Homo Sapiens Older Than Previously Than Conducting Light with Very Low Thought Loss

B56133

The Science Magazine of the Max Planck Society 3.2017

The Roots of Humankind

SOCIAL POLICY OPTICS 3D PRINTING CLIMATE RESEARCH A New Rule for Glass Fibre Built Sailing Close Public Pensions Rainbows with Light to the Wind Max Planck Innovation is responsible for the technology transfer of the Max Planck Society and, as such, the link between industry and basic research. With our interdisciplinary team we advise and support scientists in evaluating their inventions, filing patents and founding companies. We offer industry a unique access to the innovations of the Max Planck Institutes. Thus we perform an important task: the transfer of basic research results into products, which contribute to the economic and social progress.

Connecting Science and Business

www.max-planck-innovation.de ON LOCATION Photo: Valérie Schwab-Lavriˇc

At the End of the World

Dusty, windy, desolate – “an end one would rather not see” is how Argentinian author Mempo Giardinelli describes the Patagonian mesetas. Yet Gerd Gleixner and his colleagues from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry specifically chose the region for one of their research expeditions: its enormous, grassy, high plateaus of volcanic origin offer conditions that are hard to find anywhere else in the world. The steep slopes of the Andes mean that the clouds arriving on westerly winds from the Pacific release their rain on the Chilean side of the mountain range. But the clouds carried over from the east also pass over the flat plateaus, the only significant rainfall in the region occurs near the mountains. These exceptional geographical circumstances of the mesetas make it possible to take soil and sediment samples over thousands of miles along a north-south route that always has identical precipitation conditions, thus affording a unique opportunity to investigate the effect of temperature on the soil’s carbon exchange rate isolated from the influence of rainfall. Gleixner’s research group is particularly interested in how ecosystems react to climate change. By identifying resistant biomolecules and using them as biomarkers, the researchers are able to exploit the soil and sea sediments in the Argentinian mesetas as a climate archive. Gleixner’s team is reconstructing climatic events from the past 10,000 to 20,000 years in order to determine the capacity of organisms and ecosystems to adapt to future climatic changes. For the researchers, the old refrigerator in the middle of this image, which someone disposed of in the grassy expanse of the plateaus, symbolized the need to find parameters that can help cool our planet’s climate systems down again.

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 3 Contents

In retirement: The age at which people can retire is one of the main points of 18 THE ROOTS OF HUMANKIND 10 dispute in the political discussion.

18 Face to Face with Neanderthals PERSPECTIVES Neanderthals and modern humans must have coexisted in Europe for New Ways to Promote Talent several thousand years. What happened when they encountered each 06 other and how they influenced one another are riveting questions. 06 Flowering Research Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology 07 “The euro project has failed” in Leipzig are searching for the answers. 08 Global Movement for Science 26 Change That Came from the Plowed Field 08 Impressive Ceremony to Mark Centenary The transition to agriculture changed human society more drastically 09 Center for Systems Biology Opened than almost any other innovation. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena are investigating 09 On the Net this revolution from very different perspectives. 34 Environmental Sins from Prehistoric Times VIEWPOINT Human beings are currently changing the Earth on an unprecedented 10 A New Rule for Public Pensions scale. But when did the transformation of our planet begin – and with Few if any socio-political topics prey it the human age, the Anthropocene? Using new methods, researchers on the mind as much as financial at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History are security in old age. However, per- searching for the earliest traces of human activity. ceived truth is a poor foundation on which to base pension security.

FOCUS

18 Face to Face with Neanderthals 26 Ch ange That Came from the Plowed Field 34 Environmental Sins from ON THE COVER “Where did we come from?” is one of the fundamental questions Prehistoric Times of humankind. Archaeologists, anthropologists and geneticists are finding more and more clues about where the first humans came from, how they spread

throughout the world and how they lived. Cover: P.PLAILLY/E.DAYNES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; photos this page: MPI for the Science of Human History (large image), Sebasti an Kahnert/dpa (small image)

4 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 In the furnace: The glass fibers In harmony: Fully automated In the harbor: On board the Maria S. drawn from the melt are as thin pipetting robots analyze tens Merian, geologist Ralf Schiebel waits 48 as a human hair. 54 of thousands of proteomes. 68 for the next departure.

SPECTRUM PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE

42 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 48 Glass Fibre Rainbows 68 Sailing Close to the Wind Scanner for Individual Proteins Fibres made of glass can do more Personal Portrait: Ralf Schiebel 42 Homo sapiens Older than Previously than conducting light with very low Thought loss. Using photonic crystal fibres, 42 Neutrinos Drive Supernovae physicists are manipulating the REGULAR FEATURES properties of laser light and using 43 Pointing a Finger at Electronics the fibres to develop sensors for 03 On Location 44 The Amazing Flexibility of the medicine and technology. 16 Post from – Massachusetts, USA Human Mind Fascinating Hive Mind 44 With the Grip of a Gecko

right) 76 Flashback 45 Gut Bacteria Affect Aging to BIOLOGY & MEDICINE The Old House and the Sea 45 Gravitational Waves Detected (left 79 Max Planck Community for the Third Time 54 The Protein Puzzle 79 From the Lab to the Stage The human body consists of tens 46 DNA from Prehistoric Humans 80 “We want to bring the best minds of thousands of proteins that occur Chemistry Discovered in Cave Soil together”

for in different variants. Using clever 46 Shedding Light on the Cosmic Web 81 Childcare Subsidies algorithms and a lot of computing Being Overweight Increases Risk 82 Fascinated by Microbiology 47 power, scientists aim to decode the of Alzheimer’s

Weis/MPI 83 Research Establishments human proteome for the benefit 47 Zika Viruses Produced in the Lab of medical science. 83 Publisher’s Information Ulrike 47 Diagnosing Cancer with a Breath Test Griesch, MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGY Axel

60 Built with Light 3 D printing is the future. But it’s Weishart, not yet possible to get the most out of the materials and the production Tilman processes used. Scientists are working to help the new method come Cover: P.PLAILLY/E.DAYNES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; photos this page: MPI for the Science of Human History (large image), Sebastian Kahnert/dpa (small image) Photos: of age.

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 5 PERSPECTIVES

New Ways to Promote Talent

Annual Meeting of the Max Planck Society focuses on junior scientists

A ceremonial setting: Max Planck President Martin Stratmann speaks during the Plenary Assembly in the Kaisersaal in Erfurt.

search, confirmed his ministry’s intention to promote the networks. The Annual Meeting began with the presentation of the Stifterverband Science Prize. Peter H. Seeberger, Direc- tor at the Max Planck Institute of Col- loids and Interfaces, received the award and the accompanying cash prize of 50,000 euros for his pioneering work on automated sugar synthesis. In addition, outstanding junior scientists were presented with awards including the Otto Hahn Medal, which recognizes outstanding scientific achievement by doctoral students. In the meeting of the Max Planck To attract the best international talent, was the Max Planck Schools: interre- Senate, Rüdiger Willems was confirmed you need an enticing offer and high gional research and education net- as the new Secretary General of the Max visibility – as Max Planck President works established in collaboration Planck Society. The lawyer has held the Martin Stratmann discussed in his with the German Rectors’ Conference office on a provisional basis since Feb- closing speech at the 68th Annual and other partners. In his address, ruary 2017 and previously served as Meeting, held in late June in Erfurt, Georg Schütte, State Secretary in the Deputy Secretary General for more than Jena and Weimar. One central issue Federal Ministry for Education and Re- ten years.

Flowering Research

“Jugend forscht” – The Max Planck Society congratulates young researchers

The most talented participants in Germany’s “Jugend forscht” initiative were honored at a ceremony held in Erlangen in May. The Max Planck Society has donated the prize in the physics category for some time now. Gerd Leuchs, Director at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, presented the first prize in this year’s national competition to three ele - mentary school students from Berlin. Matthias Grützner, Julian Egbert and Arne Geipel jointly uncovered a surprising phenomenon: when a jet of water encounters a coarse surface, such as a wooden board, regular spiral-shaped patterns can form that are reminiscent of a sunflower’s disc florets. The 16-year-olds found an explanation for this in the minute pro- trusions in the rough surface, which break up the running water and thus form the pattern. The three pupils tested their theory using an experiment in which they allowed water to fall onto a nail and then recorded the flow with a camera. The results confirmed their tentative explanation. The jury praised the resourceful and intelligent manner in which the young Proud winners: Matthias Grützner, Julian Egbert and Arne researchers investigated the phenomenon they had uncovered – and the Geipel (from left) receive their “Jugend forscht” certificates

fact that they independently reached a theoretical description. from Max Planck Director Gerd Leuchs. Photos: Amac Garbe (top), Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V. (bottom)

6 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 Photo: Private collection “The euro project has failed” ing, but it can be justified. be can it but ing, engineersocialin experiment foolhardy a been has this question, your of part ond manner. sec the to answer In this respect, export-oriented same the in grow can ers oth that hoped is it succeeds, ultimately restructuring a such if And plan. the was That athird. than more by grown has ratio export its though, time, same the at ter; quar a by shrunk has economy Greek The approach? legitimate a path country’s a changing completely is But progress. of signs are There Europeanlevel. at the issues these with dealing for ic basis democrat no is there as resolved, be conflict can’t this But saved. be to countries the of reliability and gratitude of lack the as well as loans, bailout of risks the about frustrated is population the of part a least at North, economic the of countries the in And union. monetary the of restraints the against rebellion suppressed a rently cur is there Italy, and Portugal Greece, In play? citizens do role What diversity. its all en- in Europe hance and reinforce to wanted we stead, again. In- other each against arms never up take would we that resolved we War, World Second the After East. Middle the or Ukraine Trump, the example, consider, for – outside from is pressure there if Or want. voters their and states member the both de could identity European A integration. over- economic of case a is union etary mon- The end. wrong the from We started end? wrong the from start we did Or identity? European no is there that fact the in lie problem the Does union. tary mone the with identification political citizens’ develop to done was er,nothing Howev equalized. were currencies which by constructed was system technical A form, In yes. current its W. Scharpf: Fritz failed? project euro the Has foundation. very its attacks Union Monetary European the of criticism your Mr. Scharpf, union monetary the criticizes strongly Cologne, in Societies of Study the for Institute Planck Max the at Emeritus Director Scharpf,W. Fritz velop if Europe does something that that something does Europe if velop

------

has to leave the euro? euro? the leave to has country that or this okay, say: to option an be it Would options? other any actually there Are under international pressure. If there were were there If pressure. international under came they when another one supported and rates exchange their defining in ed cooperat states member The exists. It still times? the with keeping in still it Is 1979. in created d’Estaing Giscard and Schmidt Helmut that System tary Mone European the from emerged which … … II Mechanism Rate Exchange the ists: ex already structure backup a part, other the For better. much function also would and better much integrate could that el mod German the on based group currency hard a be would This joined. have states member Baltic the then, Since Finland. and Denmark Netherlands, the Austria, Germany, namely union, monetary the before existed that block” “Deutschmark old the includes union. This monetary rent cur the in highly system economic a competitive form Germany, with together that, countries the be would structure One like? look that might What possible.bewould structure better a to con transition a trolled that so and choice, only the be wouldn’t option chaos the it, to down it if came that, so pressure acute without and course in – due about come to system monetary two-level a enable to now rules introduce to sensible it consider would I now? what So, that. with cope to able be wouldn’t Europe integration. European to its loyalty on renege unilaterally would that country last very is the Germany course of But economy. national overpowering an such without union monetary a in easily more combated be could Problems cation. reunifi- since German especially situation, unique geographically and historically a in rooted is fact this because and Europe, in economy competitive most and largest the is Germany because That’s euro. the leave to Germany for be actually would option prudent economically most The ------

union. etary mon defined broadly more a in place its find could Europe of all In fact, accession. consider also might Switzerland and way Nor as – world the in sway greater hold likely would Europe so markets, nance fi global on presence communal strong a have still would block EU. This the in be would they countries: of groups both in institutionallysupported be would rope Eu with identification But spirals. uation deval or inflation of risk the and markets capital on speculation against protection also but flexibility only not enjoy II nism Mecha Rate Exchange of members The classes? two or – speeds two with Europe a that Is rates. exchange of flexibility the enjoy would countries strong less the and benefits, and opportunities its of all with community, of safety the to return countries strong The Bank. Central European the by made bewould foreign markets exchange for support on Today,decision a devalued. or revalued were currencies the then ness, competitive in their differences long-term Fritz W. Scharpf W. Fritz Interview: Martin Tschechne Martin Interview: 3 | MaxPlanckResearch 17MaxPlanckResearch PERSPECTIVES 7 ------PERSPECTIVES

Global Movement for Science

At more than 600 locations worldwide, people took to the streets for the “March for Science”

On April 22, researchers, students and citizens around the ganizers, the focus at the demonstrations in Germany was world took part in the “March for Science” to support sci- on promoting the “value of science, facts and evidence-based ence and its role in politics and society. According to the or- conduct in an age of alternative facts.” Max Planck scientists also participated, helping with planning in the organi- zational team, distributing flyers, giving speeches or march- ing. Demonstrations were held in more than 20 cities in Ger- many, in many cases with active participation of local Max Planck Institutes. Indeed, leading Max Planck scientists, including Nobel Prize laureates, spoke out in support of the “March for Science” in Berlin. In his speech at the demonstration in Munich, Max Planck President Martin Stratmann warned that scientific freedom was coming under increasing pressure internationally. “We cannot accept that, in times when people are changing this planet on a scale never seen before, decisions are made without due consideration of scientific facts,” Stratmann said. “We must not act dumber than we are.”

Creative protest: At the “March for Science” in Munich, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology advocated intelligent actions with an umbrella reading “Let it Brain.”

Impressive Ceremony to Mark Centenary Japanese research organization RIKEN celebrates 100th birthday

Five research campuses and some 2,000 scientists, primarily in the fields of physics, chemistry, and life and computer sciences make up RIKEN Japan’s leading organization for basic research. While the Max Planck Society also covers the human sciences, both organizations focus on research at the fron- tiers of knowledge – and enjoy a close relationship, thanks in no small part to decades of collaborative endeavors. Martin Stratmann emphasized this in Tokyo, where he was the only international representative among the 600 invited guests to be asked to give a brief congratulatory speech on the occasion of the research organization’s 100th birthday. Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko personally attended the ceremony, while further prominent speakers included two Nobel Prize laureates – particle physicist Takaaki Kajita and stem cell researcher Shinya Yamanaka – both of whom gave commemorative speeches. During his trip, Stratmann also held discussions with various people on deepening scientific cooperation, including the President of RIKEN, Hiroshi Matsumoto, and the Presi- dent of the University of Tokyo, Makoto Gonokami. There At the evening reception for the 100th anniversary celebrations: were also meetings between scientists from both countries. Martin Stratmann (right) was invited to perform kagami-biraki – These included the opportunity for Stratmann to meet with the traditional ceremony for breaking open a sake barrel. Also pictured

nearly 20 Max Planck alumni. are RIKEN President Matsumoto (left) and Science Minister Tsuruho. Photos: Amac Garbe/MPG (top), RIKEN (bottom)

8 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 PERSPECTIVES

Center for Systems Biology Opened

Joint venture of the Max Planck Society and the Technische Universität Dresden seeks to unravel cellular processes

It’s a delicate balance: molecules arrange themselves to become cells, cells form networks to make tissue and tissues form organs. This process occurs only in the correct spatial arrangement and chronological sequence. At the Center for Systems Biology Dresden, a joint venture of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems and the Technische Universität Dresden, researchers seek to understand how cells synchronize with one another to form tissue with a specific size, form and function. At the Center’s opening in May, speakers included the Minister President of Saxony, Stanislaw Tillich, and Max Planck President Martin Stratmann. The guest of honor was American biochemist and entrepreneur Craig Venter, who played a significant role in decoding the human genome. The Center for Systems Biology Dresden brings theoretical and practical specialists together in one location. Following the startup phase, around 120 scientists will conduct research at the facility. The Center is headed by Max Planck Directors Gene Myers and Frank Jülicher, as well as Ivo Sbalzarini from the TU Dresden. Prominent guest: Biotech pioneer Craig Venter at the opening of the Center for Systems Biology Dresden.

On the Net

Science on Board Neural Network Goes Grunge Secrets of Fish Schooling From Bonn to Straubing: The exhibi- Artificial intelligence aficionados Ivan Collective behavior is embodied in swarms tion ship MS Wissenschaft has set sail Yamshchikov and Aleksei Tikhonov of insects, flocks of birds, herds of antelope once again. After dropping anchor in from the Max Planck Institute for and schools of fish. Studying this behavior more than 30 towns and cities across Mathematics in the Sciences have in schools of fish has been incredibly chal- northern Germany during the past recently published a mini-album. In lenging, because the cues that drive it occur year, the current route will take it their musical endeavour, the pro- at lightning speed, come from multiple di- along rivers and canals in the south of grammers enlisted a rather unusual rections and sources, and of course because the country and into Austria. Visitors songwriter: the lyrics of all four songs all of it takes place underwater. Iain Couzin to the exhibition in the ship’s hold can were written by an artificial neural and his colleagues at the Max Planck Insti- travel even much further: to mud- network trained to resemble Nirvana tute for Ornithology at the University of flats, tropical coral reefs, the deep sea vocalist Kurt Cobain. The vocals were Konstanz are using new observation tech- and the polar sea. With more than 30 recorded by Rob Carroll, a musician niques and technologies – including high- different exhibits, the exhibition of- from New York. You can check out the speed video, motion-tracking software and fers insights into ongoing research AI-created verse in a YouTube video advanced statistical modeling – to reveal projects, including initiatives by three created by the researchers; the song the mysterious mechanics of schooling fish. Max Planck Institutes. is called “In the Back of Your Glass.” www.biographic.com/posts/sto/lens-of-

Photo: MPICBG https://ms-wissenschaft.de/english http://bit.ly/2rWEVJP time-secrets-of-schooling

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 9 VIEWPOINT_Social Policy

A New Rule for Public Pensions

Few if any socio-political topics prey on the mind as much as financial security in old age. Few if any offer such a fertile electoral battleground. In our author’s view, however, perceived truth is a poor foundation on which to base pension security. Instead, he lays out the facts and their consequences.

