülich, climate researchers use the lean programming code to plan their research trips

The Zen of Python

Beautiful is better than ugly. In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess. Explicit is better than implicit. There should be one – and preferably Simple is better than complex. only one – obvious way to do it. Complex is better than complicated. Although that way may not be Flat is better than nested. obvious at first unless you’re Dutch. Sparse is better than dense. Now is better than never. Readability counts. Although never is often better than right now. Special cases aren’t special enough to break the rules. If the implementation is hard to explain, it’s a bad idea. Although practicality beats purity. If the implementation is easy to Errors should never pass silently. explain, it may be a good idea.

Unless explicitly silenced. Namespaces are one honking great idea – let’s do more of those! 11

and neuroscientists simulate the communication between neurons in the brain. In photovoltaics, the programming lan- guage helps to centrally store data taken from samples and to make them available online. Python is also in demand beyond Forschungszentrum Jülich, for example in space research or at CERN in Switzerland. Parts of the video platform YouTube and of the data exchange service Dropbox are programmed in Python, and the film industry uses the language for computer animations and special effects, for example in the 3D anima- tion software Blender. Google’s shortlink service is also based on it.

So what’s so special about Python compared to other ­programming languages? Part of the answer is revealed by the language’s philosophy, summarized in the “Zen of Python, by Tim Peters” – a tongue-in-cheek credo of programming, consisting of 19 aphorisms (see left). It states, for exam- ple: “Simple is better than complex. Complex is better than complicated.” Accordingly, Python is based on simple, clear rules, which means that it can be learned more rapidly than other programming languages. Tasks can also be programmed in significantly fewer lines of code than is the case in other languages. these can be really helpful if you want to try new solutions,” explains Zimmermann. Like a toolbox, programmers can GLUE LANGUAGE combine and customize the parts that are important for their Another essential advantage of Python is that individual current task – and then make them available to others on an program commands are directly executable and don’t have open-source basis. to be compiled first – i. e. translated into an executable file. Although this means reduced speed particularly for exten- For large-scale software projects, groups work together via sive programs, special additional modules can compensate online platforms such as GitHub or Bitbucket. There, they store for this. Python can also be combined with other languages the source code of an application which others can then copy such as Fortran, Java, C, or C++ for this purpose, since this and develop further. Debugging – which is part of everyday is their strength. Integrating elements from other languages development work – is also run via these platforms. Here, sci- also works very efficiently in Python. This is why it has been entists can also find partners from all over the world for their labelled a “fantastic glue language”. It is also the reason why it specific applications. is attractive for so many applications, supercomputing among them. Although other languages are better suited for paral- Another advantage of the Python community is that when- lel computing, since they make better use of the capacities ever newcomers or even experienced programmers are stuck of supercomputers, sequences can be better structured with with something, they often receive help rapidly. “When I Python. “You send your simulation job to the supercomputer started with Python, the support from the scientific commu- by means of a Python script. Then, the simulation is run on nity impressed me greatly, and it encouraged me to try my the supercomputer. Afterwards, the script collects the data own things,” Reimar Bauer remembers. He is a programmer and visualizes them – all in one go. That’s extremely handy,” at Jülich’s Institute of Energy and Climate Research and explains Zimmermann. himself a Python developer nowadays. He became aware of the language while he was looking for a suitable wiki system So that the wheel doesn’t have to be reinvented by every user, for his institute, a communication tool for scientific exchange. Python contains an extensive standard library that includes “Many developers invest a lot of time helping and supporting mathematical equations, for example. These play a role in newcomers. That’s part of the philosophy. There are network- many scientific applications in various disciplines. Over ing services, groups, and conferences all over the world,” time, more and more discipline-specific modules have been according to Reimar Bauer. He is also a member of the board added, developed jointly and made available free of charge of directors of Python Software Verband e. V. (PySV) and a by scientists – for example in bioinformatics, neuroscience, Fellow of the Python Software Foundation (PSF). These are astronomy, and quantum computing. These make for a very not commercial enterprises but non-profit organizations. They convenient basis for newcomers. “For most of the problems ensure that Python remains freely accessible, further develop I’ve encountered so far, existing approaches can be found the programming language, and support the growth of the online – even if sometimes they’re only code snippets. But varied international community of Python programmers. 12 COVER STORY

At Forschungszentrum Jülich, the Jülich Supercomputing Cen- tre offers Python courses for scientists. In accordance with the wishes expressed by Jülich’s institutes, the language has also been included on the curriculum for mathematical-technical software developers. During this dual study course taught at Forschungszentrum Jülich and Aachen University of Applied Sciences, the students learn to program applications for re- search with a practical orientation.

PLAYGROUND NOT JUST FOR KIDS Due to its advantages, Python is also used to kindle children’s enthusiasm for programming in some countries, such as the United Kingdom and some developing countries. A tiny single-board computer, which is a slightly bigger than a credit card and which already has Python installed, is used for this: the Raspberry Pi.

The BBC developed its own version, the Micro Bit, and it will give around one million of these to eleven- and twelve-year- olds for free in 2016. The device is hoped to arouse children’s interest for digital technology and programming.

But the tiny PC could also be a starting point into Python for adults. “You can do a lot of useful and fun things with it,” says Reimar Bauer. There are entire websites and magazines concerned with Raspberry Pi, which present users’ projects. “A colleague of mine programmed hers so that it automatically takes photos of birds visiting her bird bath and then sends the pictures to her.”

Maybe some of you need a clever software application? Or maybe you’d like to try something new over the holidays? Go ahead, roll up your sleeves, and get programming!

BIRGIT PFEIFFER

Reimar Bauer (left) and Bernd Zimmermann use Python for entirely different purposes. For Bauer, it serves as a tool to share knowl - edge in climate research, while Zimmermann uses it to simulate materials properties. 13

Getting started with Python

For beginners: Python for beginners, with download and tutorial on the pages of the Python Software Foundation: www.python.org/about/gettingstarted Documentation: https://docs.python.org/3

Courses and workshops: There are lots of free tutorials and online courses on Python, for example on iTunes U or the edc platform in the USA: www.edx.org/course?search_query=Python

For women: Special workshops and online services are also available for women who want to learn Python, among them PyLadies, PyLadies Remote, and Djangogirls. The latter offer workshops for beginners on web programming in Python using the development environment Django. Django Girls: djangogirls.org PyLadies: www.pyladies.com PyLadies Remote: remote.pyladies.com

Participate in a group: You can get an overview of Python user groups in the German-speaking region on the website of Python Software Verband e. V., where you are also invited to participate: python-verband.org/mitmachen/ug

Raspberry Pi: A neat way of starting is Raspberry Pi – a tiny single-board computer with which you can realize lots of fun projects in Python: www.raspberrypi.org

Python humour: www.python.org/doc/humor 14 RESEARCH

The secret light of plants

One garage, one idea – and the rest is history. Such legends are usually set in Silicon Valley. But the restless search for an answer in a dark room underneath the greenhouses of Technische Universität Darmstadt (TU) also has the makings of a thrilling tale: from basement to orbit, so to speak.

“It all began 20 years ago, with a concrete ques- the greenhouses of Biosphere 2 in Arizona. There, tion,” says biologist Prof. Uwe Rascher from the at lofty heights, he studied photosynthesis in tree Institute of Plant Sciences (IBG-2). “My objective tops. And yes, it’s true: leaves – no matter how was to find out whether photosynthesis hap- evenly green they appear – do not photosynthe- pens evenly all over a leaf or if there are areas size to the same extent everywhere. Fluorescence of differing activity.” This can’t be seen with the is also a direct measure of how intensively a plant naked eye. Inside the leaves of plants, a process binds CO2 and whether it is stressed. that is invisible to us takes place, during which light, water and carbon dioxide are converted MAKING STRESS VISIBLE into sugar and other substances with the aid of When plants are stressed by heat, parasites, the green pigment chlorophyll. But with a trick, adverse soils, or air pollution, the red glow this can be revealed because plants glow. Where changes – but differently because every plant they photosynthesize, they give off a weak, red reacts differently to stress. Nowadays, these fluorescent light. This red glow is stronger the changes can also be measured in daylight, thanks more excess, unusable light energy accumulates to high-performance spectrometers devel- in the leaves. oped and constructed under the leadership of Forschungszentrum Jülich. They also make mea­ This glow can’t be seen in daylight, however; surements from the air possible, using aircraft. usually, the ambient light is too bright. “The Thus, the researchers were able to investigate first fluorescence measuring instrument that I the fluorescent glow of large agricultural areas, had the chance to use as a student at the uni- ecosystems, and landscapes in Europe and the versity of Erlangen was absolutely enormous,” USA. The singularly successful measurement remembers Uwe Rascher, “it took up an entire lab campaigns were pivotal for the decision made by table.” Over the years, the technology has shrunk the European Space Agency (ESA) to place their tremendously. “During my doctoral work in the next Earth observation satellite at the service basement of the greenhouses at TU Darmstadt, of plant research. In seven years’ time, a fluo- the devices were already small enough to fit into rescence spectrometer will orbit the Earth and a plant chamber of about two by two metres,” Ra- render visible what plants glow, whether this is scher recalls. “Just three years later, the devices more or less intensive, and where. “These maps had been miniaturized so much that I was able will let us measure the effect of unfavourable to fasten them to a climbing harness,” he says, environmental conditions on plants across the recollecting his subsequent postdoc position in globe,” says Rascher. Agriculture, among other 15