TEXT AXEL BÖRSCH-SUPAN

n 2015, around 30 percent of the working popu- easy to forecast. Half of the approximately 30 percent lation across all age groups in Germany stated that of the working population who stated in 2015 that they expected to receive no more than a basic they had only social assistance to look forward to public pension – that is, social assistance in old were actually entitled to a far higher pension – they age or its equivalent. By last year, the press was re- just didn’t know it. And the forecast of a 50 percent portingI that as much as 50 percent of the population poverty rate in old age was the product of two seri- will face poverty in old age. This year, the competent ous errors in reasoning. First, it was incorrectly as- minister has spoken of a “slippery slope” on which sumed that young people with little or no current earnings (such as trainees and students) would remain poor in old age. And second, those who don’t receive a public pension (such as civil servants and The false forecast of a 50 percent housewives), were also classed as poor even if they actually receive a generous income, especially in a poverty rate in old age was household context. After correcting these errors, the forecast dropped to around 5 percent. founded on two errors in reasoning So is it possible to employ scientific methods and sober analysis to stem the agitation regularly prompt- the level of pensions is heading downhill unchecked, ed by the emotive issue of pensions? Let us try. such that it’s time to draw a line to make it stop. Such The public pension is a pay-as-you-go system in statements naturally trigger emotions. which the contributions paid by younger people are The German pension system, in particular, is immediately disbursed to their older counterparts. highly rule driven, and makes for very dry reading. Leaving aside a relatively small reserve of at most one In addition, the factors that determine long-term and a half months’ disbursements, the idea of a well- pension development generally change slowly and Working or retired: The point at which people no longer have

steadily, with the result that future pensions are quite to work is one of the main points of dispute in pension policy. Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

10 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 VIEWPOINT_Social Policy Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 11 VIEWPOINT_Social Policy

filled pension fund is absurd. What is paid out always As already described, the age structure of Germany’s equals what is paid in; nothing is left over. This is the population is currently changing drastically: there first important mechanism of the German public will be more and more older people, and fewer and pension system – and it’s a problematic one. Demo- fewer younger ones. There are three causes of this. graphic change means that the number of elderly is First, there were significantly more births per year in increasing while the number of younger people is de- the 1960s than in the decades before or since. The clining. Hence, pension expenditures will rise while annual cohorts of the baby boom years have a very contributions will fall. But more on that later. strong influence on various averages in our country, The second important mechanism involves the from savings and consumption habits to age in gene- way in which contributions and benefits are split be- ral. As the baby boom generation ages, the average tween individuals. The rule here in Germany is that German population ages with them. contributions up to a certain upper limit (the contri- The second cause lies in the fact that we are liv- bution ceiling) are strictly proportional to earned in- ing longer thanks to improved health. Life expec- come, and the pension benefits paid, in turn, are tancy in 1960 was 69; 50 years later, it had risen to strictly proportional to the contributions paid over 80 – an increase of more than two years per decade. This is due in part to advances in medicine, but also to improved working conditions, the reduction in environmental hazards and – so far at least – a The deluge of young healthier diet. The third cause is the decline of the birth rate refugees won’t compensate since the 1970s. Since there have been far fewer births in recent decades than would have been needed to for the birth deficit maintain a constant population, we now lack, rela- tive to the preceding generation, around a third of the recipient’s lifetime. This second fundamental the young people needed to finance our pensions. mechanism underlying the German pension system Two points are worth noting. For one thing, the is also not without its problems, since those with low forecast for the number of young people whose task earnings during their working life will receive a low it will be to finance our pensions over the next, say, pension when they retire. 25 to 30 years is highly reliable. These people have Each individual’s share of the funds paid out by the already been born. And it is a trivial matter to fore- pension system is equal to the proportion they paid in cast the future age of any given cohort. On the oth- on average over their working lives. This equivalence er hand, changes in birth and death rates affect only contrasts with a progressive income tax and the many a limited number of cohorts. Demographic develop- other redistribution mechanisms inherent in our tax ment through 2045, looking a generation ahead, is and transfer system. In other countries, such as Swit- therefore largely a matter of facts that are no longer zerland and the US, this proportionality doesn’t apply. open to change. Only with very long-term forecasts Instead, the poorer receive a disproportionately high, does accuracy become blurred. Secondly, even the re- and the richer a disproportionately low, pension. On cent deluge of young refugees will only minimally re- the other hand, in both of these countries, there is a duce the birth deficit, since even these massive flows far lesser degree of redistribution via taxes on income. are small in comparison with a shortage of one third We therefore need to tackle two major issues that of a generation. nourish people’s fears and anxieties surrounding pen- How does one compensate for the burden placed sions: the threat of poverty in old age, and demo- on the public pension system by an aging popula- graphic change. Let us first address the latter. tion? Given the scale of the demographic challenge,

12 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 it would be unwise to respond with but a single so- ing into the very substance of pension benefits. On cio-political countermeasure. What is needed in- the contrary, this substance can continue to grow stead is a package of measures oriented toward the by around one percent per year. Taking average in- individual causes. This is precisely what I meant flation into account, pension benefits will no lon- when I referred above to a scientific approach based ger rise by 3 percent, but still by around 2.5 percent on sober analysis. in an average year. The first cause is beyond changing. The rapid As to the second cause of demographic change, progression from baby boom to the effects of birth there is no desire for change. Rather, it is a great gift control is historic fact. We must therefore accept the for us to remain healthier longer and live longer lives. consequences while doing what we can to limit the damage. This is achieved through the sustainability factor introduced in 2005, which distributes the demographic burden about equally between the older Since 1957, the time for and younger generations by raising contribution rates and lowering pension benefits by around the which pensions are paid same percentage as the demographic burden increas- has more than doubled es. It was a wise decision to introduce this mechanism as a fixed rule in the law, thus protecting it from the changing moods and electoral panic at- So far, increased lifespans have been reflected almost tacks of politicians. exclusively in the extended – substantially extended However, the sustainability factor has made it – time for which pensions are drawn: since the intro- more difficult to calculate pensions in Germany, duction of the pay-as-you-go system in 1957, this making the whole system less transparent. Whereas time has more than doubled from nine to currently everyone understands what it means when the con- 20 years. If the retirement age were to remain un- tribution rate rises, there is great uncertainty as to changed, it would increase by a further seven years what it means when the so-called “pension level” by 2045. However, pay-as-you-go funded pension sys- falls. This is due to the misleading term “pension tems can remain stable only if the ratio of working level”, which actually defines, not a level, but a pro- life to life in retirement also remains unchanged. portion – namely the average pension divided by the As a first step in this direction, the retirement age average earned income subject to social security in- is due to increase gradually over the next 13 years, surance contributions. In Anglo-Saxon terms, it is from age 65 to age 67. It’s worth noting that this in- more like the replacement rate rather than the lev- crease is one year less than the anticipated increase el of a benefit. in life expectancy over this period. So the “retirement The sustainability factor will lower this replace- at 67” rule also implies that pension benefits will be ment rate by around half of a percentage point per paid for an extra year. Behind the two-to-one ratio – year through 2045. So pension benefits will rise by the retirement age pushed back two years and pen- one half of one percent less than wages. Since, how- sions paid for an extra one year – lies the wise deci- ever, long-term average wages are increasing by sion to preserve the proportions of life itself. At pres- around 1.5 percent per year after adjusting for pur- ent, after an average working life of about 40 years, chasing power, one whole percentage point remains we draw our pensions for a further approximately 20 for pension benefits to rise in terms of purchasing years. So an extra year of retirement must be funded power. The part of demographic change precipitat- by two years of work. ed by the switch from baby boom to baby bust can It would also be prudent to preserve these propor-

Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa therefore be financed through growth, without eat- tions after 2030 – ideally on the basis of a fixed rule

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 13 so they don’t fall prey to clientelism. The appropri- erty rate among the elderly – defined as the propor- ate soberly analytical step would therefore be to in- tion of over-65-year-olds receiving only the basic re- troduce, post-2030, a dynamic two-to-one rule by tirement benefit – a kind of social assistance in old which either increases in life expectancy are divided age – stands at around 3 percent. Every such individ- at regular intervals into two parts of longer time spent working and one part of longer time spent receiving a retirement pension; or – what we don’t hope to see – by which reductions in life expectancy are equally Demographic change can automatically compensated for by a two-to-one reduction in employment time and retirement time. be funded through growth A dynamic retirement age of this kind is the still-missing counterpart to the dynamic wage adjust- ual is one too many, certainly; but the proportion is ment introduced in 1957 and the dynamic adjust- substantially lower than in the population as a whole ment with respect to the increasing dependency ra- (around 9 percent) or indeed among single parents tio by means of the sustainability factor introduced (almost 25 percent). in 2005. 2030 is still some way away, so there is no The fear of poverty in old age is based on two de- need for immediate action. However, people must be velopments that present a risk to the level of pen- made aware of changes in pension law at an early sion payments. These are, on the one hand, the pen- stage so that they can plan their lives accordingly. sion reforms that are intended to stabilize the Ger- Only the third cause of demographic change has man pension system but that – as described above the potential for eradication, at least in theory. Practi- – are reducing the growth of pension benefits and cal politics has yet to find a way to turn the higher increasing the retirement age; while on the other birth rate so often wished for into reality. Despite a va- hand there has been an increase in the number of riety of family policy measures backed by per capita people whose employment circumstances allow for funding almost as high as that in France, a country re- only very low or even zero public pension insurance nowned in this respect, the birth rate has been stag- contributions. nating for decades. Whether the recent, still modest The fear that each reduction in the growth rate of increase will become a long-term trend remains to be pension benefits increases poverty in old age is based seen – but even a long-term rise would take at least on the aforementioned misunderstanding of what around 20 years to have any effect on pensions, when “pension level” means. The purchasing power of pen- the first of these children begin their working lives. sions will continue to increase, rendering poverty all As for which measures one might recommend to the less likely. politicians in order to raise the birth rate in Germa- It’s the increase in the retirement age that is more ny, science is somewhat at a loss. For every measure trenchant. It is an undisputed tenet among social sci- that works well in one country, there are conflicting entists and epidemiologists that health correlates examples elsewhere. Scientists are, however, united strongly with income; any differences of opinion rein the belief that if one is effectively unable to inlate solely to the weighting to be applied to the di- crease the quantity of children, one should at least verse reasons for this. People who have low earnings invest in the quality of education so that the few in their working lives and are therefore at risk of pov- children may be all the more innovative and pro- erty in old age often also have physically more stren- ductive. And on this point internationally, as vari- uous occupations and substantially poorer health. ous educational surveys show, we in Germany lan- Many of them will be unable to carry on working up guish in mediocrity. to a higher retirement age. The second major issue in the pension debate is Unfortunately, this also correlates with the sec-

the threat of poverty in old age. Currently, the pov- ond development that will intensify the problem of Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

14 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 VIEWPOINT_Social Policy

poverty in old age, because these people are often in precarious employment with low pension entitle- ments. The data here shows clear patterns that could be used as a basis for targeted countermeasures. A retirement age that increases dynamically in line with average life expectancy demands clear exceptions for those whose earning capacity is reduced on health grounds. The current disability pensions are insuffi- cient. The long-term unemployed currently drop out of the pension insurance system and are therefore also at risk of poverty in old age. A third well-defined group at risk of post-retirement poverty comprises those who are self-employed and who currently also have no social safety net. They should be mandated to enroll in social insurance after a certain qualifying period. So the pension issue can be considered on a THE AUTHOR well-founded scientific basis. Causes and problems can be isolated and analyzed individually. Demo- Axel Börsch-Supan, born in 1954, studied economics and graphic change is fortunately happening at a snail’s mathematics before being awarded a doctorate from MIT pace, and is equally fortunately paralleled by better in Cambridge (USA) in 1984. He worked as an Assistant health and a longer lifespan. Consequently, it can Professor at Harvard University until 1987. Back in Germany, largely be financed through growth rather than he initially taught at the Universities of Dortmund and through reducing benefits – that is, through increas- Mannheim. Since January 2011, Axel Börsch-Supan has been ing productivity and wages as well as through lon- a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and ger lives. From the socio-economic data available at Social Policy, where he heads the Munich Center for the the individual level here in Germany, problem Economics of Aging. Axel Börsch-Supan is also coordinating groups can readily be identified, allowing targeted the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, a countermeasures to be developed without opening pan-European interdisciplinary project to survey the issue the floodgates, as would happen with a general in- of aging. He has also been a member of the Committee of crease in the pension level. Experts on Demographic Change, set up by the German The social value of socio-political research lies in Federal Government, since 2011. its empirical foundation. The collection of socio-economic and epidemiological data, for example, sheds light on the correlation patterns between wealth and health, poverty and reduced life expectancy, and facilitates the identification of many of their causes, allowing us through sober analysis to high- light problem areas for the benefit of politicians and to recommend suitable countermeasures – also at election time.

An abridged version of this text appeared as a Saturday Essay Photo: Andreas Müller

Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa in the Süddeutsche Zeitung on July 1/2, 2017.

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 15 Post from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Fascinating Hive Mind

Max Planck scientists cooperate with partners in around 120 countries worldwide. Here they relate their personal experiences and impressions. Materials scientist Jiali Zhang from the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisen forschung in Düsseldorf did a nine-month postdoctoral exchange at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. She was fascinated by the hive mind that prevails there.

I grew up in a small city in China, in a district with a large population and thus tough competition to be accepted to one of the really good universities. Unlike other Chinese families, my parents encouraged me to completely follow my own interests and not nec- essarily become a doctor or lawyer – so I finally found my true passion in metals and their sustainability. Manufacturing new metal parts entails high carbon dioxide emissions. To prevent this and protect the environment, it makes sense to increase the lifespan of metal parts and thus avoid having to continually replace them. This can be done by enabling them to heal themselves. In fact, there are already a number of self-healing materials. At the Max-Planck-Insti- tut für Eisenforschung (MPIE), we want to incorporate nano-sized particles into metals to heal cracks the moment they occur at the microstructure level. These particles are made up of a shape memory alloy – an alloy that reassumes its original shape when subjected to a

specific temperature, even after it’s been deformed. Graphic: iStockphoto

16 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 RUBRIK TITEL

Jiali Zhang, 28, studied metallurgy at the University of Science & Technology Beijing and at RWTH Aachen University before joining Prof. Dierk Raabe’s Microstructure Physics and Alloy Design department at the MPI für Eisen forschung in Düsseldorf in 2011 . There, she completed her master’s thesis, then later wrote her PhD dissertation on self-healing materials on titanium-based alloys. Jiali Zhang has been conducting research as a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute in Düsseldorf since 2016 and spent nine months in the new MIT group , headed by Cem Tasan, who was formerly a Group Leader at the Institute in Düsseldorf.

I’ve been at the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung for six years now, so I know exactly where to go and whom to speak to – I was trained to work in a very structured way and following a certain routine. The atmosphere at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stands in stark contrast to this. As MIT is a university, it brings together numerous people working on completely different projects. Everyone has their own individual working style. To get the information I needed, I had to tap into this hive mind. I like both working styles: the very focused one at the Max Planck Institute, where I work only on materials science and can follow a certain structure, and in contrast, the diversity inherent in the hive mind. My conversations with the technical assistants, in particular, were very interesting because they use the same facilities for such a variety of projects and experiments. It can happen that samples are being analyzed for one group that is studying the influence of temperature on chocolate – how it melts and how its taste changes – just as I’m studying the influence of temperature in my self-healing alloys. I found this really intriguing and again, I spent a long time talking to the technician – just imagine the new flavors that could be created … But there are also innovative things that I found only at MIT. The library online chatting system, for instance. During business hours, you can write to the library staff to find out if a certain publication is available and they would answer in real time. I found that very efficient and comfortable. I also found it interesting to watch the outcome of the US election live on campus and to see how students reacted to it. The student body is very active and reaches out to the president of the university when they need help. MIT actually drafted a series of guidelines that protect international students and employees against the Muslim ban so they can fo-

Graphic: iStockphoto Photo: Private collection cus on their research.

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 17 Face to Face with Neanderthals

Neanderthals and modern humans must have coexisted in Europe for several thousand years. What happened when they encountered each other and how they influenced one another are riveting questions. Jean-Jacques Hublin and his team at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig are searching for the answers. In the process, they have found clues as to what the Neanderthals learned from Homo sapiens – and what they didn’t.

18 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 Photo: Anna Schroll lin conductsresearch intohumanpre- partment headedbyJean-Jacques Hub- in Leipzig,theHumanEvolution De Anthropology stitute forEvolutionary their babyinmourning. even possiblethattheparentsburied today calltheGrotteduRenne.It’s in centralFrance,whichprehistorians parents leftthechildbehindinacave N TEXT Time travel: At the Max Planck In- KLAUS WILHELM KLAUS Perhaps. Inanycase,the mal? Acongenitaldisease? The attackofawildani baby diedof.Aninfection? obody knowswhatthe - - Frido Welker preparesbonefragments, history, orpaleoanthropology. Postdoc about theidentityofliving being bone materialandrevealinformation nutest tracesofproteinsin ancient This method can detect even the mi - leoproteomics, thishasnow changed. such damagedwitnessesofprehistory. procedures forextractinginsightsfrom suchasWelkerthropologists hadno useless –ormoreaccurately, paleoan- ously consideredsuchfragmentstobe du Renne.Alltheexpertshadprevi some ofthemsplinters,fromtheGrotte Thanks to a method known as pa- - baby fromtheGrotteduRenne wasa ple,” Welker explains. relationships andlifestylesof thesepeo- able informationontheevolutionary teins ofStoneAgebonescontain valu- mantle fromDNAanalysis.“Thepro Paleoproteomics could take over this of assigningabonetocertainanimal. ously regardedasthestandardmethod Examination ofthegenomewasprevi- ger than DNA inancientbonematerial. ten times lon- Hublin. Proteinssurvive method,”saysJean-Jacques tionary from whichitstems–a“fairlyrevolu- It wasthusdeterminedthat the FOCUS_The RootsofHumankind their physiognomy. their of awe in stands still he years, many for Neanderthals studying been has Hublin Jean-Jacques Director Planck Max though Even behold: to sight impressive An 3 | MaxPlanckResearch 17MaxPlanckResearch 19 - FOCUS_The Roots of Humankind

10 mm

Underestimated artists: Neanderthals were long thought to have lacked the ability to make jewelry. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have been able to establish beyond doubt that these items of jewelry made from teeth, ivory and fossil shells were used by Neanderthals.

little Neanderthal, not even weaned, “It’s highly likely that the truth was gazes at the sculpture of a Neanderthal perhaps six months to two years old anything but romantic.” head in his office. It was fashioned at on the day it died 44,000 to 40,000 The witnesses to this past dating the beginning of the 20th century, but years ago. Its meager remains shed back tens of millennia – bones, teeth is still essentially in line with current more light than ever before on a de- and cultural objects such as tools and knowledge. This means that the face is cades-long dispute among paleoan- jewelry – are limited and often lead to long and projected forward, with strik- thropological experts. This genre of acrimonious discussions. “Of course ing ridges over the eyebrows, while the research is marked by sometimes that bothers me,” says Hublin. “We nose is voluminous, the jaw massive heated debate. On the question, for would be well advised to distinguish and the chin area receding. “If you were example, of how Neanderthals and between fact and fiction.” to meet a Neanderthal in the train,” the “modern man” – meaning you and me paleoanthropologist explains, “you’d – encountered each other in Europe THERE WERE ALMOST NO change compartments.” roughly 45,000 years ago. Following HUMANS IN THE STONE AGE Even 45,000 years ago, it must have the latest high-tech analyses carried been a highly unusual event when rep- out by his team, Jean-Jacques Hublin So let’s take a look at the sapiens-Nean- resentatives of modern man, Homo sa- is convinced that “there was a cultur- derthals case – one of the Max Planck piens, first came across members of al transfer between the two hominins. scientist’s specialist areas – in this light. Homo neanderthalensis in the forests It was only when Homo sapiens ar- Ever since the first bones of this homi- and prairies of Europe. “For both sides,” rived that the Neanderthals sudden- nin were discovered in the Neander Hublin says with a laugh. According to ly began to do things they had never Valley near Düsseldorf in 1856, legends the results of recent studies, the Nean- done before.” have been woven around his exis- derthals could already look back on at The Leipzig-based scientist assumes tence – primarily because he looks so least 400,000 years on the continent – that this exchange “didn’t require any different from modern man. in an area ranging from Spain to the particularly intensive contact.” Let With a height of no more than 1.70 Russian Altai Mountains and up to the alone any love affair between Homo sa- meters, he wasn’t particularly tall, but latitudes of northern Germany. piens and Homo neanderthalensis, as his physique was strong and powerful, As hunters and gatherers, they was widely circulated in recent years. with a very wide chest, the males most likely wandered across stretches “Too many stories are being invented,” weighing up to 90 kilos. “Very impres- of land measuring many thousands of

says the Frenchman quite profanely. sive,” says Jean-Jacques Hublin as he square kilometers in groups number- Photo: M. Hardy/MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology

20 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 Photo: M. Hardy/MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology

Photo: Anna Schroll (left), MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology (right) more complexthanwehad longas and (future)competitors.“They were phisticated asthoseoftheir cousins mental faculties that were almost as so- thals facedthislonelyexistence with cording tothelateststudies, Neander- was anemptyworld,”Hublinsays.Ac- derthal Europeans.”“TheStoneAge more thananestimated10,000“Nean- distribution, therewereprobablyno members. Evenintimesoftheirwidest tion phasesandwerereplacedbynew - groups simplydiedoutinlongstarva It’s likelythatmanyoftheirsmall of modernhumans. to twoyearsearlierthantheoffspring children ofthishomininmaturedone el onitsteeth.Thisshowedthatthe child fromwafer-thinlayersofenam- termined theageofaNeanderthal lived atafasterpace.Hublin’s teamde lieved. And Neanderthals probably greater extentthanpreviouslybe sumed plantsandvegetablestoamuch es withgreatefficiency. Theyalsocon large animalssuchasbisonandhors- women. Theywereabletokilleven ing nomorethan50to60menand Their winterswerebrutalandlong. - - - - vived forfurthertensofthousands of well. Theywoulddoubtless havesur the adverseconditionsinEurope quite Grotte duRenneinBurgundy. for instanceintheaforementioned culture inmanyarchaeological sites– plorers havefoundartifactsfromthis stones in a characteristic fashion. Ex- ers andbladesthatwerehewnfrom such asarrowpoints,scrapers,scratch- During thistime,theyproducedtools terized a period: theMousterian. leoanthropologists say – which charac- aspa 120,000 yearsago–or“industry” developed a tool culture roughly made intheirearliestdays.Theyeven denced bytheintricatespearsthey thals weredefinitelyskilled,asevi From a technical standpoint, Neander- THEM ASUPERIORMIND SAPIENS HOMO like, butalsonotlikeus.” cognitive powers,definitelynotape- identical atthistimeintermsoftheir then adds: “Both hominins were almost sumed,” theresearcher concedes.He The Neanderthalsthuscoped with BROUGHT WITH - - - ly createdastirinEurope45,000years years ifanotherspecieshadn’t sudden- areas east of the Rhine in Baden-Würt - ern Italy, and soontheywerescouring ny tomodernmanarefound innorth in huntingtechnology. bones, thatatthetimewere thefinest and jectile points,madefromivory as theAurignacian.Itistypifiedbypro –thisperiodisreferredto own industry rived inEuropethantheycreatedtheir and harpoons. No sooner had they ar- eggshells, andformedpointsforarrows frombones,snailsand ioned jewelry made fishhooksfromfishbones,fash- piens notonlyworkedstones,butalso that wasultimatelysuperior. tantly, theybroughtwiththemamind the establishedspecies.Moreimpor were much more delicatelybuilt than ago: modernman.Thenewarrivals Grotte du Renne (right). Renne du Grotte around 400,000 for Europe in lived have to estimated are 1910 the from bust realistic absolutely an here – Neanderthals settlers: Early The oldestbonesbearingtestimo - 45,000 years before modern man arrived years ago. Both used the the used Both ago. years 3 | MaxPlanckResearch 17MaxPlanckResearch Homo sa- s – – s 21 - - - FOCUS_The RootsofHumankind remains stem from. To do this, small quantities of bone material are first extracted from the find. the from extracted first are material bone of quantities small this, Todo the from. stem creatures remains which determine to used be can fragments bone in Proteins samples: for Drilling 22 recent layers. intheupper,gnacian industry more also discoveredremainsoftheAuri older excavationlayers,archaeologists the Mousterianartifactsindeeper, were continuallystoppingby. Besides refuge duringtheStoneAge.People The cavewasclearlyapopularplaceof layers of the buried cave for decades. covering richfindsfromthevarious for archaeologists, who have been un- beneathit–astrokeofluck erything ev roof ofthiscavecollapsed,burying Renne. Around20,000yearsago,the temberg, notfarfromtheGrottedu MaxPlanckResearch 3 MaxPlanckResearch | 17 - - not oftheNeanderthals. And ofHomosapiens. gnacian industry ly reminiscentofthesubsequentAuri- worked utensilsareoccasionallystrong typical.Theseelaborately are alsovery or kniveswitharounded,bluntedback grooved teeth;fossils;andsoon.Points tive pendantsmadefromperforated, found inthe1950s.Earrings;decora ry, antlers andother materials were Many rings, pendants and clasps of ivo- perronian (CP)culturewerefound. sites withdeposits–relicsoftheChâtel the GrotteduRenne–andatfurther However, inanintermediatelayer 5 mm - - - At thesametime,however, easilyiden- component oftheconnectivetissue from thebonesamples,anorganic were foundintheCPlayerofGrotte tifiable remainsofbonesandteeth tor massspectrometersthat candeter- of atomsandmolecules, accelera- high-tech scalesthatmeasure themass can befoundinhisdepartment –both dozen of thelatest mass spectrometers nology,” Hublin says, smiling. Half a equipment. “I’mobsessedwithtech- came thehourofmodernanalytical that consists of protein chains. Then tion siteinSaint-Césaire. different, well-knownFrenchexcava the shinbone of a Neanderthal from a In addition,theresearchers examined from MousterianorAurignacianlayers. anderthal remains,andlessfrequently or Ne- from areas containing CP jewelry from theGrotteduRenne–mostly bonesamples lected 40well-preserved ries ofyear-longtests.First,histeamse national partnersheembarkedonase- to believe this, and together with inter were dugup. derthal relicswhenthelowerlayers subsequently mixedupwiththeNean- been madebymodernmanandonly had their interpretation, the jewelry Châtelperronian layer. Accordingto between thevariousfindsfrom proved thattherewereagedifferences British researchers believed they had this sparkedreneweddebate.In2010, study fromthe1990ssuggested.But du Renne–fromNeanderthals,asa The scientistsextractedcollagen Jean-Jacques Hublinwasdisinclined modern humans. modern of children than earlier years two to one matured they evidence, this to Accordingchildrenthal developed. Neander quickly how show to used seen in a digital digital a in seen here – enamel Tooth growth: Dental 3 -D model – can be be can – model -D

- - - -

Photos: MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology (top), Anna Schroll (bottom) Photos: MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology (top), Anna Schroll (bottom)

Photo: Anna Schroll for this purpose. this for laboratory the in samples the prepares Welker Frido origins. its determine to spectrometry mass using analyzed be can material bone The termine whether proteins in a bone that theirmethodscanbeusedtode They demonstratedforthefirsttime rowed fromthefieldofproteomics. shotgun proteomics,methodsbor study: peptidemassfingerprintingand ods withinpaleoanthropologyinits therefore applied relatively new meth- and nottomodernhumans. Renne oncebelongedtoNeanderthals– from theCPlayerinGrottedu unambiguous evidence that the bones Could have!Buttherewasstillalackof created theCPindustriesinFrance. picture perfectly. from Saint-Césairealsofitsintothe 41,500 years, theNeanderthal skeleton of thesediments.With an ageof er layers, thus ruling out any mixing didn’t overlap withthefindsfromoth the agesofChâtelperronianfinds assigned tothisculture.Inaddition, years oldandthereforemustindeedbe layers arebetween41,000and35,500 the samplesfromChâtelperronian The extensiveanalysesshowedthat INNOVATIONS NEANDERTHALS ADOPTEDMANY carbon isotopesinmolecules. stance, byusingthedecayofradioactive mine theexactageofbones,forin The teamworkingwithHublin Neanderthals couldthusalsohave - - - - come from a Neanderthal or from a different Early Stone Age groups with- we are back in the realm of ever-popu- modern human. Tiny bone samples suf- in our Homo genus,” says Welker. lar legends. And Jean-Jacques Hublin fice for the test, and this is the aspect The big question overshadowing the again urges caution. that is crucial and new. It is also the pre- studies is: How did Homo sapiens get cise reason why the scientists were able, along with Homo neanderthalensis? The TWO PERCENT OF OUR DNA COMES for the first time, to conduct a molecu- new finds can be interpreted in differ- FROM THE NEANDERTHALS lar analysis of 28 bone fragments from ent ways. One could take them to mean a layer of sediment attributed to the that Neanderthals independently made The transfer of cultural innovations Châtelperronian period. an unexpected leap forward in their de- didn’t require constant contact, much “They come from Neanderthals,” velopment just as Homo sapiens spread less close friendship. Modern man, says Frido Welker. By combining the pa- across Europe. “But that would border too, had to master the harsh life of the leoproteomic analysis with paleogenet- on a miracle,” says Jean-Jacques Hublin. hunters and gatherers, and competed ics, it was ultimately clear that the bone For him, it is far more likely “that the with his contemporaries in the other fragments were those of an infant from two hominins came into contact and species for territory and food. Even if the Châtelperronian period. “Our study the Neanderthals adopted some of the there were only dozens or a few hun- shows that with paleoproteomics alone, innovations of modern man.” dred groups that seldom encountered it is possible to differentiate between The Neanderthals could have con- each other in the empty world of the ceivably found tools and jewelry made Stone Age, most meetings of these con- by Homo sapiens – and then copied and, temporaries are more likely to have in time, introduced them to neighbor- been unfriendly if not even hostile, aging groups. They were likely intelligent gressive and violent. enough to do so. Perhaps a well-mean- Admittedly, there is no concrete ing, modern human showed them how proof that this was the case. Neverthe- to make these wonderful articles. There less, we know that encounters between were conceivably barter transactions competing tribes seldom went smooth- between the groups. Who knows? Now ly in human history. It is therefore

Although the inner ear and middle ear ossicle of the Neanderthals are built differently 10 mm than ours, both work in a similar way. This points to similarities in the sense of balance

and the use of sound for communication. Photo: Anna Schroll (top), MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology (bottom)

24 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 FOCUS_The Roots of Humankind

Left Focus on the facts in futuristic surroundings: Jean-Jacques Hublin takes a critical view when research and fiction are combined – for instance in the claim that there were love relationships between modern man and Neanderthals. Hublin suspects that encounters between the two were more likely to have been unfriendly.

highly likely that things would have And that they wear jewelry and deco- that, behind the objects, modern man been no different when Homo sapiens rate their bodies as a sign of their alle- recognized stories, mythical elements and Neanderthals met. giance to a larger community consist- and faith. “This is a very strong factor It’s also possible that the females of ing of hundreds or perhaps thousands. that the Neanderthals apparently had the competing group were stolen in the People who act in solidarity even if no sense of,” Hublin says. process. So it may not have been fiery they don’t see each other every day. Things of this nature are “difficult romances that led to sex between the There’s nothing like this in the world to investigate,” even with the battery parties, but acts of violence. They have of the Neanderthals. of equipment on hand at the Max left demonstrable traces to this day, as Planck Institute in Leipzig. Just how researchers have known for years. HOMO SAPIENS PAINTED IMAGES much this frustrates the tech fan is no- Around 2 percent of the DNA in our ge- FROM THEIR IMAGINATION ticeable. But who knows? Forty years nome today stems from the Neander- ago, when he began his career as a thals – a limited but long-lasting lega- Second, Homo sapiens painted on cave young student, Hublin believed that all cy of this long-extinct hominin. walls in the early stages of their early the essential elements of human histo- The earth has revealed evidence of European existence, also representing ry had already been researched, and the last Neanderthals in layers that objects that didn’t exist in reality, but that methodology wouldn’t make any are 40,000 or perhaps 38,000 years only in their imagination. Men with further significant progress: “I couldn’t old. At some point during this period, lion heads, for instance. This means have been more mistaken.” the last of their species disappeared. “Because of us,” says Jean-Jacques

Hublin laconically. From a purely molecular standpoint, the differences be- TO THE POINT tween modern humans and Neander- thals are small: a mere 87 proteins l Neanderthals had similar cognitive abilities to Homo sapiens in the Stone Age. separate the two species. Many of them, l For example, they adopted the tool-making techniques of newly arrived however, are important for brain func- modern man. tion and development. l The superiority of Homo sapiens probably consisted in their ability to form Something in modern man was dif- networks over large distances and to use artistic and mythical elements to reinforce the group. ferent. It’s possible he took a more ag- gressive approach than his related competitors; he probably cooperated more effectively in larger teams and in GLOSSARY multiple groups, also showing more Paleoproteomics: Identification of prehistoric finds by means of protein analyses, empathy and consideration for fellow for example in bone fragments. members. (Tool) industries: Stone Age cultures characterized by certain tools – in some cases Experts have found some indica- also jewelry and works of art – and the production techniques used. tions that this was the case. First, mod- Mousterian: The Neanderthal tool culture, marked by arrow points, scrapers and ern humans apparently bartered even blades hewn from stone in a characteristic fashion. in the early stages of their time in Eu- Aurignacian: A culture that coincides with the appearance of modern man in Europe. rope. For example, shells from the Med- Typified by projectile points of bone and ivory, long, narrow flint blades, and the first iterranean have been found in Germa- miniature works of art. ny. “That suggests networks operating Châtelperronian: The last culture with which the Neanderthals are associated. It over- over large areas,” says Hublin. “People laps in time with the older Aurignacian and is characterized by bone, antler and ivory knew that fellow humans were living tools as well as jewelry.

Photo: Anna Schroll (top), MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology (bottom) on the other side of the mountains.”

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 25 It’s all in the milk: The development of cattle breeding and arable farming ensured that there was a simple, reliable supply of meat and grain. The milk from cows, sheep and goats also proved especially valuable. FOCUS_The Roots of Humankind

Change That Came from the Plowed Field

The transition to agriculture changed human society more drastically than almost any other innovation. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena are investigating this revolution from very different perspectives.

TEXT CLAUDIA DOYLE

arming. That means getting Not all members of the community tary of the groups, who nevertheless up early and going to bed late, were needed for agricultural work, still fished and hunted. It’s clear that, never going on vacation and which meant that some of them were over the course of the millennia, in always being there for the able to indulge in intellectual, spiritual many regions of the world, the seden- farm. Living on the edge and or artistic pursuits – but they also began tary farming way of life gradually and at theF source. People have devoted to wage wars. Human communities be- increasingly displaced that of the hunt- themselves to agriculture for more than came ever more complex with the de- ers, gatherers and nomads. 10,000 years. Once upon a time, we velopment of professions, and changes Those who study this transition were all farmers. But before our ances- increased exponentially. However, we and the cultural changes it brought tors discovered agriculture, they still don’t know exactly what got this about repeatedly encounter one anom- roamed the land as hunters and gath- snowball rolling. Researchers at the In- aly. All over the globe, it was agricul- erers. They lived together in small stitute in Jena are using a wide array of ture that set off wide-ranging social groups. There was no cause for warlike approaches to explore this question. changes. The exception is the area that conflicts; the concept of social status is today’s Mongolia, Western China was alien to them and possessions were AGRICULTURE BROUGHT MORE and Eastern Russia: the textbook opin- shared. In the daily lives of our ances- PLANT-BASED FOODS ion since the 1930s has been that peo- tors, there was no room for many ple there ignored the innovations in things that we take for granted. The transition from the nomadic way agriculture, continued to live as no- Anthropologist Robert Spengler, of life of hunters and gatherers to the madic shepherds and still developed a who will leave New York University to sedentary farming lifestyle is fluid. complex form of society. begin working at the Max Planck Insti- There were, and still are, pure hunt- For around ten years now, this world tute for the Science of Human History er-gatherer cultures that neither keep view has been showing cracks. The man in Jena in the fall of 2017, calls the farm animals nor cultivate the fields. stirring up trouble – in a positive sense change to an agricultural way of life “an Coexisting with them were peoples – is Robert Spengler. He joined archaeo- unstoppable snowball.” Arable farming who wandered the land with their logical digs in Central Asia and searched brought the opportunity to store grain herds and, to a limited extent, also infor evidence of early agricultural activi- and thus to feed large families, resulting dulged in arable farming. Added to the ty. While everyone around him was star-

Photo: Thomas Stankiewicz/LOOK-foto in rapid population growth. mix were the farmers, the most seden- ing at skeletons, he scratched the ash

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 27 Above In excavations in Tasbas, from 5,000-year-old hearths and found Christina Warinner, a Research Group Kazakhstan in northern Central carbonized plant seeds. Leader at the Institute in Jena, has Asia, Robert Spengler found the Spengler can tell simply by their ap- been interested in the diets of our earliest evidence to date of grain cultivation. The early inhabitants pearance under the microscope what Stone Age ancestors for many years. of the region had long been plant they come from. The scientist She wants to determine exactly what regarded as exclusively nomadic. found different types of wheat, millet, delicacies people in those days enjoyed Below Crops spread with barley, peas, lentils and beans, all of and where they derived the majority merchants and migrants – for them plants more often cultivated in of their calories. instance via the legendary Silk fields than gathered in the wild. “The Road. This is evidenced by chick- peas from around 1100 CE found societies there are therefore no excep- ISOTOPES IN BONES REVEAL in excavations in Uzbekistan. tion to the rule. Although they hunted, EATING HABITS fished and gathered plants, they defi- nitely also farmed the land,” says Spen- One good way to learn something gler. “It was simply that no one had about the diets of our ancestors is to an- ever investigated it.” alyze isotopes in bones or teeth. Nitro- One of the radical changes occa- gen isotopes reveal whether a person sioned by the transition to agriculture consumed a lot of meat or tended to eat was the supply of food. Nomadic peo- more plant-based foods. The ratios of ples set off every day in search of some- the various carbon isotopes indicate thing to eat and always follow their whether their menu consisted mainly

herds as far as they can walk. In addi- of C3 plants, such as wheat, rice and po-

tion to the meat from their herds, their tatoes, or C4 plants, such as maize and mm menu also contains roots, fruit, bark millet. However, the analysis of iso- and other edible parts of plants, but topes doesn’t supply precise informa-

only to a small extent. Diet changed tion as to which C3 or C4 plants were substantially when nomads discovered important for the diet. Archaeologists arable farming more than 10,000 years must rely on other methods to obtain ago in the area known as the Fertile this information. Crescent, which stretches from pres- For a long time, the biggest problem ent-day Iraq to Syria. Vegetable nour- for Warinner’s research was that plants ishment slowly but surely acquired a rot too quickly. Although animal bones

much higher status. can be found en masse at archaeologi- Photos: Robert Spengler/MPI for the Science of Human History (2)

28 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 FOCUS_The Roots of Humankind

cal sites, the remains of vegetable meals to date. Currently, Christina Warinner are usually missing. The discovery of is analyzing bacteria populations from bones also tells us next to nothing the plaque of Stone Age skeletons. She about the purpose for which people has already gained insights into diseas- once domesticated these animals. Did es. Now she is hoping for clues about they harness their cow to the plow, our ancestors’ diets. milk it for its milk, or did they simply want to eat its meat? MILK IS A KIND OF CLEAN WATER In 2010, while still in Zurich, Chris- tina Warinner began to apply a com- Warinner has already learned more pletely new method to tackle these about another mystery from the questions. The object of her research plaque. What she wanted to know was was plaque. The tartar that dentists when and where people began dairy scrape from our teeth today as a matter farming. People have been using the of course consists of various calcium milk from animals as nourishment for phosphate compounds. But does it con- at least 8,500 years. This is evidenced tain more information? Are bacteria, by proteins that have survived for mil- pollen or proteins trapped inside it? lennia trapped in the plaque. One pro- That is precisely what Warinner be- tein was found in a particularly large lieved. She began using scientific meth- number of plaque samples: β-lactoglob- ods to examine the plaque on the teeth ulin (BLG), which is present in the of our ancestors. milk of cows, sheep and goats but not Initially, her colleagues didn’t know in human breastmilk. BLG is virtually what to make of this idea. What could indestructible. While other proteins be present in plaque? “I found it pretty collapse when exposed to heat or acid, discouraging,” the researcher recounts. BLG survives undamaged. But she didn’t give up. She procured And even more important for skulls from archaeological digs as well Warinner’s analyses was the fact that as a few dental instruments that she BLG has a different amino acid se- used to carefully scrape the plaque from quence for every animal. She can the teeth. With the aid of a fluorome- therefore tell exactly what kind of milk ter, she tested whether it contained was consumed in a particular culture, DNA. Her measuring device initially and even when people first began to Useful deposits: Plaque contains valuable showed an error message – not because drink milk or eat dairy products far be- information on diseases and the diets of there was no DNA to be found, but beyond childhood. past eras, and it is preserved on teeth for cause the sample contained too much. Humans are an exception when it centuries. Researchers use normal dental instruments to take samples (bottom). “I never realized that that could be a comes to the consumption of milk. Al- problem,” Warinner recalls, laughing. though all other mammals tolerate The DNA in dental plaque stems milk in their early years, they lose this largely from bacteria. No matter how ability in adulthood. After the period thoroughly we brush our teeth, our oral of breastfeeding is over, the body stops cavity is teeming with billions of them. producing the enzyme lactase. With- Warinner calls this community the out lactase, we are unable to digest lac- “oral microbiome.” Just like the micro- tose. A gene mutation is responsible biome in the gut, it has a unique com- for the fact that lactase continues to be position in every person. There has produced in some people after infan-

Photos: Christina Warinner/MPI for the Science of Human History (2) simply been far too little research on it cy. Many adults are therefore able to

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 29 Historical research by means of microbiology: Christina Warinner examines fossil skeletons to determine whether people in the past consumed milk products. ß-lactoglobulin (right), a protein preserved in the plaque, even reveals which animal the milk came from.

drink milk without any problem, espe- the lactose differently than Europeans, trayed with pale skin and red hair.” The cially in Europe. for example. Their specialized dairy hunters and gatherers as well as the first Milk supplies protein, fats, vitamins production processes, which include farmers in the Fertile Crescent also car- and minerals and is also a kind of cultivation and consumption of large ried predominantly genes for dark skin. “clean water.” Camels, for example, can quantities of probiotic dairy bacteria, Mutations in these genes that cause drink saltwater, which is undrinkable appear to allow them to digest lactose the color of the skin to become fairer for humans, and pass on the liquid to in the absence of a genetic mutation were first found by researchers in the humans in the form of milk. It is as- for lactase persistence. skeletons of early farmers in Europe. sumed that milk drinkers enjoyed an Initially, these mutations occurred only evolutionary advantage: people who EARLY CROP FARMERS WERE occasionally; then they prevailed. To- could digest milk became stronger, THE FIRST WHITE EUROPEANS day, they are fixed in 99 percent of the lived longer and had more offspring. population of Central Europe. It is The mutation won out. The advent of arable farming brought thought that Europeans would suffer This so-called lactase persistence with it a further visible change in Euro- from vitamin D deficiency without this originated independently at least five peans that has lasted to this day: their adaptation. We humans, however, have times. It is most widespread today in unusually fair skin. Our ancestors and two ways of acquiring this vitamin: we Scandinavia. Around 80 percent of their nearest relatives, from Neander- can absorb it through food, as meat and people there can drink milk without a thals to Denisovans, were all dark- fish are a plentiful source of vitamin D, problem, even as adults. Christina skinned. “Unfortunately, this insight or our body can form it on its own with Warinner wants to find out more has yet to reach museums,” says Jo- the aid of sunlight. about how populations without lac- hannes Krause, Director of the Archae- The dark-skinned farmers were un- tase persistence used milk. Today’s ogenetics Department at the Max able to tap into either of these sources farmers in Mongolia, who should be Planck Institute for the Science of Hu- efficiently. They ate little meat, as we genetically unable to digest lactose, in man History. “The Neanderthals and now know from analyzing isotopes in

fact drink milk regularly and process Stone Age people there are always por- their bones, and they had ventured far Photo: Alexander Babic/Wired © The Condé Nast Publications Ltd. (left), molekuul/123 RF (right)

30 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 FOCUS_The Roots of Humankind

into northern latitudes where the sun ner – but it wasn’t either humans or an- Tuberculosis is an exception. It was hu- shines much more weakly than at the imals, but pathogens. Pathogens love it mans that infected their cattle with this equator. Fair skin saved them. It allows when individuals live together in close bacterium. It is still unknown who trans- substantially more sunlight to pene- communities. Viruses and bacteria mitted tuberculosis to humans. trate, with the result that vitamin D can need hosts – that is, people or animals Johannes Krause researches the evo- still be produced when the radiation – so they can multiply. The more hosts lution of pathogens. He wants to find from the sun is less intense. they can infect, the better for them. out where they appeared for the first “It’s a recognized theory, but so far time, how they spread and how they ANIMAL HUSBANDRY LED TO we lack the evidence that early farmers adapted to new conditions. To do so, he NEW DISEASES were really exposed to more germs than needs first and foremost genetic mate- hunters and gatherers,” says Johannes rial from ancient germs. One rich As people began to cultivate the fields, Krause. “Unfortunately, the pathogens source for this is mass graves in which they became sedentary. As a result, they didn’t leave any direct fossils behind.” the victims of epidemics were buried. also began to live in much greater prox- There are, however, clear indications The DNA of the pathogens can be iso- imity to their animals: farm animals that support the theory. For example, lated from the bones and teeth of these such as pigs, cattle, goats and sheep many of the pathogens related to mea- old skeletons. lived in fields and barns right beside sles, smallpox and whooping cough also However, their genome is by no their own homes. This proximity to infect farm animals, and were presum- means intact, but has decayed into tiny their animals produced one major win- ably transmitted from these to humans. fragments of only around 50 base pairs.

Right Mongolian shepherds process milk in such a way that lactose is largely broken down. Milk products are dried on yurt roofs to make them last longer. Below Whether adults can digest milk is determined by the DNA component thymine at a particular location on the genome (highlighted T). If cytosine (C) is present there, the person will be lactose intolerant.

TGTAGT CCCTGGCC Graphic: designergold, based on original material provided by the MPI for Science of Human History; photo: Eric Chretien/EX PLORER/GAMMA-RAPHO/laif

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 31 FOCUS_The Roots of Humankind

Dizzying search: Scientists found 6,000-year-old grains of barley in a cave near the Dead Sea. The entrance to the cave is located in an almost vertical cliff face around four meters above a path. Thanks to the aridity of the desert region, the grains are so well preserved that their genome can be reconstructed.

To find the pathogens’ DNA at all the very mobile inhabitants of the Cen- and Western Europe, from Bulgaria to among the human DNA, Krause has de- tral Asian steppe. Spain, around 7,500 years ago. They veloped a method that is as simple as it Johannes Krause and his colleagues didn’t drive out the hunter-gatherer so- is effective. He employs single-strand- also examined old skeletons and discov- cieties in these areas, but rather lived ed DNA from modern pathogens as bait ered that there was massive migration side-by-side with them until the hunt- and uses it to fish the genome scraps of from the Central Asian steppe toward ers and gatherers gradually adopted a old pathogens from the samples. Then Central Europe at that time. More pre- rural way of life and merged with the he washes off all of the DNA that isn’t cisely, it was again their DNA that put new migrants. Other early farmers left on the hook and that therefore stems, the researchers on the right track. An the Fertile Crescent for the East and set- not from the pathogen, but from the analysis of the genome of more than tled the areas of the Asian steppe. They human host itself or organisms in the 250 skeletons from various archaeolog- would later reach Europe in a second soil. Using this method, the researcher ical sites in Europe proves that there wave of migration. has been able to reconstruct, for in- were two major population upheavals. stance, the DNA of the plague virus The earlier wave of migration began WAVE OF MIGRATION FROM THE Yersinia pestis with unprecedented ac- because the first farmers from the area ASIAN STEPPE curacy. The bones came from a ceme- of the Fertile Crescent were extremely tery in London where only plague vic- successful. They enjoyed good harvests, This began around 4,800 years ago. In tims were buried in the 14th century. always had food in abundance, their one fell swoop, an incredible number The oldest plague germs examined, population grew and the first trade of people pushed toward Europe from however, are much older. Scientists routes slowly developed. “Only when the West Asian steppe. The migrants re- from the University of Copenhagen dis- agriculture appeared did people have placed the local population almost covered them in 5,200-year-old skele- time for specialized crafts, standardized completely, as the scientists in Jena dis- tons from the Central Asian steppe. mass production and warlike disputes,” covered in collaboration with an inter- This may be where the disease originat- says Krause. national team. This time, agriculture ed. It’s possible that it spread in all di- In search of fertile land, some farm- and the population growth that went

rections of the compass together with ers migrated west and settled in Central with it can’t have triggered this event, Photos: Nature genetics, DOI: 10.1038/ng.3611 (2)

32 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 Scope Bolgar Bateni 2575-2349 BCE 1362-1400 2887-2677 BCE 2909-2679 BCE London Chociwel 1350-1400 2135-1923 BCE Kytmanovo 1348-1350 Bulanovo 1746-1626 BCE Ellwangen 2280-2047 BCE Aschheim 1485-1627 443-565 and Altenerding Barcelona Marseille 426-571 1300-1420 1720-1722 Kapan 1048-855 BCE

Modern strains

) ue Branch 2 g la p g n Branch 1 Branch 3 o K g n o

H ( Later epidemics Branch 4 1352-1772 Black Death Sinister spread: Genetic analyses 1348-1352 of plague victims of bygone times showed that the plague virus Plague of Justinian Yersinia pestis spread through 541-750 Eurasia in several waves: first Bronze Age plague from east to west, but later also 3000-1000 BCE in the opposite direction.

as both populations engaged in farming. So what was the reason for it? TO THE POINT “That’s precisely the question we’re l Diet changed with the advent of agriculture: people began to eat more plant- asking,” says Johannes Krause. “How based foods and less meat.

does it happen that one population is l As a consequence, there was less vitamin D in their diet, resulting in genes so successful?” One theory could be for fair skin prevailing among the originally dark-skinned Europeans. This way, that the migrants brought the plague the body can produce vitamin D itself with the aid of sunlight. virus to Europe, against which they l Genes that allowed adults to digest milk also proved to be beneficial; farmers themselves had already developed re- increasingly kept dairy cattle. sistance. By studying early outbreaks of l Animal husbandry brought people into close contact with pathogens, and their disease and the evolution of germs immune systems had to adapt. more closely, the researchers are hop- l More food and a better diet led to population growth and migration. ing to arrive at a better understanding of the dangers these germs pose and of ways of combating them. Farming changed the world in many GLOSSARY respects. It gave humankind food in Isotopic analysis: Almost every element has different isotopes, meaning that their atomic great quantity and variety, but it also im- nuclei contain differing numbers of neutrons. This can be measured using mass spectro- parted new pathogens; it triggered waves metry. Information such as the age or origin of samples can be derived from the ratio of migration and allowed art and culture of isotopes. In finds of historical skeletons, isotopes reveal information about their diet. Nitrogen isotopes point to a diet of predominantly meat, and the ratio of different carbon to flourish, yet it also encouraged war. isotopes to the consumption of certain plants. By studying these comprehensive Lactase persistence: To enable it to digest the milk sugar lactose present in milk, the body changes, scientists at the Max Planck In- needs the enzyme lactase, which isn’t normally produced in adults. Genetic changes in far- stitute for the Science of Human Histo- mers and settlers in Europe led to their bodies continuing to produce lactase after infancy. ry are gaining ever greater insights into This lactase persistence is the opposite of lactose intolerance, the inability to tolerate milk.

Graphic: designergold, based on original material provided by the MPI for Science of Human History how our present societies originated.

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 33 FOCUS_The Roots of Humankind

Environmental Sins from Prehistoric Times

Human beings are currently changing the Earth on an unprecedented scale. But when did the transformation of our planet begin – and with it the human age, the Anthropocene? For archaeologists, the answer is clear: humans have been shaping the world’s ecosystems for tens of thousands of years. Nicole Boivin and her team at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena are using new methods to search for the earliest traces of human activity – and getting involved in current debates surrounding the Anthropocene.

TEXT UTE KEHSE

he scars on the landscape, the quarries in the middle of the Arabian Peninsula, can even be spotted on satellite images. The dark volcanic rocksT must have been cut away on an almost industrial scale at one point – and that at a time when Homo sapiens had yet to appear on Earth. As far back as hundreds of thousands of years ago, prehistoric humans of the species Homo erectus produced simple tools, hand axes, from the hard volcanic rock. “These people altered the geological outcrops across a vast strip of land measuring over 150 kilometers in length,” reports Michael Petraglia, Professor of Human Evolution and Prehistory at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena. “They took

34 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 Photo: MPI for the Science of Human History survive in the hostile environment. hostile the in survive to order in trapping and hunting for methods ingenious used habitants 36,000 as back far as humans by populated was rainforest tropical Lanka’s Sri show, Cave Batadombalena the in finds As everywhere: traces Human years ago. These early in early These ago. years 3 | MaxPlanckResearch 17MaxPlanckResearch -

FOCUS_The Roots of Humankind

The desert was alive: The Arabian peninsula was wet and fertile for several periods over the past 500,000 years. Finds of hand axes bear witness to the presence of human life there. Michael Petraglia (right) and his team study how even early humans altered the environment there.

enormous boulders and broke them tists aim to understand how the spread thropocene, within the next three into pieces. You can find tens of thou- of human beings altered landscapes, years. It argued that humanity has now sands of splinters there,” he adds. such as the tropical rain forest, affect- become a “geological superpower” and Thus, according to Petraglia, hu- ed animal and plant species, and even has such a far-reaching influence on mans started to change the Earth’s ge- created entirely new ecosystems. geological, biological and atmospheric ology with the arrival of the first stone processes on Earth that a new epoch tools more than three million years DEFINING THE ANTHROPOCENE needed to be defined. ago: “Even the predecessors of modern SPARKS CONTROVERSY But when did the Anthropocene humans shaped their environment.” start? The majority of the scientists in However, the early traces of these “Archaeologists are aware that even the working group are of the view that changes are not always easy to identi- those landscapes that seem pristine to the beginning of this new age should fy, and the researchers in the Depart- us today were often changed by hu- be dated to 1950. New technologies ment of Archaeology at the Max Planck mans,” says Nicole Boivin, head of the that emerged in the mid-twentieth Institute in Jena have set themselves new Department of Archaeology es- century left characteristic traces on the the task of tracking them down. tablished at the Max Planck Institute Earth from this point in time. For ex- To be able to demonstrate the influ- for the Science of Human History last ample, artificial radionuclides arose ence of humans on their environment year. “Other disciplines are far less during nuclear bomb testing, and plas- in detail, they work closely with col- aware of this,” she adds, referring to a tic and aluminum particles reached leagues from the environmental sci- debate that recently flared up in the the environment for the first time and ences, including scientists from the geosciences. can be clearly detected in geological Max Planck Institute for Biogeochem- In August 2016, a working group of deposits. Other suggestions for the be- istry, which is also located in Jena. the International Commission on Stra- ginning of the Anthropocene include Through their collaboration, the ar- tigraphy announced that it would de- the year 1800 (the beginning of indus-

chaeologists and environmental scien- fine a new geological epoch, the An- trialization) and 1610 (argued to be Photos: Michael Petraglia (2)

36 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 Photos: Michael Petraglia (2)

Photo: Michael Petraglia social andecologicalupheavals should Instead, thesignificanceoffar-reaching ginning ofabove-groundnuclear tests. to asingleglobaleventsuch asthebe- new epoch,itmakesnosense torefer ences andhumanities. that shouldalsoinvolvethesocialsci discussion parent, interdisciplinary cene mustbetheproductofatrans the formalizationofAnthropo long time.Accordingtotheirarticle, of humansontheenvironmentfora all, hasbeenexploringtheinfluence attention toarchaeology, which,after opinion, thedebatepaysinsufficient bate. Inparticular, intheauthors’ cial scienceswasmissingfromthede in December2016,thevoiceofso- ment three colleaguespointedoutinacom- of plantsandanimalsbegan). the pointatwhichglobalexchange where sites on excavations their focus they data, existed. once satellite of lakes and help the rivers With Planck work. Max their the now, with time ground some new for out breaking carried truly are been has Arabia Saudi Europe in of scientists history early the on research intensive While wilderness: the in work Pioneering In theauthors’view, indefiningthe However, asNicoleBoivinand published inthejournalN ature - - - -

Arabian Desertchanged–and howthis how environmentalconditions inthe tutes havebeenstudying precisely University ofOxfordandother insti- Petraglia, researchers fromJena,the ed in 2012 and is headedby Michael EUproject,whichstart terdisciplinary lakes. Aspartofthe“Palaeodeserts”in- sisted ofasavannahstuddedwith environment –whichatthetimecon these prehistoric humans shaped their Arabian Peninsulaindicatethateven The quarriesofHomoerectus onthe UNFOLDED INFOURPHASES HUMAN IMPACT ON THE PLANET too,” sheobserves. mentally shapedlandscapesinthepast, species tobecomeextinctandfunda- cole Boivin.“Buthumanbeingscaused greater scalethaneverbefore,”saysNi- changes happening today are on a far also beexamined.“It’s obviousthatthe - - modern humans, to detecttoday. With theappearanceof remained moresubtle,andaredifficult ed byhunting.” even whenapopulationisn’t decimat Petraglia, “butanecosystem changes have wiped them out completely,” says and antelopes.“Theydonotappearto such aselephants,hippopotamuses for examplebyhuntinglargeanimals left theirmarkontheenvironment– versely, humansarealsolikelytohave affected humansettlementthere.Con andwetconditions shift betweendry ed in the formation of entirely new tication ofarangespecies and result stock farming,whichledtothe domes- the developmentofarable andlive led totheextinctionofmany species; humans intheLatePleistocene, which phases ofchange:thespreadmodern speed. NicoleBoivinpointstofourkey transformation oftheplanetpickedup Nonetheless, thechangesinitially 3 | MaxPlanckResearch 17MaxPlanckResearch Homo sapiens, the 37 - - - - 38 fire to the vegetation to attract wild an- In Australia and America, huntersset for thecultivationofstarch-rich plants. New Guinea and Borneo to make way ed toburngapsintherain forestin their needs.Forinstance,humans start- niches for themselves that fulfilled the settlers established new ecological ers wereintroducedtonewareasand some animalspeciesdisappeared,oth- the world:afterarrivalofhumans, associated populationgrowthchanged 12,000 yearsago.Thisspreadandthe Australia andAmericabyaround even thefurthestreachesofEurasia, ago inEastAfricaandhadsettled Homo sapiensarosesome195,000years ECOLOGICAL NICHES MIGRANTS CREATED of species. ance, andthe long-distance exchange cation ofagriculture,majorlandclear- which resultedinthefurtherintensifi- ies anddevelopmentoftradenetworks, changes; andfinally, thegrowthofcit- mensals oftencausedfar-reaching lands wherehumansandtheircom- ecosystems; the settlement of remote is - MaxPlanckResearch 3 MaxPlanckResearch | 17 to assemble an interdisciplinary group to assembleaninterdisciplinary ect onthistopic.ItisBoivin’s intention aim oflaunchingamajorresearch proj- inJenawiththe ence ofHumanHistory at theMaxPlanckInstitute for theSci- 2017,atwo-day workshopwasheld ary decades,” saysNicoleBoivin.InFebru- something thathasbeendebatedfor pacts played a more important roleis mate, diseasesorevenmeteoriteim- thing todowiththisorwhethercli Earth. “Whetherhumanshadsome- ground sloth, disappeared from the bear, themammothandgiant ing over44kilograms,suchasthecave of 150specieslargeanimalsweigh- to 10,000 years ago, more than 100 out Paleolithic period,thatis,from50,000 ing topicinthiscontext.IntheUpper cies knownasmegafaunaisaninterest around 23,000yearsago. marck Archipelago with the first settlers nesia, theSalomonIslandsandBis- supial fromNewGuinea,reachedIndo grey cuscus,forinstance,asmallmar- nothing worthhuntingbefore.The to areaswhere there had been little or it. Ortheyintroducedpotentialgame imals to the youngplantsthat replaced The extinctionofgiantanimalspe- - - - ment atsuchanearlystage, shenotes. of humaninfluenceonthe environ Max Planckscientist. moved fromtheatmosphere,” saysthe mate becausecarbondioxide isre this caneveninfluencetheglobalcli- and forestregrowsinextensiveareas, many largeanimalspeciesdisappear come aforest.Inextremecases,if extinct, theopenlandscapecanbe “When a species of this kind becomes sure thatvegetationiskeptincheck. and seedsoverextensiveareasen- ecosystem. Theydistributenutrients that canhaveacrucialimpactonan moths are considered to be key species Boivin. Giantherbivoressuchasmam- matic consequences,”explainsNicole because theirdisappearancehaddra based oncollagenproteins. splintered boneremainsoriginate from whichevengnawed,cookedand ables the identification of the species ful inarchaeological research, asiten- haslatelyprovedparticularlyhelp- try) (Zooarchaeology by MassSpectrome studies. AmethodknownasZooMS els, andtoconductpaleoecological and proteins,tocreatecomputermod- more accurately, toanalyzeoldDNA be importanttodateindividualevents several keyareas.Forexample,itwould study complexquestionsthatarisein that canusenewresearch methods to spread of humans across the globe. globe. the across humans of spread the with coincided disappearance Their Age. Ice last the after extinct became world the over all animals large many mammoth, the Like extinction: species Prehistoric “The megafauna are so important It’s difficulttopinpointtheextent