Gaining insights thanks to an optical aid: plant researchers Uwe Rascher (left) and Andreas Burkart Experiment for school classes

What you need:

A plant with green leaves areas, will benefit: the maps will make it possible to improve the selection of crops for agricultural areas, or recognize initial damage by parasites or droughts faster and take rapid action.

The satellite mission will be backed by mea­- suring stations on the ground. Plant researcher ­ Dr. Andreas Burkart is responsible for these at An LED UV torch Jülich. Instead of climbing trees, the biologist (please don’t look into the light, and drafts circuit diagrams, solders and programs don’t point it at other people!) control units, and constructs spectrometers.

SEEING RED “For me, seeing really is believing,” stresses Burkart. For this reason, he likes guiding visitors into a darkened room on the ground floor of the institute. On the way there, he quickly picks a leaf Glasses with red lenses off a weeping fig meant to lend an air of cosiness (available for purchase as to the grey institute corridor. Its white-edged, “red laser glasses”) green leaves are ideally suited for the subsequent experiment: in the darkness, Burkart points What you have to do: the glimmering blue light of an LED UV torch 1 at the leaf. What is visible is a green leaf in a Place the plant in a dark room. blueish beam of light. Then, the biologist hands The darkness will interrupt the visitors red-tinted glasses, which completely photosynthesis. filter out the light of the torch. Suddenly, a red, fairy-like glow is visible in some spots of the leaf, 2 where it has begun photosynthesizing. The white Now point the UV torch at the plant. edge of the leaf doesn’t glow, since there are no The UV light will excite the chloroplasts there, and thus photosynthesis is not chlorophyll in the leaves and activate photosynthesis. possible. 3 Burkart is currently working on new spectro­ Put on the red glasses. The red meters – stationed on the ground – as well as the glow that is now visible is the plants’ associated control and data software. These units fluorescence. The red lenses of the will be positioned in several locations all over glasses filter out the blue UV light from the torch and only let the red light pass the world. They will collect fluorescence data in a that is emitted by the plant. largely autonomous way and transmit them to a central laboratory. There, the values will be com- 4 pared with the information collected by the ESA In daylight, we can’t see this red spectrometer in orbit. The researchers are certain glow with the naked eye because that they will thus obtain important insights into the much brighter sunlight outshines the state of health of our planet’s green lungs. the weak fluorescent signal from the plants.

BRIGITTE STAHL-BUSSE 16 RESEARCH

BRAIN ENVIRONMENT ENERGY INFORMATION

Green IT Structural Battery & biology Bioeconomy storage Data systems science

Nuclear Future Biophysics waste information Quantum technologies Neuroscience management High- technology performance materials

Plant Fuel cells Climate research research 1990 Simulation renamed science “Forschungszentrum Jülich” Micro- & Imaging Photo- nanoelectronics techniques Systems voltaics (PET/MRT) research

Bio- Atmospheric Neuro- technology Fusion chemistry biology research Materials Energy research research & High-performance Soil research reactor technology computing Information Particle physics technology Nuclear (e.g. with neutrons, had rons), chemistry

Nuclear medicine Life sciences (biology, agriculture) Physics (plasma & nuclear physics, Applied neutron research) Chemistry mathematics

1961 renamed “Nuclear 1990–2016: Orientation along social challenges Research Centre Jülich” (KFA)

1970–1990: Expansion and further development Nuclear Research 1956–1970: Foundation and operation 11 December 1956 Decision by NRW state parliament to build a nuclear research facility 17