- - - - -

Photo: dpa/Hendrik Schmidt Photo: dpa/Hendrik Schmidt

Graphic: Alison Crowther/PNAS June 7, 2016, vol. 113, no. 23 erts, head of the Stable Isotopes Re good source offood,”saysPatrickRob- dangerous, and moreover, it was not a too dark,impenetrable andtoo barrier forearlyhumansbecause itwas forest representedaninsurmountable had longassumedthatthetropicalrain ly inSoutheastAsia.“Archaeologists forest aroundthesametime,particular mans alsobegantopenetratetherain Anthropocene. is onepotentialstartingpointforthe be detectedintheecologicalrecord, bly thefirsthumaninfluencethatcan around 50,000yearsagoandispossi ance ofthemegafauna,whichstarted dangerous newenemy. Thedisappear and unabletoquicklyadaptthe still “naive”–withnofearofhumans the animalkingdomwasprobably In regions more distant from Africa, NEWLY POPULATED AREAS ANIMAL KINGDOM“NAIVE”IN ons attheirdisposal. hunting techniques and better weap- America, theyalreadyhadadvanced tlers reachedAustraliaandSouth mans,” she notes. When the first set- with theevolvingskillsofhu lions ofyearstodevelopinparallel the animalshad,insomecases,mil Late Pleistocene.“InAfricaandIndia, of animalsthatbecameextinctinthe reached anarea,thelargernumber however, thatthelaterHomosapiens based archaeologist findsitintriguing, nent andlatitudeinvolved.TheJena- bly differeddependingontheconti- Moreover, influencingfactorsproba- According tothelatestfindings,hu------ Borneo, SriLankaandNew Guinea. good 45,000yearsago,forexample in were presentintheseecosystems a ed thatthefirsthuntersand gatherers However, ithasnowbeendemonstrat - tute fortheScienceofHuman History. search Group at the Max Planck Insti - species such as rats, which benefit from habitats created by humans (bottom). (bottom). humans by created habitats from benefit which rats, as such species synanthropic also but (center), cows as such animals domesticated and (top) wheat as such crops in tandem with with world tandem inthe throughout spread species individual of numbers Large companions: animal and Plant

Timescale in millennia to the present day Timescale in millennia to the present day Timescale in millennia to the present day 0-1 1-3 3-6 6-10 >10 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-6 6-10 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-6 6-10 >10 Homo sapiens Homo – sometimes deliberately, sometimes accidentally. They include include They accidentally. sometimes deliberately, sometimes – food inSriLankamanythousands of relied ontherainforestasa source of erts recentlydemonstratedthat humans water snails,nuts,fruitsand roots. Rob- mented theirdietbycollecting fresh wide rangeofanimalsand comple- The StoneAgegroupshuntedavery FOCUS_The RootsofHumankind 3 | MaxPlanckResearch 17MaxPlanckResearch 39 - Above Prehistoric plant remains are retrieved years ago by testing the tooth enamel mans interfered in the rainforest at an excavation site on the island of Unguja, of human fossils. To do this, he deter- ecosystems prior to European coloniza- which belongs to the Zanzibar archipelago off mined the ratio of different carbon iso- tion. There were even already cities the coast of East Africa. topes in human teeth originating from there,” says Patrick Roberts. Below On the neighboring island of Pemba, different sites in Sri Lanka, and was Nicole Boivin’s team found remains of an extinct or eradicated crocodile species. thus able to confirm the importance of THE IMPACT ON ISLANDS IS the forest as a source of food. PARTICULARLY EVIDENT Even these early inhabitants fundamentally altered the tropical forests, for It’s easier for archaeologists to detect example by setting fires and promoting the consequences of human settle- the growth of certain plants. It would ment on islands than in impenetrable appear that tree species such as the Bra- jungle areas. The first settlers didn’t zil nut, cocoa tree and cabbage palm reach the remote archipelagos of the dominate large swaths of the Amazon Indian and Pacific Oceans until a few forest today because pre-Columbian thousand years ago – and their arrival groups deliberately cultivated them often had devastating consequences. many thousands of years ago and “We can see the impacts of this today spread their seeds. This was the finding wherever we take a more detailed of a study published in the journal look,” says Nicole Boivin. “In New Zea- Science in March 2017, in which Florian land, for example, it took only a few Wittmann from the Max Planck Insti- decades after the arrival of humans for tute for Chemistry in Mainz participat- the forest cover to shrink considered. The long-held view that rain forests ably,” says the Max Planck researcher. such as the Amazon were pristine, an- “Apparently-pristine tropical islands cient ecosystems is thus no longer val- in the Pacific were altered dramatical-

id. “In the Amazon, it’s clear that hu- ly well before Europeans arrived.” Photo: Mark Horton (top), Rainer Hutterer (bottom)

40 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 FOCUS_The Roots of Humankind

The Jena-based archaeologists are cur- ological methods, her team helped rently focusing on islands off the east demonstrate that crocodiles and giant coast of Africa: in the Zanzibar archipel- rats existed on the island, but are ex- ago and the Comoros. Earlier excava- tinct today. The team is currently ex- tions carried out by the team at the site amining the extent to which human of Kuumbi Cave in Zanzibar revealed beings altered other aspects of the is- that such animals as zebra, buffalo, wa- land ecosystems. terbuck and gazelles disappeared when The archaeologists are unanimous Zanzibar became an island. The prom- in their opinion that there is one con- ontory was connected to the mainland clusion that shouldn’t be drawn from during the Ice Age and was separated their research: that environmental, cli- from it only around 10,000 years ago mate and species protection are unnec- when the sea level rose. It’s still unclear essary because humans have influ- whether these animals became extinct enced the Earth since prehistoric times. due to the reduction in habitat avail- “Even if completely pristine landscapes ability during island formation, or as a can no longer be found anywhere on result of hunting or ecological alter- Earth, protecting the environment is ation by humans. important,” stresses Michael Petraglia. “There are indications that the ani- “We must learn to find a balance be- Versatile researcher: Nicole Boivin is as well versed in biology as she is in archaeology. In her mals were hunted. We found projectile tween the needs of humans and those research, she traces the development and im- points, for example, and traces of cuts of nature without causing too much pacts of human life and activity from prehistoric on some bones,” reports Nicole Boivin. damage to nature.” times to the present day. She and her colleagues are now in the

process of providing a more accurate account of the ecological history of the islands in this region – an undertaking TO THE POINT that arose out of the EU-funded “Sea- l Early humans left indelible traces on our planet even before the arrival of links” project, which was headed by Homo sapiens. Boivin and which examined the earliest l With the spread of modern humans, mammoths, cave bears and a large number trade relations between the cultures on of other species of megafauna went extinct. the different coasts of the Indian Ocean. l Through arable and livestock farming, humans created entirely new ecosystems The island of Pemba, the second- and spread livestock and crops throughout the world. largest island of the Zanzibar archipel- l Homo sapiens left its traces for thousands of years, even in apparently untouched ago, is also of interest to the Jena-based landscapes such as the Amazon rainforest. researchers in this context. It has been separated from the African mainland for millions of years. The first indica- GLOSSARY tions of human settlement there orig- Anthropocene: Suggested designation for a new geological epoch that is characterized inate from the seventh century CE. In by human influence on the biological, geological and atmospheric processes on the past year, Boivin and her colour planet. leagues started excavating in a cave Megafauna: Animal species weighing more than 44 kilograms. there and have accessed an environ- Paleoecological studies: Scientific studies of ecosystems from the Earth’s geological past. mental archive extending 5,000 years

Photo: Mark Horton (top), Rainer Hutterer (bottom) Photo: Sven Döring back into the past. Using molecular bi-

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 41 SPECTRUM

Nuclear Magnetic Homo sapiens Older than Resonance Scanner for Individual Proteins Previously Thought

The nuclear magnetic resonance Modern man lived in Morocco as far back as 300,000 years ago scanners we know from hospitals are set to become extremely sensitive. A quantum sensor developed by a team This find means we have to rewrite sumed that all humans living today headed by Professor Jörg Wrachtrup the early history of man: in Jebel descended from a population that at the University of Stuttgart and re- Irhoud, some 100 kilometers north- lived in East Africa around 200,000 searchers at the Max Planck Institute west of Marrakesh, an international years ago. However, the fossils from for Solid State Research in Stuttgart research team led by Jean-Jacques Morocco show that Homo sapiens makes it possible to use nuclear mag- Hublin from the Max Planck Institute had already spread across the entire netic resonance scanning to investi- for Evolutionary Anthropology in African continent around 300,000 gate the structure of individual pro- Leipzig, Germany, and Abdelouahed years ago – long before the out-of-Af- teins atom by atom. The sensor, Ben-Ncer from the National Institute rica dispersal of Homo sapiens. which the researchers presented back of Archaeology and Heritage in Ra- The Jebel Irhoud site has been in 2013, consists of a nitrogen atom bat, Morocco, uncovered remains of well known since the 1960s for its in a tiny diamond and detects mag- Homo sapiens along with stone tools human fossils and stone tools. How- netic signals from the atoms in a and animal bones. The finds are ever, it was difficult to interpret these sample. The researchers have now around 300,000 years old, making artifacts due to the uncertainty sur- improved its resolution to such an them the oldest securely dated fossil rounding their geological age. New extent that it can distinguish the sig- evidence of our own species. excavations since 2004 have uncov- nals from different types of atoms. The oldest Homo sapiens fossils ered further Homo sapiens fossils. This method could one day help di- previously known are from Ethiopia There are a total of 22 fossilized re- agnose diseases in the early stages by and are around 100,000 years young- mains of skulls, mandibles, teeth and detecting the first defective proteins. er. Most researchers therefore as- long bones of at least five individu- Defective protein molecules are what cause, for instance, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. (www.mpg.de/11383152)

Neutrinos Drive Supernovae The distribution of radioactive elements in the Cassiopeia A remnant provides insight into the explosion

Supernovae are an important source of pernova remnant. The theoretical chemical elements in space. When scenario is that these elements are cre- these stars explode, radioactive atom- ated in the hot ejecta near the core. Be- ic nuclei are created in the hot interi- cause of the wild boiling within the or and can provide information about star, the neutrino-driven explosion be- the invisible processes that cause the gins aspherically, and the supernova explosion. Using elaborate computer expels the ejected stellar matter with a simulations, a team of scientists from pronounced asymmetry. In the case of the Max Planck Institute for Astro- Cassiopeia A, the remaining compact physics and Japan’s RIKEN research neutron star should therefore be speed- center were able to explain the recent- ing toward the southern hemisphere, ly measured spatial distribution of ra- while the largest and brightest titani- dioactive titanium and nickel in Cas- um structures containing most of the siopeia A, a roughly 340-year-old su- matter should be found in the northern half of the remnant. And that is Pronounced asymmetry: Titanium (blue) and iron (white, red) in supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. precisely what observations of Cassio- The yellow cross marks the geometric center of the explosion; a white cross and an arrow indicate peia A show, thus confirming the sim- the current position of the neutron star and its direction of movement. Computer simulations ulations. (www.mpg.de/11368641) Photo: Macmillan Publishers Ltd: Nature; from Grefenstette et al., Nature 506, 339 (2014); iron distribution courtesy of U. Hwang yield a similar scenario.

42 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 SPECTRUM

Homo sapiens Older than Previously Thought

The first of our kind: Two views of a composite reconstruction of the earliest known Homo sapiens fossils. The shape of the facial skull falls within the variation of humans living today. The archaic- looking brain case (blue), in contrast, indicates that the brain shape, and possibly brain function, evolved within the Homo sapiens lineage.

als, documenting an early stage of hu- Anatomically, the early Homo sapiens when Homo sapiens emerged, while the man evolution. The team working with were already very similar to modern brain shape and possibly also its func- geochronology expert Daniel Richter humans: as the researchers discovered tion only developed later as our spe- from the Max Planck Institute in from computer tomography (mi- cies evolved. Leipzig used thermoluminescence dat- cro-CT) scans of several original fossils, As a result of the most recent finding methods on heated flints found in they had modern-looking facial skulls ings, earlier controversial finds are be- the deposits to determine the age of the and teeth. Their brain cases, in con- ing reevaluated: scientists now likewise various layers at the site. This method trast, were rather elongated and not consider an approximately 260,000-year- takes advantage of natural radioactivi- round like those in humans living to- old skull fragment from Florisbad, ty and measures how much time has day. This suggests that the shape of the South Africa, to belong to Homo sapiens. passed since the heating took place. facial bones was already established (www.mpg.de/11322481)

Pointing a Finger at Electronics Digital devices can be controlled with gestures above the back of the hand

Smartwatches have similar capabilities as smartphones, but they’re not exactly easier to use. Anyone who has difficulties, say, selecting a point on a map on their cell phone screen probably won’t have an easier time of it on a watch display. An international team working with researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics is now remedying this. The team has presented WatchSense – an input method that converts finger movements on and above the back of the hand into control signals for a smartwatch, tablet or even a PC. To this end, a depth sensor attached to the forearm tracks the tips of the wearer’s thumb and index finger moving across the back of the hand and transmits these finger positions to the electronic device. Users can monitor input directly on the device’s display. As the researchers discovered, this method enables users to, for instance, select a new sound track or ad- A new type of remote control: WatchSense enables users to control electron- just the volume in a music player faster than is possible ic devices, such as smartwatches, with finger movements on and above the

Photo: Macmillan Publishers Ltd: Nature; from Grefenstette et al., Nature 506, 339 (2014); iron distribution courtesy of U. Hwang Photos: Philipp Gunz/MPI EVA Leipzig/CC-BY-SA 2.0 (top), Oliver Dietze (bottom) with conventional input methods. back of the hand by tracking the tips of the thumb and index finger.

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 43 With theGripofaGecko SPECTRUM 44 thus faronlyintheformof rigidma- gecko feet,didinfactalready exist,but tremely adhesivehairsonthe solesof which areinspiredbythe fine,ex nubs. Thesekindsofcontact surfaces, because itssurfaceiscovered withtiny shapes andalsoholdsthemsecurely flexibly adaptstoobjectsofdifferent for IntelligentSystemsinStuttgart searchers attheMaxPlanckInstitute object: agripperdevelopedbyre on betterwhentheywanttograspan Robots willsoonlikelybeabletohold objects of variety a grips nubs microscopic with equipped is and cup suction a resembles that gripper A The AmazingFlexibilityoftheHumanMind A study among illiterate women provides clues about what causes dyslexia causes what about clues provides women illiterate among study A MaxPlanckResearch MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 - - variety of objects and also holds them securely. them holds also and objects of variety a grasps researchers Stuttgart-based the by developed gripper the – tomatoes and Teacups 11315088 flask filled with liquid. hold, forinstance,a300-gramglass tours ofavarietyshapesandcan uses negative pressure to hug the con- in Stuttgart resembles a suction cup. It per developed by the materials scientists ly shapedobjects.Thecoin-sizedgrip- terials. Theydon’t adheretoarbitrari- ) (www.mpg.de/

that extend into the thalamus and the the and thalamus into the extend that changes registered scientists the write, how and to read women learned these As assumed. previously was ly than changes the brain more fundamental process have now this tics that shown Psycholinguis for and Sciences Brain and Cognitive for Human Institutes Planck at Max the women, researchers adult illiterate with conducted study a In to read. to learn “recycled” are es, fac as such complex objects, recognize evolved to originally that regions brain Instead, brain. the to developarea” in “reading for adedicated time been hasn’t there that terms evolutionary invention in arecent such was Writing to different skills were modified. were skills different to assigned previously were that regions brain so, did they As language. native their Hindi, read to how learned India in women Illiterate change: Profound training. afewmonths of just reading through modified fundamentally be can region brain this that shown it now has been since doubtful, seems However,ia. this of dyslex- apossible cause as discussed were thalamus of the dysfunctions tal Previously,- congeni regions. old brain evolutionarily are stem, which brain (www.mpg.de/ 11312849 ) - - -

Photos: Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (top), PNAS (bottom) Photos: Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (top), PNAS (bottom)

Photo: Frank Vinken (top); numerical-relativistic simulation: S. Ossokine, A. Buonanno (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes Project; scientific visualization: T. Dietrich (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), R. Haas (NCSA) (bottom) der to improve their visibility. their improve to der or- in two of factor a by enlarged were holes black The strong. yellow, fields, weak denotes blue color: the and height the both by indicated is wave gravitational the of strength The holes. black two of merger the by generated was which GW170104, event wave gravitational the of simulation numerical a from comes image This wave: the of source The ingston detectordata,thensubsequentlyalsointheHan - researcher firstcameacrossapromisingsignalintheLiv- veloped hadidentifiedinalmostrealtime.Indoingso, the vestigated afewcandidatesthatananalysissystemhe de- Einstein Institute)inHannover. There,Alexander Nitzin- the MaxPlanckInstituteforGravitationalPhysics(Albert at hole with49solarmasses.Thesignalwasfirstobserved with 31and19solarmasses,hadmergedintooneblack owes tothesource’s positioninthesky. Two blackholes, conds beforereachingtheoneinLivingston–aneffectthat GW170104 reachedthedetectorinHanfordthreemillise 2017 at11:11:58.6CET. Thegravitationalwavedesignated 4, two LIGOdetectorsintheUSsignaledahitonJanuary onal wavesthatAlbertEinsteinpredicted100yearsago.The For thethirdtime,researchers havedetectedthegravitati Hannover in EinsteinInstitute Albert the at againdiscovered once is that signal a observe detectors LIGO Gravitational WavesDetectedfortheThirdTime other livingcreatures.ButthisAfrican with similarsignsofoldageasmany cancer –theturquoisekillifishstruggles and mentalfacultiesdecline,itgets It loses its pigmentation, its motor skills Microorganisms of young fish increase the lifespan of older conspecifics conspecifics older of lifespan the increase fish young Microorganismsof Gut BacteriaAffectAging es withage:inyoungfish,manydif- al communityinthekillifishgutchang mans, thecompositionofmicrobi- physical declinesetsin.Aswithhu fish is justafewmonthsoldwhen these objects. previously detectedbyLIGOandpointstoanewclassof masses, fillsthegapbetweentwomergedblackholes blackhole,withits49solar ford data.Thenewlyobserved Ageing in Cologne Ageing in Cologne tute forBiologyof Max PlanckInsti- entists fromthe gens increases.Sci portion ofpatho age, whilethepro creases asthefish this diversity de healthy gut, but bacteria ensurea species of ferent piqued the interest of researchers on aging worldwide. aging on researchers of interest the piqued has age with decline physical rapid fish’s The fade. to begin fish killi- turquoise the of colors vibrant the months, few a just After (www.mpg.de/ ------course of the fish’s life. the proliferationofpathogensover the immunesystemandthusprevents flora fromayoungorganismsupports gevity. It’s possiblethattheintestinal clear just how the microbes affect lon- trast, doesn’t decrease.It’s stillnot older animals,theirlifespan,incon young fishreceivethegutmicrobesof also stillasagileyoungfish.If ripe oldageoffourmonths,theyare around 40percent longer, butatthe microbiota, thefishnotonlylive animals. With theyoungintestinal isms ofyoungkillifishtomiddle-aged have now transferred the microorgan- 11236218 11325825 ) ) 3 | MaxPlanckResearch MaxPlanckResearch 17 (www.mpg.de SPECTRUM 45 / - SPECTRUM

DNA from Prehistoric Humans Discovered in Cave Soil A new method enables researchers to detect millennia-old DNA in cave sediments

Tools and other artifacts produced by ancient humans have been unearthed at many prehistoric archaeological sites. It often remains unclear just who the creators were, as archaeologists rarely find human fossils such as bones or teeth in the sediment layers connected with these finds. But researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evo- lutionary Anthropology in Leipzig “fished out” tiny DNA fragments from sediment samples ranging from 14,000 to more than 550,000 years old. The scientists were able to identify the DNA fragments as belonging to Neander- thals, Denisovans and modern humans, as well as various extinct mammals. Using these DNA traces in the soil, researchers will soon be able to detect the presence of ancient humans and other mammalian species even at archaeological sites where no more-con- spicuous remains were found. (www. Researchers found traces of DNA in the sediment layers of the El Sidrón cave in Spain. mpg.de/11247830)

Shedding Light on the Cosmic Web Astronomers use the light from twin quasars to survey the structure of the universe

The matter in intergalactic space forms – most of them direct remnants of the 11 billion light-years away from us, the a vast network of interconnected fila- Big Bang – are part of this cosmic web. scientists identified structural differenc- ments. Nearly all atoms in the universe Now, a team led by researchers at the es on scales of just a few hundred thou- Max Planck Institute for As- sand light-years – comparable to the size tronomy has surveyed the fine of individual galaxies. The light from structure of this web some two two sources (quasars) enabled them to billion years after the Big Bang describe these differences quantitative- – using a new method that ly. The astronomers then compared takes advantage of pairs of dis- their findings with supercomputer tant, hyperluminous quasars models that simulate the development located very close to one an- of cosmic structures from the Big Bang other to illuminate space. Qua- to the present. To the researchers’ de- sars are the active cores of light, these simulations yield a universe young galaxies. In their study that matches the observation data quite of charted regions more than well. (www.mpg.de/11259384)

Snapshot: An image from a supercomputer simulation of the cosmic web 11.5 billion years ago. The researchers created this and other models and subsequently compared them

with the quasar observations to draw conclusions about the properties of the young uni- Photo: MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology/J. Krause; simulation: J. Oñorbe/MPI for Astronomy verse. Each side of the cubic section shown here measures 24 million light-years.