BRAIN ENVIRONMENT ENERGY INFORMATION

60 YEARS – RESEARCH AT THE CENTRE

Green IT Structural Battery & Branches of biology Bioeconomy storage Data systems science knowledge Nuclear Future Biophysics Quantum waste information Whether it’s the number of management technologies Neuroscience High- technology buildings, employees, or research performance topics – since its foundation in materials 1956, Forschungszentrum Jülich has been growing. But as the graphic shows, this growth has Plant Fuel cells not been haphazard. Climate research research 1990 Simulation renamed science “Forschungszentrum Jülich” The growth of the institution, located right in the Micro- & middle of the Stetternich Forest, can be compared with Imaging Photo- nanoelectronics one of the trees growing there. Jülich’s seed is nuclear techniques voltaics research. It is the basis of the physical research prior- Systems ities, such as neutron and plasma physics, as well as (PET/MRT) research of the first branches. Researchers work on the topic of radioactivity, ranging from radiation-resistant reactor materials to biological radiation effects and radioactive Bio- tracers for medicine and agriculture. Atmospheric Neuro- technology Fusion chemistry biology research Materials This expertise is further developed and used in Energy research non-nuclear fields. Out of the physics branch, materi- research & High-performance als research grows, from which Green IT and future Soil research computing Information reactor technology Particle physics information technology develop; from chemistry, technology climate research arises. Applied mathematics, which Nuclear (e.g. with neutrons, had rons) starts out as an auxiliary institute for building reactors, chemistry develops into high-performance computing and then into simulation science. Today’s widespread crown Nuclear with the major priorities is formed, with some branches crossing several sections. Thus, brain researchers make medicine Life sciences use of simulation science, and knowledge from energy (biology, agriculture) Physics research flows into new computer concepts. This (plasma & nuclear physics, interconnectivity is made possible by one of Jülich’s Applied neutron research) principal characteristics: interdisciplinarity. Chemistry mathematics The tree may present Jülich’s development in a more harmonic way than it really has been. Naturally, there was no authoritative master plan in 1956 that is still 1961 renamed “Nuclear valid today – there are breaks, failed projects, and Research Centre Jülich” (KFA) delicate shoots which may yet grow. This tree does not show these. But what it does show is that the beacons of today have grown from the history of Forschungs­- Nuclear Research z­entrum Jülich.

BERND-A. RUSINEK 11 December 1956 Decision by NRW state parliament to build a nuclear research facility 18 FORSCHUNGRESEARCH

Tangible evidence

Listlessness, despondency, an emptiness inside: depression has many faces. Tangible evidence for the illness is, however, evident in the brain, as Jülich scientists have discovered.

Monika M.* wakes up very early every morning. She For this purpose, the scientists from the Institute of usually sleeps badly and feels strangely listless. There Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1) compared the is no real reason for this, but she is still constantly volume of this cerebral matter in the various frontal Depression robs sad and worried. The 52-year-old computer scientist pole areas in healthy and depressed individuals. people of the joy is hardly capable of going shopping or visiting the “A certain area, the medial frontal pole, is involved of living. Research- doctor. Just like around three million other people ­ in social-affective processes such as brooding or ers are trying to in Germany, Monika M. suffers from depression. self-reflection. These play a role in depression,” discover whether explains Sebastian Bludau. The analysis showed changes in the The symptoms of this psychiatric disorder are di- that this area is smaller in individuals suffering from frontal lobe of the verse, and the causes are not yet fully understood. In depression. The scientists were also able to detect brain are a cause or contrast, a structural change in the brain that Jülich a connection between the duration/severity of the a consequence of researchers recently identified for the first time is illness and brain volume: “The severer and longer the the illness. unambiguous. Dr. Sebastian Bludau and Prof. Simon illness, the smaller the amount of grey matter in the Eickhoff ascertained that in the brains of patients medial frontal pole,” the neuroscientist summarizes. suffering from depression, the amount of grey matter In contrast, there were no differences in the lateral is reduced in certain areas of the frontal pole. frontal pole, which is involved in cognitive processes such as memory. Whether these changes in the brain are a consequence or a cause of depression has yet to be investigated.

ILSE TRAUTWEIN

The JuBrain atlas Sebastian Bludau and Simon Eickhoff used the three-dimen- sional brain atlas JuBrain for their research. The digital refer- ence work was developed by a team of Jülich neuroscientists headed by Katrin Amunts and Karl Zilles and comprises maps of around 200 brain areas. In order to create it, ultrathin slices of the brains of deceased individuals were analysed by means of high-resolution technology and state-of-the-art image analysis. JuBrain is freely accessible for scientists, and enables them to effectively zoom into individual brain areas. The atlas has already permitted several new research insights.

* name changed by the editors 19

What’s your research all about, Dr. Plöger? Dr. Felix Plöger, Institute of Energy and Climate Research – Stratosphere

“I calculate the ‘ageing’ of air: at altitudes of 10–50 kilometres, air masses migrate from the tropics to the poles. In the process, they alter their chemical composition – we call this the ‘ageing’ of air. By means of model simulations and comparisons with trace gas measurements, we calculate the age of air and thus determine how fast it moves. It usually takes several years for this distance to be covered. According to climate models, this process is currently accelerating. I want to verify this since it could influence the distribution of contaminants and global warming.” 20 RESEARCH

Looking forward to their own enterprise: Vitali Weißbecker, Andreas Schulze Lohoff, and Klaus The lighter Wedlich (from left to right) the better

Three young Jülich researchers are sive scientific expertise to market their business taking the plunge and establishing model. The motivation for their own start-up is their own business. What drives fuel cells. This technology is environmentally them is fuel cells. Their recipe for friendly, emission-free, and produces pure water success: a pronounced decrease as a by-product. Fuel cells operate silently, are in weight and volume. more efficient than combustion engines, and generate electricity instead of motion, so that many fields of application can be considered. The bandwidth ranges from on-board power supply And the child still needs a name: “We really ha- on ships and combined heat and power units ven’t agreed on one yet,” says Vitali Weißbecker in homes, laptops, mobiles, and cameras up to (31), laughing. His colleagues Andreas Schulze vehicle propulsion. Entire stacks of such fuel cells Lohoff (30) and Klaus Wedlich (31) join in. The could supply cars with energy, for example. The three men are very cheerful in general on this main mechanical component of every fuel cell is a spring-like winter morning. The three scientists bipolar plate. The component separates reac- from the Institute of Energy and Climate Re- tion gases and coolants from each other. At the search (IEK-3) are on their way towards estab- same time, it conducts the electricity away and lishing their own business and are still looking therefore has to have good electrical conductivi- for a suitable name for their enterprise. They are ty. Conventional bipolar plates consist of graphite confident and ready for action with their exten- or a graphite-plastic mixture. The disadvantage: 21

that a life of pure research wouldn’t make him happy in the long term. An innovative start-up, by means of which he can develop his product to market maturity together with his two colleagues and friends, was the more exciting alternative. Weißbecker told his doctoral supervisor, Werner Lehnert, about his start-up plans. Right from the word go, he was convinced by the idea and supported the young researcher in his efforts, for example in filing the patent application. “For a while, it looked like we might fail because there were new requirements for patent applications,” Lehnert recalls. He heads the group on high-tem- perature polymer electrolyte fuel cells at IEK-3 and also holds a professorship at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of RWTH Aachen University. Today, he mentors the three. Meeting the four men together makes it very obvious: they are united by trust, respect, expertise, and great satisfaction in the start-up project.

The formalities have been concluded, the business plan is ready. “That was the greatest they are heavy. An 85-kilowatt fuel cell stack in a challenge,” says Weißbecker. After all, he is a car, for example, weighs around 150 kilograms. chemist and not a business economist. From July Instead of the heavy graphite plate, chemist 2016 onwards, one more person will support the Weißbecker, mechanical engineer Schulze trio: Alexander Funck (24) will ensure that the Lohoff, and materials scientist Wedlich utilize a numbers add up. All four personnel posts and much lighter metallic bipolar plate, reducing the the material costs will be funded for the next 18 weight of the stack by a factor of three, so that it months by Exist research transfer, an initiative now only weighs 50 kilograms. The highlight: to of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and stop the plate from rusting, they spray it with an Energy. Weißbecker and his colleagues want to ultrathin protective carbon coating, which they make good use of this time by optimizing the developed themselves. The result is a long-term properties of the carbon coating and testing it stable, corrosion-resistant fuel cell stack that in the field. There won’t be much time for sleep. is much lighter and takes up less space – that is In 2015, their tireless work was honoured with where industry suddenly becomes interested. additional seed money worth € 10,000: with its 50 2 kilograms lighter: enterprise concept, the trio won AC , an Aachen INCIDENTAL FINDING the new fuel cell stack competition for new start-ups. The subject of Weißbecker’s doctoral work at Forschungszentrum Jülich put him on the track weighs two thirds After the conclusion of the first Exist funding of this carbon-based coating in 2012. He was less than conventional phase in July 2017, establishing their own investigating various coatings for bipolar plates, stacks. business is next in line. By this time, the child such as nickel-chrome, graphite, and gold. can no longer be nameless. If everything goes Some of these materials are light, but they rust according to plan, the second Exist funding quickly, while others, such as gold, are simply phase will follow: the start-up will have to leave too expensive. More or less in passing, the young Forschungs­zentrum Jülich, and only materials man discovered the promising carbon compound, costs will then be financed. To put it bluntly: the which doesn’t yet exist on the market. So what’s project must be running smoothly by then. Vitali the exact atomic composition? “That’ll remain Weißbecker is already looking forward to that our trade secret,” says Weißbecker, laughing moment. again. The discovery suited the young man per- fectly, even back then, since he was already sure KATJA LÜERS 22 RESEARCH