46 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 Photo: MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology/J. Krause; simulation: J. Oñorbe/MPI for Astronomy

Photo: SPL/D. Kunkel Microscopy Being OverweightIncreasesRiskofAlzheimer’s ing in the default mode network. This network becomes ac becomes network This network. mode default the in ing capable less of interact are regions individual aresult, As to 80. aged 60 people overweight severely in ly connected strong less are brain of the some areas Leipzig, in Sciences Brain and Cognitive for Human Institute Planck Max the at to scientists According brain. the compromises ly also it evident arteriosclerosis, and failure heart of diabetes, risk the not increases only or obese overweight severely Being studies on the Zika virus. virus. Zika on the studies now further conduct can researchers findings, to these Thanks cultures. cell sity high-den from milliliter per viruses infectious million 40 nearly harvested tists - scien the weeks, most two al After Brazil. from ruses vi with them infected and medium nutrient aliquid in able to be to grow cells ster ham adapted they end, that lab. the To in viruses of Zika propagated quantities large have now Brazil, in team aresearch with collaboration in Magdeburg, in Systems Technical ofics Complex for Dynam Institute Planck at Max the Researchers pathogen. the against cine to develop avac working are scientists so immunity, ral have no natu side of Africa People who out live borns. new harm can pregnancy during infection an that known when it became zil, 2016 Bra in Olympic Games the before shortly notoriety gained virus The countries. 60 now around in found is and Africa to, from spread - mosqui yellow fever the by transmitted is which virus, Zika the years, ten last the In Zika VirusesProducedintheLab brain the of regions between connections fewer with associated is Obesity Scientists fulfill a crucial prerequisite for vaccine production vaccineprerequisiteforcrucial a fulfill Scientists (www.mpg.de/ ------exhibit brain growth disorders (microcephaly) after birth. after (microcephaly) disorders growth brain exhibit may babies their fever, Zika contract women pregnant If sexually. transmitted be also can they but mosquitoes, by humans to transmitted are viruses The cells: kidney in (pink) viruses Zika of image microscopy electron Colored 11293337 ) - - - - ties in general. in ties - facul mental and network brain the affect diet in changes now to how investigate plan researchers The heimer’s. for Alz risk at be greater also could individuals overweight Older, dementia. severely of impending indicator early an are hand, other on the network, this within Weaker links past. the or recalling action future planning when we are for wander, but example, also, mind when wetive let our

- with aBreathTest Diagnosing Cancer test to maturity and market it. it. market and maturity to test the to breath develop censing partners li seeking now are researchers the Innovation, Planck Max organization transfertechnologythe with gether To methods. conventional to ment in a clinics, as comple detection early this method could be used for routine rate, success high a such With pants. of status health the determined correctly test breath the patients, cancer and sub jects healthy involving study one In ed. fragment usually and amounts, trace in that are inecules present the breath can they isolate the RNA method, mol developed newly a and Using cells. cancerous healthy in amounts ferent NKX GATA the of variants RNA of es for trac samples breath analyzed they this, do To stage. early an at disease the detect can that method a veloped de therefore Nauheim Bad Re in search Lung and Heart for Institute Planck until it is too at late. Scientists the Max for this is that isn’t the disease noticed reasons main the of One diagnosed. being of years five die within patients cancer lung Today,like. most look day one could cancer lung for test a what is This exhale. and … deeply Inhale mpg.de/ 2 genes, which are produced in dif in produced are which genes, 11237619 98 3 | MaxPlanckResearch MaxPlanckResearch 17 ecn o te partici the of percent ) SPECTRUM (www. 6 and and 47 ------C C Glass Fibre Glass medicine, industrial manufacturing, engineering structural and environmental monitoring. applications, in for example advanced ultraviolet light for and sources sensors optical fibre light laser of properties and interactions control its with matter. Their is work leading to many (PCF), to manipulate fibre photonic optical of as known fibre, a novel type crystal the Planck Institute Science for Light the Max of in Erlangen, and his colleagues are using light low loss isn’t only thing the with do. very Russell can they Philip In their conventional form, hair-thin –but ensure conducting internet speeds fast glass fibres 48 glass fibresareasprimitive as anearly developed inErlangen,conventional Compared with the filigree fibres being backbone ofourinformation society. global fibrenetworkforms thevery already fulfilledtheirpromise –today’s cations. Conventionalglassfibreshave well aspromisingnewreal-worldappli open upnewvistasinbasicresearch as linear opticaleffectswithinthefibre unknown. Forexample,intensenon might guideandmodifylaserlightwas years ago,sothemannerinwhichthey characteristics; theydidn’t yetexist26 special being sosmall,ithassomevery the thicknessofahumanhair. Despite 100 micrometresindiameter–roughly TEXT MaxPlanckResearch 3 MaxPlanckResearch ROLANDWENGENMAYR my hand.Thefibreisonly ing a gap about the width of is: agossamerthreadbridg hannes Köhler. Andthereit an you seethe fibre?” asks Jo | 17 - - - - offers amultitudeofdifferent“apps”. tablet computer, inthesensethatPCF electronic calculatornexttoamodern along theentirelengthof fibre. parallel glassmembranes thatrun rior spannedbytwoclosely spaced pointing. Thefibreishollow, itsinte- tre-long glass fibre at which Köhler is is passingthroughthe12-centime The invisibleinfraredlightofthelaser mirrors andotheropticalelements. complete withapowerfullaser, lenses, race trackforlighthasbeensetup, next toanopticaltableonwhicha Köhler andIarestandinginhislab techniques. Doctoral student Johannes unique micro-andnano-fabrication glass fibre,whichisproducedby Light focuses on this new breed of Planck InstitutefortheScienceof ip Russell’s departmentattheMax The research being pursued by Phil- Rainbows - , Director at, Director the fibre world.Hedirectsthe 40-strong and mastermindoftheErlangen-based born inBelfast,isthepioneer ofPCF ning work. such glassfibretypeintheir prize-win- with Roy Glauber, made use of one shared the2005NobelPrizeinPhysics John Hall at NISTinthe US, who Quantum Optics in Garching, and tor at the Max Planck Institute of different way. TheodorHänsch,Direc - nearby labs.Eachalterslaserlightina nanostructures arebeingconductedin with otherfibrescontainingdifferent focus ofKöhler’s work.Experiments the light. Just what is going on is the tions, inturn,alterthepropertiesof vibrating. Theoptoacousticoscilla- ert aweakphysicalforce, can set them that the laser light, whose photons ex- These membranesaresogossamer-thin Philip Russell,aBritishphysicist

Photo: Xin Jiang PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY_Optics

White light source: Specially prepared crystal fibres produce a broad spectrum of light from monochromatic laser pulses. This “supercontinuum” can be spread out in space using a prism at the end of the fibre. At the right-hand edge, the ultraviolet light appears as a white glow.

Photonic Crystal Fibre Science Divi- back and forth inside the fibre. This is ments but by tiny nanostructures that sion. “We’re concerned with the inter- akin to throwing a Super Ball at an an- modify the light during reflection. The action between light and matter,” he gle into a pipe, so that it bounces fur- structures must have just the right spac- says, describing the thrust of his re- ther and further into the conduit. ing so that they match the wavelength search. He patiently explains the fun- of visible light: a few hundred nanome- damental difference to conventional MARRYING GLASS FIBRES AND tres (millionths of a millimetre). glass fibres, without which the high- PHOTONIC CRYSTALS The architectural dimensions of ar- speed internet would be inconceiv- tificial photonic crystals are of the same able. With wry British humour, he re- Conventional glass fibres can be under- order of magnitude. In one-dimension- marks that the glass fibre has also stood by viewing light as rays that al form, such materials have important made the spread of fake news much propagate in straight lines, bouncing applications as antireflection coatings more efficient. He is clearly glad that, off the core surface. To understand Rus- for mirrors, windows, spectacles and so far, his own research isn’t used in sell’s fibres, in contrast, it is necessary camera lenses. communications technology. to also take account of the fact that In the early 1990s, Philip Russell “Glass fibres for telecommunica- light also acts like a wave. asked himself what would happen if he tions work like elongated, almost per- What this means is conveyed by tak- combined a glass fibre with a two-di- fect mirrors,” he explains. Such fibres ing a glance at one of Russell’s shelves. mensional photonic crystal. This should have a core and a cladding consisting A glass case contains a brilliant blue create a glass fibre with regularly spaced of two grades of glass with different re- morpho butterfly, which the physicist hollow channels running along its fractive indices. The interface between bought many years ago in an entomol- length, so that a cross-section of the fi- the core and cladding therefore acts as ogy museum in France. The butterfly’s bre would reveal a regular pattern of a mirror, which reflects laser beams iridescent colours aren’t created by pig- holes – a photonic crystal. If their spac-

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 49 PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY_Optics

1 2 3 4

10 µm 50 µm 20 µm 50 µm

Above Researchers led by Philip Russell first produced PCFs with a solid glass core (1), which when appropriately designed could transmit light in a fundamental mode over long distances. Shortly afterwards they developed hollow-core PCFs, including a structure with a kagomé lattice (2), named after a woven bamboo pattern in Japanese Shinto shrines, which when filled with gas and driven by short laser pulses can produce ultraviolet light. Some simpler “single-ring” hollow-core fibres (3) can be used to produce a similar effect. Fibres with narrow glass membranes running over their entire length (4) are used in optoacoustic experiments. Light induces vibrations in the membranes. Right page In a cleanroom, Michael Frosz, Xin Jiang and Philip Russell (left to right) watch the preform of a glass fibre being melted in a furnace and drawn to its final thickness.

ing is chosen appropriately – this is re- makes it possible to draw it into ul- 1999 that these new fibres could gen- lated to the wavelength of the laser tra-thin filaments without breaking. erate an octave-spanning frequency light used – the jumps in refractive in- Equally importantly, if the glass con- comb (“supercontinuum generation”), dex between the air and the glass would tains an internal pattern of holes, this thus contributing to John Hall’s and cause strong reflection of the light in too shrinks as the filament is drawn, Theodor Hänsch’s winning the Nobel the core, preventing it from escaping without losing its structural integrity. Prize in Physics in 2005. A frequency through the walls of the fibre. comb makes it possible to measure the That was Russell’s idea. But actually FIBRES WITH COMPLETELY NEW colours (frequencies) of light with un- realizing the first photonic crystal fibre OPTICAL PROPERTIES precedented precision, and thus to was no easy matter. “You’ve got this construct optical clocks that are a dream,” Russell says, “but your courage After trying in vain to drill millime- thousand times more accurate than falters in the face of difficulties.” He tre-sized holes in a thick glass rod, ready their conventional counterparts. This had to find a way to provide the already for drawing it down in size in a fibre will make satellite-based global posi- ultrafine fibres with even smaller hol- drawing tower, Russell’s team finally tioning systems even more accurate in low channels. Moreover, all the chan- came up with the idea that would prove the future. “We were just about ‘there’ nels must have a defined diameter, and successful. They assembled a stack of in 1999,” Russell sighs, “but we didn’t they must maintain the same spacing quartz glass tubes in a desired pattern have the necessary equipment at the over the entire length of the fibre. and heated the stack in a furnace. They University of Bath, so weren’t the first “Most of my colleagues thought I was then drew the cluster of tubes down to to discover supercontinuum genera- crazy,” he remarks. a thin fibre. The result was the first function in PCF.” Poor prospects for the young scien- tioning photonic crystal fibre. What exactly happens to light in tist who, at the time, was carrying out Russell introduced the first photon- such fibres depends on the internal mi- research at the University of Southamp- ic crystal fibre in 1996 and his team crostructure. In simple terms, light ton. After many failures, his small team has subsequently perfected this “stack- waves are trapped inside the fibres rath- finally had a breakthrough with a tech- and-draw” method. The new optical er like sound waves in a resonating mu- nique similar to the method used for properties of the fibres soon attracted sical instrument. Russell, himself an ac- making candy floss. It exploits the fact the attention of the laser world. Many complished amateur pianist, takes the that, at a temperature of around 1,850 research groups jumped on the idea, kettle drum as an example. When struck, degrees Celsius, quartz glass behaves most notably a group at Bell Labs in the drum-skin begins to oscillate at its

very much like molten sugar. This Holmdel, New Jersey, who reported in fundamental frequency, which carries Photos: MPI for the Science of Light

50 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 the deepest tone of the instrument. At out, or blooming, of laser beams as they fuse it together and stretch it to form a the same time, it can emit many high- travel through free space, diminishing preform cane that is just a few millime- er-frequency harmonics. Laser light in a the intensity of the light. As a result, la- tres thick. They then clamp the cane at photonic crystal fibre acts in a similar ser light can be kept narrowly focused the top of the fibre-drawing tower, manner. In a PCF with a solid glass core, in a single-lobed fundamental mode which reaches a height of about eight the surrounding triangular pattern of over long distances. When the fibre is metres. A compact, tubular graphite hollow channels acts as an excellent fil- filled with gas, possible huge enhance- furnace melts the preform. Then the ter. It filters out all the harmonics so that ments in nonlinear light-gas interac- lower end of the preform is drawn into the light in the core vibrates only at the tions become possible, as we shall see. a hair-thin filament. A protective plas- fundamental frequency. Over the past two and a half de- tic sheath is added, and the finished fi- The light waves may be viewed as cades, Russell’s team – since 2009 at the bre is rolled up onto a spool. being “stretched” across the core, in Max Planck Institute for the Science of Beyond this standard procedure, analogy with sound waves on the skin Light – has developed a wide array of Russell’s team is developing a second of a drum. “For the fundamental mode glass-fibre structures. At the Institute, method: extrusion. “In principle, it of the “drum”, the hollow channels act Xin Jiang leads me to the sanctum sanc- works like a pasta machine,” says Xin like the bars of a jail cell,” Russell says, torum, a multi-storey cleanroom that Jiang, the manager of the “glass stu- “trapping the light.” In contrast, har- houses the fibre-drawing towers. Be- dio.” A pasta machine presses dough monics of the “drum skin” are able to cause the fibre blanks are sensitive to through a disc pierced by holes. In a escape between the bars. A pure funda- dust, we can only peer at them through similar manner, a hot mass of glass is mental mode can therefore be trans- a window pane. pressed through a perforated disc. By mitted over very long distances, appropriate choice of hole pattern, al- without any contamination from A METHOD THAT WORKS LIKE most any structure can be imparted to higher-order modes. “This endlessly A PASTA MACHINE the fibre blank, which is subsequently single- mode behaviour was an unex- drawn into a thin filament. “That gives pected discovery,” says Russell, and the The researchers in Erlangen fashion us a lot of design scope,” Russell says. paper first reporting it is now the most their glass fibres in two steps, explains Three basic types of glass fibres can highly cited in the field. Michael Frosz, head of the team respon- be distinguished. One type features Hollow-core PCF introduced an ex- sible for producing them. First, they as- such structures as thin glass mem- citing new feature: the ability to pre- semble a stack of prefabricated glass branes. Another has a glass-filled core

Photo: Tilman Weishart vent, for the first time, the spreading tubes into a desired pattern, heat it, through which light passes, surround-

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 51 1 2

ed by an array of narrow hollow chan- lowing light to be used, for example, to hand, jacks up the amplification so nels: the photonic crystal. The third trap and propel a single cancer cell in- high that the signal is distorted. This type has a hollow core within which side the core. A fluid containing a new produces overtones that give the rock the light is guided. drug could then be pumped through the guitar its typical sound. In this case, The Erlangen-based researchers use fibre to test how the cell reacts. This rep- the gain is said to be nonlinear, be- hollow-core fibres to manipulate mi- resents an innovative approach to phar- cause it changes the waveform of the croparticles with laser light inside the maceutical research on individual cells. incoming signal. core. “We use photonic forces in the However, the main area of research That is more or less how photonic same way as they are used in a tech- in Erlangen is nonlinear optics, specif- crystal fibres work. The team of Fran- nique known as optical tweezers,” ex- ically nonlinear wavelength conver- cesco Tani, a postdoc from Italy, is tak- plains team leader Shangran Xie. He sion. This field exploits the ability of ing nonlinearity a step further. The fi- and his team have developed a system photonic crystal fibres to alter the co- bres they are using are filled with a that uses a light-trapped particle as a lour of laser light. For example, a sol- noble gas, such as argon or neon. The sensor for electric fields. Colleagues at id-core fibre produces the famous fre- wavelengths of light from powerful in- the Jülich Research Centre have ex- quency comb mentioned above. frared laser pulses fan out like a rain- pressed interest in using this sensor to Gas-filled, hollow-core fibres are cur- bow, with frequencies that can be measure electrical fields in a high-volt- rently a key area of research in Erlan- tuned by varying the gas pressure in the age particle accelerator that people are gen. The scientists fire powerful, ul- fibre, enabling the colour of the light not allowed to enter during operation. tra-short laser pulses into one end of to be controlled. Ultraviolet laser light Because the sensors, incorporated in such fibres, and light with transformed generated in this way has numerous ap- photonic crystal fibres hundreds of me- properties emerges from the other end. plications in research and technology. tres long, can be used in locations that In fact, strong ultraviolet light can are too dangerous for human access, OF SPECIAL INTEREST: be produced so reliably with photonic they have potential applications in nu- ULTRAVIOLET LASER LIGHT crystal fibres that a start-up company at clear power plants. These “flying parti- the institute intends to commercialize cle” sensors could be used to measure Russell compares the complex process- the process. The company, ultralumina, radioactivity levels and can even be es that take place inside the fibre with was founded in Erlangen in 2016. It has switched to respond to different types what an amplifier does to the signal a staff of six and already has interested of radiation. from an electric guitar in rock music. customers lining up. Companies in the At the same time, the physicists in As long as the amplifier is set to a mod- semiconductor industry would like to Erlangen have been pursuing a new erate level, it amplifies the wave with- use the ultraviolet light in their inspec- idea. A liquid-filled hollow-core PCF is out distorting it. The gain is said to be tion systems. “To check the quality of

suitable for examining living cells, al- linear. A rock guitarist, on the other structures on silicon wafers, electronic Photos: Tilman Weishart (2)

52 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY_Optics

3 4

chip manufacturers require very bright From production to experiment: A researcher in Erlangen stacks a preform of hollow capillaries shortwave light,” says technical man- and rods to form the starting structure – the preform – for a photonic crystal fibre (1). Philip ager Patrick Uebel. The new light source Russell (2) proposed photonic crystal fibres in the early 1990s. The preforms are melted in a furnace, after which they are drawn into fibre about as thin as a human hair (3). Using gas-filled may also find applications in microsco- hollow-core PCF, Francesco Tani is able to produce a wide range of laser wavelengths, starting py. “The first financial year was very with invisible infrared laser pulses (4). good,” his colleague Sebastian Bauer-

schmidt reports. Photonic crystal fibres could even be used to construct compact sources TO THE POINT of X-ray laser light. Current sources ei- l In photonic crystal fibre (PCF), Philip Russell has developed an optical fibre with ther involve free-electron lasers – a periodic lattice of microscopic hollow channels running along its entire length. huge, expensive electron accelerators l Hollow-core PCFs can maintain laser light in a tight focus over very long distances, – or high harmonic generation in no- limited only by the loss of the fibre. Nonlinear optical effects in gases can thus be ble gases using very short pulses with greatly enhanced by filling the fibre with gas. multi-milli-Joule energies. Gas-filled l PCFs can be designed to generate new colours of light, including light in the ultra PCF could be the key to generating violet range, from commonly available lasers. Other types of PCF can be used as X-rays from ultrashort pulses with en- versatile optical-fibre based sensors of multiple quantities, such as electric field, temperature, twist and radiation levels. ergies 1,000 times less, in a convenient tabletop system, for use in materials research, medicine and technology. It would take a book to describe the GLOSSARY broad range of activities being pursued in Erlangen – a “bible” of the photon- The fundamental mode of light in a fibre core has a close analogy in the fundamental tone of a drum skin when the whole skin oscillates to and fro in the same direction. ic crystal fibre world, as it were. And Higher-order modes (“harmonics”) have sub-regions that move in opposite directions. the fibres also have a spiritual side, at Like a drum skin, most fibre cores support multiple harmonics. least according to Google, which rec- Photonic crystal: A material whose optical properties are altered by a periodic structure, ognizes Russell’s fibres as sacred. In his such as regularly arranged air-filled channels. Light can be selectively reflected at such first presentations, the physicist used structures according to its colour (wavelength). This phenomenon explains the iridescent the term “holey fibre” to emphasize colours of many butterfly wings. the perforation of the fibres. Visibly Photonic crystal fibre: A glass fibre in which an array of microscopic hollow channels is arranged around a central hollow or solid core. This cladding structure can be used to amused, Russell describes how a typo control the light travelling through the fibre in diverse ways. on the internet changed the term to

Photos: Tilman Weishart (2) “holy fibres”.