Foam materials Fuel Fertilizer 23

From climate killer to raw material?

Global warming is steadily progressing. It is mainly caused by carbon dioxide blown into the air by power plants, industrial enterprises, cars, etc. The vision: CO2 emissions should decrease drastically. This could be achieved, for example, by separating the climate-damaging gas from waste gas flows and utilizing it as a raw material.

It now seems only a matter of time before they sink into the sea But the most important point is that the waste gases consist ­ completely, and their huts and villages no longer stand next to of pure carbon dioxide, which could be used directly. By beaches lined with palm trees but under water: the Marshall comparison, the waste gas flow of conventional power plants

Islands and the Maldives. Global warming is melting glaciers contains only 15 % CO2. and raising sea levels. So far, however, producing the necessary oxygen requires Emissions that we have been venting into the air with our a lot of energy. Jülich scientists headed by Dr. Wilhelm A. power plants, cement factories, and cars are to blame for Meulenberg, together with 14 other partners, are working on this state of affairs. CO2 is one of the key culprits. It is formed a far more efficient method as part of the GreenCC project: primarily in combustion processes. A few years ago, the idea they want to operate oxyfuel power plants with membranes was developed of separating CO2 from the other waste gases – since the efficiency loss of this method is far lower than that a technique called carbon capture by the scientific commu- of conventional methods. The basic principle: the waste gas in nity – and storing it underground far from the atmosphere. the power plant flows along a membrane on the other side of Technically, this is already possible. But – honestly – would which is air. Oxygen ions can pass through the membrane and you like to live close to such a storage site? After several failed move to the other side, into the waste gas, while nitrogen is legislative drafts, CO2 storage is now legally possible in Ger­ held back. In this way, the waste gas is enriched with oxygen many – but in practice, it is a dead letter. Instead, questions and can be fed back into the combustion process. Thus, nitro- now mostly concern the issue of how to use this greenhouse gen doesn’t enter the combustion gas – and the waste gas is gas as a raw material. virtually pure CO2. The Jülich researchers are developing the necessary ceramic membrane. SEPARATION FROM WASTE GASES

First, let’s have a look at how CO2 can be obtained from waste However, even the best method in the world is only useful if gases. There are several approaches to this. In the post-com- it is actually applied. “The most promising approach so far is bustion process, the gas is separated after the actual com- the post-combustion method, i. e. washing the waste gas after bustion process: chemicals such as amines wash the climate-­ combustion. Some demonstration facilities already exist. There damaging gas from the gas stream and, in a separator, release are also a few industrial enterprises considering oxyfuel – but it in concentrated form. Afterwards, the chemicals flow back so far, the approach has not caught on,” says Dr. Petra Zapp, so that they can start the hunt for CO2 once again. who is concerned with technology assessment at Forschungs­ zentrum Jülich. The reason is the costs: industrial enterprises

Oxyfuel power plants approach the problem from a different pay a penalty of € 6–8 per tonne of CO2 that they release into angle. Instead of burning energy carriers with air, as is the the air. If they were to collect and recycle the CO2, they would usual method, i.e. a mixture of 78 % nitrogen and 21 % oxy- have to cough up a lot more. Using membranes could make the gen, pure oxygen is used. Combustion is thus more efficient, process a lot more lucrative and thus perhaps make it a winner. combustion gas and waste gas flows are decreased and nitro- After all, only the future can tell which of the three approaches gen oxide, which is harmful to our health, is not produced. will win the race – or whether none of them will. 24 RESEARCH

Dr. Wilhelm A. Meulen­ Dr. Petra Zapp (IEK-STE) Dr. Norbert H. Menzler Dr. Alexander Otto (IEK-3) berg (IEK*-1) heads is concerned with tech- (IEK-1) heads the Solid studies electrochemical the Gas Separation nology assessment Oxide Fuel and Electro­ processes Membranes group lysis Cells group

REPLACING FOSSIL RESOURCES Algae could be another user of CO2 to supply energy: at

Nevertheless, let’s think one step ahead. Once pure CO2 has Forschungszentrum Jülich, scientists are feeding them with been separated from waste gases, the question arises: what carbon dioxide. The algae propagate and can then be dried to do with it? One option is the chemical industry – here, it and used as fuel. But, again, there is a catch: drying the algae could serve as a raw material, for example in the production requires a lot of energy. But depending on the climate zones, of urea, a popular component of fertilizer. “For the synthesis the Sun could take on this task.

of urea, around 110 million tonnes of CO2 per year are used worldwide,” explains Dr. Alexander Otto, whose doctoral work BOTTLENECK HYDROGEN

at Forschungszentrum Jülich focused on this topic. This CO2, Whatever way carbon dioxide is to be used, in almost all cases however, doesn’t come from power plant stacks but from the hydrogen is required as a reactant. If it is produced by means urea producers’ own ammonia production. Chemicals giant of electrolysis – i. e. splitting water by means of electricity Bayer, energy supplier RWE, and RWTH Aachen University from renewable sources – this technique is extremely environ-

do it differently: they want to use CO2 from power plant waste mentally friendly, but when it comes to economic viability, the gases to produce plastics. It is hoped that the carbon dioxide record is poor. Fuel cells require relatively large amounts of can replace the conventionally used crude oil, at least in part. electricity, which simply makes hydrogen too expensive – and There is a pilot plant for this purpose in Dormagen. It produces it is expected to remain this way for the next few years. plastics that are necessary, for example, for manufacturing foam material for mattresses. Jülich scientists therefore want to make electrolysis cheaper. “In concrete terms, we are trying to reduce the degradation of However: “Even if we were to obtain all the relevant chemi- electrolysis cells at high temperatures,” explains Menzler. Deg-

cal products and plastics by means of CO2 from waste gases, radation effects in materials are the cause of the decrease in Europe’s chemical industry could only use a fraction of all stack performance over time. Jülich researchers have reduced greenhouse gases produced in Europe,” according to Otto. stack degradation down to about 1 percent. This means that “Only 2.3 % at most could be saved this way.” after 1,000 hours of operation, the cells require only 1 percent more electricity to produce the same amount of hydrogen as at Another idea remains: converting the climate-damaging gas the beginning. “The price of the gas that is produced there- into fuel. Sunfire GmbH is currently building a demonstrator fore depends on electricity prices,” Menzler continues, “while

in Dresden to convert CO2 and hydrogen into petrol. Jülich purchasing the hardware costs less now than it did five or ten researchers are involved in this as suppliers of hydrogen. They years ago.” In the long term, this could mean a great opportu- are optimizing industrial high-temperature fuel cells which nity opening up. produce hydrogen by means of electrolysis. “If the necessary electricity for the fuel cells stems from wind or solar power JANINE VAN ACKEREN plants, petrol can thus be produced in an environmentally friendly way,” says Dr. Norbert H. Menzler, expert for solid ox- ide fuel and electrolysis cells at Forschungszentrum Jülich. In general, the concept already works, as is shown by a 40-kilo- watt demonstration facility. Menzler is convinced that “In the long term, this technology is a must, since aircraft and ships will require kerosene or diesel for a long time. The relevant research must be started now so that the technology is ready when the time comes.” *IEK = Institute of Energy and Climate Research 25 The ways of waves

Atmospheric gravity waves influence our climate. It was previously not possible to measure the propagation of these waves. A lucky find in the data of a NASA satellite has permitted researchers to get a decisive step closer.