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 53 BIOLOGY & MEDICINE_Cell Research

The Protein Puzzle

The human body consists of tens of thousands of proteins. What’s more, these occur in several variants whose concentration in the organism can change over time. Matthias Mann from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried therefore needs clever algorithms and a lot of computing power for his research. His goal, after all, is to decode the entire human proteome – that is, the full set of proteins in the human body – for the benefit of medical science.

TEXT TIM SCHRÖDER

atthias Mann’s lab in speed up metabolic reactions: they con- Project identified around 20,000 genes Martinsried is as tidy as vert fat into energy, for example, or that encode the blueprints for around a hospital intensive care make oxygen available to cells as a the same number of proteins. unit. The glass walls and source of energy. If we subtract the Only gradually did it become clear doors provide a clear body water content from body weight, that these proteins occur in many vari- view, M and several identical-looking most life forms consist of 50 percent ants. Once a gene has been read, parts workstations are set up around the protein. Without proteins, there would of the messenger RNA, which serves as room. At each station, a robotic arm be no life on earth. a protein template, can be cut out. hanging from the ceiling picks up small This gives rise to RNA molecules of plates containing samples and places A MATURE TECHNOLOGY various lengths, each of which is trans- them in the instruments. Technically lated into a different protein. Numer- speaking, these systems represent the Matthias Mann initially studied phys- ous proteins, in turn, must be trimmed essence of what Matthias Mann has ics and mathematics, but he has been before they can be used as finished been developing over the years: ma- investigating the world of proteins molecules, while chemical tags are ap- chines capable of processing and ana- since the 1980s. “It has taken two de- pended to others. All in all, there are lyzing proteins at breathtaking speed. cades to develop the technology that hundreds of thousands of protein vari- Mann is interested in these biomol- allows us to analyze proteins in a rea- ants that interact in a finely orches- ecules because they are involved in al- sonable manner,” he says. “We’ve trated choreography. most all of an organism’s biological reached the point where we can actual- In addition, whereas an organism processes. Proteins are made up of an ly apply the technology − and now possesses the same genes throughout its amino acid molecule chain that folds things are getting really interesting!” lifetime, the protein composition varies into complex three-dimensional pat- The complex nature of protein analysis according to cell type. Some proteins terns. Some – like keratins in skin and became evident when the human ge- occur in large quantities and in every hair cells – serve as structural substanc- nome was sequenced in 2001. The sci- cell, while others occur only in trace

es. Other proteins, known as enzymes, entists working on the Human Genome amounts and only in certain tissues. > Photo: Axel Griesch

54 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 Photo: Axel Griesch

xxxxxxxx researchers to analyze tens of thousands of proteomes. proteomes. of thousands of tens analyze to researchers allowing pipetting, of task the facilitate greatly Robots automation. without proteomics in happens Nothing 3 | MaxPlanckResearch 17MaxPlanckResearch 55 Under the watchful eye of Heiner Koch, researchers Florian Meier and Scarlet Beck (left to right) analyze protein samples using the six mass spectrometers set up in Matthias Mann’s (far right) laboratory alone.

Different proteins are active depending they are heated or mechanically stressed, method for the sensitive proteins. In on the tasks the metabolic machinery and they clump together. It was there- the lab of his doctoral supervisor, John is carrying out. “If we want to know fore not possible to analyze proteins B. Fenn, at Yale University, Matthias how the metabolic machinery works or with the conventional method of mass Mann, together with other colleagues, what its momentary state is, we must spectrometry. Mass spectrometers are developed a gentler solution in the be able to analyze the protein profile in used to analyze samples containing un- early 1980s. With the help of trypsin, a tissue as well as how it changes,” known constituents, for instance to de- a digestive enzyme, they snipped pro- Mann says. tect toxins in tissue samples. teins into approximately ten-amino- Scientists have always realized how acid-long fragments – so-called pep- important proteins are for body pro- DEFLECTION IN AN ELECTRIC FIELD tides. They then sprayed the peptides cesses. Now, however, a growing num- through a fine tube, imparting an elec- ber of researchers have become inter- Before proteins can be investigated in a trical charge to them. Using this electro- ested in studying the complete set of mass spectrometer, they must be con- spray ionization method, they were proteins in the body. This eventually re- verted into charged particles, for exam- able to analyze proteins for the first sulted in the emergence of the research ple by bombarding them with electrons time in a mass spectrometer – a method area we now call proteomics. But enor- or other charged particles, which con- for which Fenn was awarded the Nobel mous quantities of data are required to verts them into electrically charged Prize in Chemistry in 2002. analyze the protein composition of any ions. Only electrically charged mole- The time had now come for com- life form. A huge volume of data must cules are deflected from their path puter scientists, as it is almost impossi- also be collected for evaluating and in- through the electric field of the mass ble for a human being to deduce the terpreting the results. Proteomics thus spectrometer. The amount they are de- original proteins from a peptide mix. relies on sophisticated data processing. flected depends on their charge magni- Together with his colleague Jürgen Cox, A major problem in analyzing pro- tude and molecular weight, and this in- Mann developed an analytical program teins is that they are very sensitive. As formation allows scientists to infer a called MaxQuant, which can compare anyone who has ever boiled or beaten molecule’s identity. many thousands of peptide fragments an egg knows, the three-dimensional However, conventional mass spec- with information contained in inter-

structures of proteins collapse when trometry with ionization is too harsh a national databases. In addition to the Photo: Axel Griesch

56 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 Photo: Axel Griesch

Photos: MPI of Biochemistry (top), Axel Griesch (bottom) of the tube. the of tip the at out sprayed then and tube capillary metal a in charge electric an given are tides pep the which in method, ionization spray electro the by accomplished is This charged. electrically be must they spectrometer, mass the of field electrical the by trajectories different along deflected be to peptides the for order In fragments. peptide smaller into cut first are proteins neutral electrically The longer bedetected. were excessivelydilutedandcouldno trometer. Asaresult,thetraceproteins proteins areanalyzedinamassspec nents bychromatographybeforethe the proteinsfromothercompo- tively largeliquidsampletoseparate because theresearchers neededarela- sample onlyintraceamounts.Thiswas detect proteinsthatarepresentina analysis. Forexample,theycouldnot overcome all theobstaclesofprotein and MaxQuanttogetherwereunableto Nevertheless, electrosprayionization MINIATURE FORMAT CHROMATOGRAPHY IN a samplefromtheresults. reconstructs the protein composition of with thecontentofdatabasesand the datafrommassspectrometer fragment belongs.MaxQuantcompares tion abouttheproteintowhicheach peptide, the databasescontaininforma conceivable weightsofevery molecular - - this typeofchromatographydownto Mann miniaturizedthetubesusedin In 2008,theresearcher analyzedthe coding anorganism’s entireproteome. had previouslyseemedimpossible:de- raphy, Mannsucceededindoingwhat tion, MaxQuantandnanochromatog- vanishingly smallamounts.” teins thatarepresentinthesample sufficiently highconcentrationsofpro- chromatography enablesustoobtain ute quantitiesofasample:“Ournano- With thesetubes,heneeds only min- a diameterofjustfewnanometers. By combining electrospray ioniza- around the world. Without the help of the standardinproteomicslaboratories ed tospecificcelltypes. and only10percent ofthemarelimit- in themousebrain,”Mannexplains, son, therearearound13,000proteins around 10,000 proteins. “By compari- discovered thatthetinyinsecthas decoded thefruitflyproteome.They latest breakthroughin2016,whenthey league FrankSchnorrerachievedtheir fungus. HeandhisMaxPlanckcol tifying the4,399proteinsinayeast proteome ofanentireorganism,iden- analyzed in a mass spectrometer. mass a in analyzed subsequently and columns chromatographic in other each from separated then colors), different in (shown weight molecular varying of peptides into cut first are proteins The cell: cancer a of spectrum protein the of section A BIOLOGY &MEDICINE _Cell Research Mann’s methodhassincebecome 3 | MaxPlanckResearch 17MaxPlanckResearch 57 - 58 tem’s workflowtoallowusanalyze “We’re currently optimizingoursys ods havetobespeededupeven more. find applicationinhospitals, themeth tein changeswithtime. how theconcentrationofaspecificpro a patient canbe compared to determine a sample.Thus,multiplesamplesfrom ty, butalsothequantityofproteinsin can nowdeterminenotjusttheidenti- the MaxQuantsoftwaresothatthey thinkable. CoxandMannhaverefined computers, itsusewouldstillbeun functions. specific their out carry to repertoire protein different completely a use often they genes, of ments comple identical have cells all Although (red). mode reproductive the by unaffected are others Still (green). reproduction asexual during mainly produced are others while (blue), reproduction duringamplified sexual are attractants, protein as such proteins, Some modes. reproductive both in proteins of ratios the shows graph The asexually. and sexually both reproduce can organism cellular uni The analyzed. was proteome complete whose organism first the was yeast Baker’s BIOLOGY &MEDICINE _Cell Research MaxPlanckResearch 3 MaxPlanckResearch However, beforeproteomics can | 17

- - - - as phosphorylation. phosphate molecule–aprocess known are activatedbytaggingthem witha dismantled. Moreover, manyproteins during whichtheproteinis gradually teins, initiatingabreakdown process ple, bindstoagingordefectivepro cur in.Theproteinubiquitin,forexam- the manyvariantsthatproteinscanoc the same. responds other words,noteveryone even iftheyfollowthesamediet.In crease atthesamerateineveryone, proteins don’tthat inflammatory de- the MaxQuantsoftware.Theyfound proteinsusing quantity ofinflammatory 1,000 proteomesanddeterminedthe his colleaguesanalyzedmorethan all patients during a diet. Mann and proteins decreasesthesameamountin whether thequantityofinflammatory tions. The researchers wanted to know reac- that aretypicalofinflammatory an inflammation,producingproteins The bodyreactstoobesityasifitwere TO ADIETIN THE SAMEWAY NOT EVERYONE RESPONDS an eight-weekdiet. proteins ofobesepeoplechangeduring University Hospital,studiedhowthe together withdoctorsatCopenhagen and healthypatients.To thisend,Mann, differences inthemetabolismofsick compare groupsofpeopletodetermine ease progresses. during thecourseofadayorasdis- tient’s proteinconcentrationchanges able tostudy, forexample,howapa Mann predicts.Researchers willthenbe lyze 100proteomesaday,” Matthias from now, weexpecttobeableana- as manysamplespossible.Ayear Proteome analysisiscomplicatedby The scientistsarealreadyableto - - - Mann wasabletoshowthatanorgan- changes inapatient’s proteomethat ferent states. But itis precisely these tire groupsofproteinscantakeondif- still don’t understand. Moreover, en protein variants whose importance we “There areanenormousnumberof state. pends onthephosphorylation ism’s day-nightrhythmcruciallyde protein is released. Such minute amounts protein isreleased.Suchminute amounts littleofthetelltale meaning thatvery smallinthe early stage, is still very cer in the proteome because the tumor find early signs of malignant skin can- cy. It would be extremely difficult to treatment ofdiseasesisstillinitsinfan diseases intoaccount. also takes existing knowledge about production ofcertainproteins.Perseus when themetabolic system increases proteins occurandwhatitmeans proteins −forexample,wherespecific mulat tional databasescontainingtheaccu- ysis. Thesoftwareaccessesinterna- MaxQuant toconductabigdataanal uses thestatisticalproteindatafrom help: Perseus,astheprogramisdubbed, colleague JürgenCoxisexpectedto Mann says. ofhisorherhealthstatus,” overview on anindividual’s proteometogainan future, wewillrelymuchmoreheavily know, though,thatisn’t enough.Inthe single protein. Based on what we now tests showthepresenceoramountofa versial owingtoitsunreliability. “Such of prostate cancer, but which is contro- PSA level, which can be an indication day’s diagnostictests. littleofsometo fore thinksvery diseases,” saysthescientist,whothere are decisivewhenitcomestotreating As anexample,hementionsthe The proteome-baseddiagnosisand Another programdevelopedbyhis ed fundofknowledgeabout ------

Graphic: Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry/Matthias Mann Graphic: Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry/Matthias Mann

Photo: Axel Griesch

medical science. teomics forthebenefitofbiology and now help harness the potential of pro- his research raised. As a result, he can terest inthebiologicalquestions that physics, andinsteadtookan earlyin- clusively on computer science and fortunate itwasthathedidn’t focusex the ground,”saysMatthiasMann.How things are only now really getting off but brought usagiantstepforward, word. “Ournewtechniqueshave term proteomicsbecameamerebuzz- disappeared fromthescene,and plaints soonfollowed.Manystartups less forroutineclinicalpractice.Com- the timewasutterlyinadequate. ization, it’s clear that the technology of chromatography andelectrosprayion- ers. In lightof such methods as nano- toclinicalresearchanalysis asaservice up companiesbeganofferingproteome nome wasdecodedin2001,manystart of themillennium.Afterhumange ly advancedremarkablysincetheturn help ofnanochromatography. can’t be reliably detected even with the Pavel Sinitcyn and Art Carlson – and playing a relaxing game of chess during a break. break. a during chess of game relaxing a playing and – Carlson Art and Duitama, Camila Sinitcyn Cox, Pavel Jürgen Rudolph, Jan left): front from (clockwise computer the on data Analyzing Accordingly, theresultsproveduse- Nevertheless, proteomicshasclear-

- - - -

l l l TOPOINT THE GLOSSARY time. Cells have different proteomes depending on their cell type. There are thus at at thus are least There type. cell their on depending proteomes different have Cells time. 400,000 Proteome: gene. single a to traced be can different proteins ten to up humans, In gene. single a from produced are proteins pro multiple several teins, into cleaved subsequently is chain acid amino an when or encodes proteins, gene a several When proteins. of function the alter to added sugar subsequently and are phosphate residues, as such tags, molecular Small products. gene a in different of resulting number moved, or out cut are molecule RNA messenger a of sections for splicing, instance, alternative as known process a In (translation). protein a been into has RNA converted messenger after or (transcription) read been has gene a from after results changes diversity enormous This genes. its of number the than greater times several be can produces organism an proteins of number Protein modifications: The also affected by environmental influences such as medications and pollutants. and medications as such influences environmental by affected is also composition protein The health. of state and diet age, organism’s produced an be on may depending proteins different example, For factors. many on depends proteome The proteins indiseaseprocesses. the occurrence andfunctionofproteins. This shedslightontherole ofindividual Using thePerseusprogr about peptidesandpr The MaxQuant program asrepositories accessesdatabasesthatserve ofknowledge Only sophisticatedcomputeralgorithmscanr For proteome analysis, theproteins mustfirstbe cut upintopeptidefragments. from thehugevolumes ofdatagenerated. 250 proteins. However, they aren’t all produced by all the body’s cells at any given given any at cells body’s the all by produced all aren’t they However, proteins. different proteomes corresponding to the the to corresponding proteomes different 80,000 between contains body human the that estimated now is It oteins. am, researchers analyze information from databaseson econstruct theoriginalproteins 250 cell types in the human body. 3 | MaxPlanckResearch 17MaxPlanckResearch and and

59 60 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGY_3D printing

Built with Light

Aachen cathedral in miniature: 3D printing is the future. But it’s not yet possible to get the most 3D printing can be used to create very intricate structures. out of the materials and the production processes used. Scientists at the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung in Düsseldorf, together with colleagues from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen, are therefore working to help the new method come of age.

TEXT ALEXANDER STIRN

he blindingly bright spot of turing”, still offers room for improve- light dances to and fro, from ment. Particularly as regards the materi- right to left and left to right, als, 3D printing is still in its infancy. spattering sparks as it does “The materials that are used today in so. It pauses briefly, only to additive manufacturing are simply not restartT its motion anew. It never tires optimized for this process,” says Eric Jä- and is extremely productive. gle, head of a working group at the This blindingly bright spot of light Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung whirling along in a laboratory in in Düsseldorf. The materials aren’t made Aachen is pursuing an ambitious objec- to be particularly robust during printing, tive: it is expected to radically change nor are the printing processes optimized materials research. Its light is produced for getting the most out of the materi- by a powerful laser; its sparks are part als. And the materials don’t yet fully ex- and parcel of the process. They bear ploit the novel manufacturing methods witness to the fact that the laser contin- – although this is precisely what could uously melts metal powder that then bring about tremendous progress, as his- solidifies on a surface – spot for spot, tory has shown. layer for layer, like a Lego structure “As casting was being developed in made with tiny metal building blocks. its day, the materials were adapted as The process for which manufactur- well, and alloys were developed that ing engineers have such high hopes is were perfect for the new process,” says known as 3D printing. It promises to Andreas Weisheit, working group lead- produce highly complex components at er at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser relatively low cost, with little waste and Technology ILT in Aachen. “Additive short lead times. Although a great deal manufacturing will therefore achieve

Photo: Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen / Volker Lannert of progress has been made, the method, its full potential only when suitable which scientists call “additive manufac- materials are developed and, at the

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 61 same time, the processes are adapted to casting molds or press molds. “This is intricate components are produced in the new materials.” The researchers are incredibly expensive and is worthwhile one shot, with no bolted joints and no also experimenting with familiar mate- only when large numbers of pieces waste produced by milling machines rials that they are gradually improving. must be produced,” says Eric Jägle. Ad- or lathes. This is precisely why the bright spot ditive manufacturing, in contrast, re- “If desired, entire assemblies that of light dances across the metal in ever quires no special tools – apart from the were originally composed of 20 to 30 wilder patterns. This is precisely why it expensive 3D printer. individual parts can be printed in a sin- spatters sparks from ever more complex gle part,” explains Jägle. In addition, as materials: the laser is part of a research COMPLETELY NEW APPROACHES far as materials science is concerned, machine that Jägle and Weisheit devel- FOR OPTIMIZING STEELS 3D printing opens up completely new oped to jointly analyze which materi- approaches for optimizing steels and als are suitable for 3D printing. Their Small batches or individual parts such other alloys. goal is to optimize production process- as prototypes, customized prosthetic The focus is currently on two print- es so that, for instance, the properties joints and spare parts for planes can ing processes. Both use lasers and both of known alloys can be improved and thus be manufactured without high use metal powder. Eric Jägle grabs a steels, for example, become particular- one-time costs. In the future, printers small tube containing a gray substance ly strong as a result of the laser treat- could output them directly on site – from the windowsill and gives it a ment. The research project goes by the without the need for expensive logistics slight shake. The powder is so fine that name of AProLAM (Advanced Alloys or time-consuming shipping. it appears to slosh to and fro in the and Process Design for Laser Additive Moreover, additive manufacturing tube. The individual particles measure Manufacturing of Metals). The cooper- facilitates the production of highly a mere 20 to 40 micrometers (thou- ation project between the two institutes complex components. “Production sandths of a millimeter), or around was launched two years ago; now the technology normally has its limita- one-fifth the diameter of a human hair. intermediate report is available – with tions: a metal is milled and turned, A fine powder of this sort is required highly promising results. sheet metal is bent and welded, and if particularly for the first of the two But expectations are high, too. High that doesn’t do the job, the parts have methods. In selective laser melting hopes are pinned on 3D printing in the to be assembled,” says Jägle. With 3D (SLM), a slider spreads a very thin lay- production process: currently, the first printing, however, daring designs with er of powder, just 50 to 100 microme- step in almost all manufacturing pro- cavities are also possible – similar to a ters thick, on a substrate. A laser beam

cesses is to make special tools, such as Lego structure. Furthermore, the often that can be controlled via a mirror is Photo: Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen / Peter Winandy