Just like a stone When a stone drops into water, it creates ring- Since the Day/Night Band sensor only collects dropped into water: shaped ripples. It looks the same when strong data from an altitude of around 80–90 kilo- gravity waves over thunderstorms, tropical storms, or volcanic metres, the researchers combined their analyses North America eruptions cause the air particles of the Earth’s with infrared measurements from NASA’s Aqua atmosphere to oscillate. These atmospheric satellite, which investigates gravity waves in the gravity waves propagate sideways and upwards stratosphere at about 30–40 kilometres. In this and influence winds, temperatures, and the way, they were able to track the waves through chemical composition of the middle and upper various layers of the atmosphere. The research- atmosphere. For climate research, they are an ers’ aim now is to continuously observe the for- important building block for a better understand- mation and propagation of the waves throughout A thunderstorm ing and prediction of global flow patterns in the the next few years. The new knowledge will then causes energy to atmosphere. be used to review and improve existing climate be released. This models. makes the atmos- It was previously not possible to measure the phere oscillate. propagation of these waves from their excita- KATHARINA MENNE Sensors on board tion at the ground up to their dissolution at the satellites can track boundary to space at an altitude of around 100 the path of the kilometres. By means of infrared images from gravity waves. two different NASA environmental satellites, an international team of researchers involving Jülich Suomi-NPP satellite has now come one decisive step closer to that objective: they were able to track gravity waves Aqua satellite through various layers of the atmosphere.

“The discovery of gravity waves in the new NASA Space data was an unexpected stroke of luck,” says Dr. Lars Hoffmann, delighted. He heads the climate SimLab at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre and was involved in evaluating the satellite data. “We were able for the first time to show that even Measuring Mesosphere volcanic eruptions can generate gravity waves.” range

The discovery was made possible by the extreme light sensitivity of the new Day/Night Band Measuring range infrared sensor on board the Suomi-NPP satellite. Stratosphere Its proper task is making the Earth’s surface and Gravity waves cloud formations visible from space even at night. But due to its sensitivity, it also records a very weak type of infrared radiation called nightglow. It is a weak glow in the night sky, caused by Thunderstorm cell Troposphere various photochemical processes in the meso- sphere. Atmospheric gravity waves influence this radiation and are therefore visible in the sensor’s Earth’s surface images. 26 RESEARCH Conducting research where others distil whiskey

On behalf of Jülich, Dr. Niina Jalarvo works in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 7,000 km There, she supervises a measuring instrument at the strongest pulsed neutron source in the world. Jülich

USA Oak Ridge

The best-known American whiskey comes 2.2 This has advantages for both institutions: from Tennessee. It is filtered drop by drop plus scientists from Jülich and other German Jülich’s campus measures 2.2 through charcoal and matured in hand-made research establishments thus have access km2. But Jülich scientists are barrels for several years. Elsewhere in Tennessee, to the globally unique neutron source in Oak active beyond the campus. an entirely different pace is set: at the spallation Ridge, and SNS is provided with specially devel- This section features brief re- ports on where they conduct neutron source (SNS). There, neutrons – elec- oped measuring instruments, including compe- research. This time around, trically neutral elementary particles – speed tent supervisors. the spotlight is on Oak Ridge, through various materials at more than 1,000 Tennessee. kilometres per hour. In this way, researchers But not only German experts come to Oak Ridge: want to find out where atoms are located in a “It’s a bonus that researchers from all over the material and how the atoms move. “We need this world work here,” says Jarvalo. Science char- fundamental knowledge on the processes taking acterizes the city: the National Laboratory, for place on the atomic scale in order to improve example, is not only home to the SNS neutron materials and tailor them for future technolog- source but also to one of the fastest supercomput- ical applications,” explains Jalarvo. On behalf ers in the world. Daily life in Oak Ridge in general of Jülich, the scientist from Finland researches has little to do with the laid-back Tennessean ex- electrolytes for batteries and fuel cells, among istence in the whiskey producers’ advertisements. other things. But in spite of all the bustle at SNS, it is not just Looking into the heart the whiskey producers who have to be patient: of BASIS: researchers She also supports other scientists from all over the scientists also need to take their time – their can conduct exper- the world who use the BASIS measuring in- measurements often take several days. iments at the SNS strument for their research. It is one of three neutron source in Oak instruments at SNS operated or co-operated by FRANK FRICK Ridge by means of the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS). the Jülich measuring instrument.

SNS in figures 6 JCNS employees are active at SNS.

A total of 17 measuring instruments are in operation. More than 700 visiting scientists work at SNS every year. 27

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RESEARCH IN A TWEET

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