62 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGY_3D printing

Left Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen watch the selective laser melting process: a laser beam, which can be seen here as a bright spot, forms structures out of a very fine metal powder that was previously spread on a substrate. Right The AProLAM project is investigating two 3D printing methods: laser metal deposition (left), where metal powder is sprayed into the laser focus on a metal plate, and selective laser melting.

fired at it. This beam writes contours the actual laser source, a box the size of able products with no pores or cracks into the powdery layer, hatches areas a cabinet. There, infrared laser light – were produced from alloys that had and exposes individual points to the which is invisible to the human eye – is been around for some time. Or they light. Where it strikes, the metal melts. produced with a power of up to two kilo- considered which new materials could A short time later it solidifies again watts. It is focused at the other end of be particularly suitable for 3D printing. and bonds to the layer below. When one the yellow cable in such a way that the For Eric Jägle, the two approaches are level is printed, the substrate is lowered beam impinges on a metal plate with inseparably intertwined. “It’s the inter- 50 to 100 micrometers, the slider spreads maximum intensity. The material lique- play of the composition of metals and a the next layer of powder, and the laser fies and starts to glow blindingly bright. very specific process path that leads to sets to work again. Hundreds or thou- microstructures with the properties we sands of layers are produced. They are so THE INTERPLAY OF METAL want,” says the Max Planck researcher. fine that they will later be unrecogniz- COMPOSITION AND PROCESS Regardless of whether it is strength, able in the finished product. ductility or resistance to cracks or cor- The other process that the AProLAM “But we don’t want to simply melt the rosion – it isn’t only the physical prop- researchers started with is somewhat metal, we also want to deposit some- erties of the individual constituents of coarser. It is called laser metal deposi- thing,” says Wilms. Three nozzles are an alloy that are crucial, but also their tion (LMD), produces thicker metal therefore located in the tip of the sup- spatial arrangement after solidifying. blocks than SLM and is hidden behind posed “laser gun,” grouped around the “With additive manufacturing, we now heavy, opaque sliding doors in Aachen. beam. They hurl metal powder that is have a new, interesting process – and When it is in operation, a red warning transported by the noble gas argon into therefore the opportunity to create light denies access to the room. Markus the focused laser beam – and thus into completely new properties,” says Jägle. Benjamin Wilms, a member of the the tiny melt pool on the surface. The Take the maraging steels, for exam- AProLAM project at the ILT, slides open powder melts, emits a spark or two, and ple – a portmanteau of “martensitic,” the door. Behind it, a vertically mount- solidifies abruptly as soon as the pranc- the name of the microstructure, and ed “laser gun” comes into view – not as ing laser moves on, leaving behind a “aging.” These steels, which Eric Jägle slick and gleaming as those used by firmly welded tiny Lego block. and his colleagues optimize and refine Goldfinger and other James Bond vil- In the past, before the start of the for 3D printing, contain aluminum lains, but just as powerful. AProLAM project, materials scientists and titanium in addition to iron and Yellow cables with an optical fiber, primarily tried to optimize the condi- other elements. Both metals can form

Photos: Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen almost as thick as a garden hose, lead to tions of the laser process so that service- tiny precipitates. >

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 63 MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGY_3D printing

These precipitates prevent dislocations Eric Jägle. Here, a laser initially subjects lump of metal is again subjected to from moving freely within the struc- the material to intense heat. The melt such intense heat that parts of the mature of the steel. The material doesn’t pool, however, is tiny – smaller than the terial melt. “What we have here is an deform as easily, and it becomes much tip of a pin. This is why it cools down enormously complex, completely wild stronger. The problem is that it normal- immediately as soon as the laser moves temperature profile,” says Philipp Kürn- ly takes a lot of effort to produce the on to the next point. When it returns steiner, AProLAM member at the Max precipitates. The material must initial- and prints a neighboring row right next Planck Institute in Düsseldorf. “This is ly be subjected to intense heat in order to it, the original tiny block is heated precisely what could help us obtain pre- for the foreign substances to dissolve. again. The effect is repeated in the row cipitation-hardened materials directly It is then quenched and finally hard- after the next, but is slightly weaker. The from the machine in the future – with- ened at high temperatures for a long peak temperatures become lower and out the need for any subsequent heat time so that the precipitates can form. lower with increasing distance. treatment whatsoever.” “Interestingly, all these steps are also But if the next layer is applied di- To test this, ILT researcher Markus

found in additive manufacturing,” says rectly on top of the tiny block, the Benjamin Wilms has in recent months Photo: Frank Vinken repeatedly donned his green-tinted have no cracks, the samples are then with a radius of less than 50 nanome- protective goggles and a respirator to sliced through the middle and polished ters. The pin was previously cut out of protect his lungs from metal dust. He – with a finer and finer polish whose the printed material by a beam of galli- set the spot of light dancing and print- particles, in the final pass, have a diam- um ions, which then sharpened the ed cubes of an iron-nickel alloy – at the eter of just 0.04 micrometers (40 nano- point as if it were a pencil, with increas- bottom, in the first layers, with no alu- meters). The smooth samples are etched ingly tighter circular movements. The minum at all, then with an ever-in- and inspected under an optical micro- pin ends up under a detector system to creasing proportion until the alumi- scope. Then they are polished again which a high voltage is applied – num content in the top layers finally and put under an electron microscope around 5,000 volts – and a pulsing la- reached 25 percent. to obtain information about the mate- ser beam further tortures the sample. “As the material is what we are in- rial’s microstructure. “The aim of this ordeal is to dis- terested in, we usually print small lodge a single atom from the material blocks. This is the simplest conceivable A 3D DIAGRAM SHOWS THE with every pulse,” says Eric Jägle. As it

Photos: MPI für Eisenforschung geometry,” says Wilms. Provided they PRECISE COMPOSITION is positively charged, this ion moves along the electric field lines to the de- But the real acid test for the printed tector, which registers the exact posi- steel cube awaits on the ground floor of tion and the exact time of the impact. the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenfor- This data can be used to determine the schung. Here, side by side with histori- point on the pin from which the par- cal forging hammers, stands one of the ticle was sent on its way, how heavy it most advanced analytical instruments was and how much charge it carried. for metal structures: a 3D atom probe. At the end, the instrument produces a Its maze of stainless steel tubes has a sil- three-dimensional diagram that shows ver sheen; a blue decorative strip lights the composition of the tip of the pin up along the top of the control unit, in detail. and the staccato tones of a helium In his office within the brick walls pump, which cools the inside of the ap- of the Max Planck Institute in Düssel- paratus to minus 220 degrees Celsius, dorf, Jägle makes a couple of mouse pounds away in the background. clicks and brings one of his measure- In the high vacuum here, the mate- ment results onto the screen. The iron rials researchers position a tiny pin atoms, shown in gray, are found to be

Left Philipp Kürnsteiner (in the background) and Eric Jägle check measurements made by an instrument that can act as a scanning ion microscope and also as a scanning electron microscope. They use the former to cut samples for atom probe analyses. Below The image taken by the scanning electron microscope (left) shows the cellular structure of a steel sample that was first polished and then etched. In the electron backscatter diffraction image (right), the same cells are delineated by the black regions. The colors show the orientation of individual crystals.

20 µm 20 µm

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 65 66 searchers wanttorepeatthesameexper- almost twiceashigh. a steelwithaluminumprecipitates are iron-nickel alloy, thehardnessvaluesof ideal. Andcomparedwith apure content of9percent hasproventobe lost. AccordingtoJägle,analuminum the steel’s desiredmicrostructurewillbe mustn’t exceed 14 percent, otherwise 5 percent forthemtoappear–butit the aluminum content must be at least ers werelookingfor. precisely whattheAProLAMresearch- originate directlyfromthe3Dprinter– quoise onthescreen.Theseprecipitates ters canbefound;theyshowupintur- cipitates measuringonlyafewnanome finely distributed,aluminum-richpre- the pin.Atmanylocations,however, distributed homogenouslythroughout MaxPlanckResearch 3 MaxPlanckResearch The experimentsalsoshowedthat As theirnextstep,theAProLAM re- | 17 20 nm - Philipp Kürnsteiner. Theresearchers little heatintothematerial,” says to notintroduceeithertoomuch ortoo cipitates. “Themajorchallenge hereis conditions for particularly effective pre- in the hope of finding the optimum tinkering with theprinting processes – At thesametime,researchers are PROPERTIES ARE THE GOAL MATERIALS WITHIMPROVED ues evenathightemperatures. oxides promiseenormousstabilityval- struction. Orsteelinwhichembedded popularinaircraftwhich arevery con- forced withthe rare metalscandium, future, including aluminum alloys rein- also plantostudyothermaterialsinthe nation oftitaniumandaluminum.They additive, andthenagainwithacombi- iments withtitaniumasthereinforcing of aid the with alloys and steels of page Right-hand stronger. steel the make to achieve to wanted researchers Planck Max the what precisely is this – manufacturing additive during formed more contain that than steel maraging a of sample the in regions the show left the to in image the areas turquoise The (above). atom by atom material a in distributed are metals different page This 20 percent aluminum. The structure with the high density of aluminum-rich precipitates precipitates aluminum-rich of density high the with structure The aluminum. percent Eric Jägle introduces a new sample into the 3 In the AProLAM project, Eric Jägle is attempting to optimize the properties 3 D metal printing. metal D block inthebigmetalLego construc grees betweentwolayers. change theprintingdirection by90de rial hastimetocooldown.It caneven pause aftereachlayersothat themate- can meanderalongarectangle.It across themetalfromrighttoleft.It scope. The spotof light canalwaysrace the individuallayersoffersgreatest cipitates, butthepatternusedtoprint material alsohasaneffectonthepre- es acrossthemetalanddepositsnew longer forthematerialtocooldown. a largemeltpool;itthentakesmuch ters. Aspotoflightthissizeleadsto laser beam–from0.6to1.8millime can changethediameteroffocused lab inAachen.MarkusBenjaminWilms al behindtheheavyslidingdoorsof have alotofparametersattheirdispos D atom probe, which measures how how measures which probe, atom D All thisaffectshoweachindividual The speedatwhichthelaserdanc- - - - -

Photos: Frank Vinken (top), 2017 published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc. (bottom, small image) MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGY_3D printing

tion heats up, cools down and is reheat- surpass conventional materials with says ILT researcher Andreas Weisheit: ed again. The temperature profile, in their improved properties. “The whole “If you want to have such a novel ma- turn, is responsible for how easily the technology will only really take off terial, the only way to achieve it is with aluminum islands form during the when people recognize one thing,” additive manufacturing.” printing process, how large they become, and how they are distributed in

the steel. “It takes a great deal of experience to find the right parameters in each TO THE POINT case,” says Wilms. Nevertheless, the l The pioneering 3D printing – known as additive manufacturing – offers many first attempt is usually unsuccessful. A advantages, but its development still offers room for improvement, particularly quick look at the blindingly bright spot as far as the materials are concerned. of light is all it takes to appreciate this: l The research project AProLAM (Advanced Alloys and Process Design for Laser “Sometimes it lights up there as if in a Additive Manufacturing of Metals) involves Max Planck and Fraunhofer research- thunderstorm; then you know that the ers joining forces to pursue two objectives: first, they want to find out which process is running unevenly and the la- materials are suitable for 3D printing; and second, they want to optimize the production processes to improve the properties of known alloys. ser has to move more slowly.” l There are primarily two printing processes in use: selective laser melting uses Ultimately, despite all the experi- a layer of powder just 50 to 100 micrometers thick on a substrate; laser metal ence gained, only an iterative process deposition produces thicker metal blocks.

can help: Wilms has to tinker with one l The materials that the researchers are optimizing and refining for 3D printing of the many parameters until the print- include, for instance, maraging steels. Besides iron, these contain, for example, ed blocks don’t get any better. The val- aluminum and titanium, and don’t deform easily. ue is then fixed and the next parame- ter is dealt with – until finally a material is produced that outshines all GLOSSARY of its predecessors. Laser: The word is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation And that is the ultimate goal of the and refers both to the physical effect and to the device. Laser beams are sharply focused, AProLAM researchers, whether they have a high intensity and usually a very narrow frequency range. They can also produce work behind the brick walls in Düssel- extremely short and intense pulses of radiation. In manufacturing, they are used as cut- dorf or the sliding doors in Aachen. ting and welding tools. They want to facilitate the creation of Alloy: A metallic material that is composed of two or more elements, at least one of which new materials that not only can be must be a metal. manufactured more easily and without

Photo: Frank Vinken complex heat treatment, but that also

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 67 UMWELT & KLIMA_Zur Person

Sailing Close to the Wind

Ralf Schiebel has already undertaken more than 30 research cruises. The geologist has headed the micropaleontology working group at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz since autumn 2015. With each expedition, he has accumulated plankton and sediment samples, folders stuffed with logs and data – and memories of adventures that he will probably tell his grand- children about.

TEXT CATARINA PIETSCHMANN

aul in the net and let’s get nally came back on deck, we found ut- out of here pronto!” While ter chaos.” Schiebel’s plankton sam- Ralf Schiebel quickly stows ples, which had been stowed below, his samples, the ship’s crew were the only scientific yield of the en- members batten down the tire expedition. hatches. H Rough seas are not uncom- mon in the North Atlantic, especially AT HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE in mid-winter. The force eight gale is NORTH ATLANTIC just a taster: a cyclonic storm 200 kilometers across is bearing down on their Last autumn, the geologist returned to position in the middle of the ocean, at 47 degrees north, 20 degrees west – the 47 degrees north, 20 degrees west. spot in the Atlantic Ocean that was There’s no way their research vessel, the practically his living room in the 1990s. Meteor, can escape now. All in all, he spent almost two years Battling winds of up to 230 kilome- there. Together with colleagues, he was ters per hour, the ship bravely breasts studying carbon exchange between the the waves towering 20 meters above it. ocean and the atmosphere on a moored “We were drinking water and eating plankton trap equipped with a flow me- chocolate bars,” Schiebel recalls. Sud- ter, a temperature sensor and a salt denly the howl of the wind subsides as probe. “It was very interesting to collect the Meteor enters the eye of the storm, plankton again at the very same site af- only to pick up again with undimin- ter more than two decades. After all, ished force soon after. the oceans have become more acidic Fortunately, perilous situations like due to increased levels of carbon diox- this are rare, but Schiebel will never ide in the atmosphere, and the pH of forget his trip in January 1994. He was the water has dropped from 8.2 to 8.1,”

28 years old at the time. “When we fi- the researcher says. > Photo: Ulrike Weis/MPI for Chemistry xxxxxxx ENVIRONMENT &CLIMATE_Personal Portrait researchvessel is continually drawn to the sea. sea. the to drawn continually is single-celled organisms,single-celled which samples containingsamples calcareous Roaming about: Geologist Ralf Ralf Geologist about: Roaming 3 they use as climate indicators. climate as use they collect plankton and sediment sediment and plankton collect | MaxPlanckResearch MaxPlanckResearch 17 There, he and his colleagues colleagues his and he There, Schiebel, here on board the the board on here Schiebel, Maria S. Merian S. Maria 69 ,

Above A seasoned mariner: Ralf Ralf Schiebel studies climate change by serve geologists as index fossils. When Schiebel has undertaken more examining foraminifera, tiny single- the tiny organisms die, they sink to the than 30 research cruises to many corners of the world. celled animals whose calcareous shells ocean floor and become part of the sed- range in shape from spherical to elon- iment. When the researchers ram their Below The satellite photo shows the cyclonic storm the Meteor gated to spiral. Depending on the spe- sampling tubes into the seabed and lift weathered in the North Atlantic cies and the latitude, masses of them samples from the depths, what they are in January 1994. live at various depth levels of the water essentially doing is bringing the Earth’s column. Some species also thrive on or climate archives to the surface. in the sediment. Foraminifera (from Latin, meaning A CLIMATE ARCHIVE COMPOSED “hole bearers”) are basically amoebas OF FOSSIL SHELLS but with a shell. They can project finger- shaped pseudopods through minute The data is compared with that of for- openings. “Forms that live in the soil aminifers living in the oceans today. By actually use this method to crawl across studying the shell composition in the the ground,” says Schiebel. The fora- sediment layers, scientists can recon- minifers use the sticky tips of their struct a region’s climate through glacial “feet” to capture prey. Many of them and warm periods. even grab morsels that are much larger Some of these organisms prefer con- than themselves, such as small crab-like ditions between the ocean surface and plankton called copepods. a depth of 30 meters. Others thrive at Because they evolved early in the depths of 60 to 100 meters, while still history of the Earth and their calcare- others live in the twilight zone below ous shells are very durable, fossilized 100 meters and as far down as 2,000 foraminifers and other calcareous uni- meters. There are even species that

cellular organisms, such as coccoliths, alternate between depths: they sink Photo: Ulrike Weis/MPI for Chemistry

70 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE_Personal Portrait

Nature will adapt to climate change. The question is whether humans, » given their habits, can do likewise

down to deeper layers to reproduce, “Working with the other groups and still produced copious amounts of cal- and the new generation rises back up. departments at the institute is ex- cite,” Schiebel says. This means that the The researchers sample water from tremely motivating and productive, species composition of the oceans − the desired strata using multi-nets, and support from the management is and therefore of the entire ecosystem – which automatically close at defined fantastic,” Schiebel says. Together with is likely to change radically. depths as they are pulled up. Under the German and international partners, Geologists are known for thinking microscope, the organisms are treated the team will continue to collect sam- in terms of eons rather than years. with formaldehyde, sorted by species ples from the ocean basins over the There have been many warm periods and then further analyzed. “Otherwise, coming decades. There is also a con- in Earth’s history. What makes the cur- the bigger ones would then eat the lit- stant exchange of technological infor- rent period different from earlier ones? tle ones, and the snapshot would be mation at all levels. After all, 90 million years ago, the car- distorted,” Schiebel explains. bon dioxide content of the atmo- As small as foraminifers are, they are WILL CALCAREOUS PLANKTON sphere was five times greater than it is just big enough for the scientists to cre- DISAPPEAR? today, yet coccolithophores were still ate tiny holes in their shells with a la- producing calcite. The oceans and land ser beam. The ionized debris flies Ralf Schiebel hopes that borders will re- ecosystems were able to absorb large through a mass spectrometer, which main open and that the researchers will quantities of carbon dioxide because captures the chemical elements and be able to continue working with inter- the process was very, very slow. In ad- isotope ratios in the shells. “The ratio national teams to improve our under- dition, flowering plants began to of magnesium to calcium in the shells, standing of the environment: “That’s emerge and accelerated the formation for example, is a record of the tempera- our best shot for maintaining our cur- of soil, which also absorbed carbon di- ture ratios of the past. The warmer the rent quality of life.” oxide from the atmosphere. climate was, the more magnesium the So far, the oceans have absorbed a It is therefore extremely difficult to foraminifers incorporated into their lot of carbon dioxide thanks to the cal- predict what will happen, not least be- shell calcite. When the climate grew cium carbonate production of count- cause the current anthropogenic rate colder, calcium dominated more,” Ralf less sea creatures. But if the carbon di- of climate change is unprecedented in Schiebel explains. oxide content of the atmosphere the planet’s history. Would Schiebel At the Max Planck Institute for continues to rise, the oceans will be- nevertheless venture to guess what the Chemistry in Mainz, the researcher and come so acidic that this buffer could future holds? “Nature will adapt to cli- his colleagues, as members of the new fail. Does this mean that calcareous mate change. The question is whether Department of Climate Geochemistry, plankton will vanish entirely one day? humans, given their habits, can do are now able to analyze foraminifers “We haven’t yet observed a definite likewise.” Their preference for living in and other climate archives and to refine decline, though we do expect the shells coastal regions, for instance, which and calibrate them for use as climate in- to become thinner. Laboratory experi- will be the areas hardest hit by rising dicators. The new labs for organic and ments with coccolithophores − sin- sea levels. inorganic geochemistry and micropal- gle-celled algae with calcareous skele- As in previous warm periods, how- eontology have state-of-the-art equip- tons − have shown that, of six clones, ever, the carbon dioxide rise in the at- ment and sufficient capacity to carry five stopped producing calcite in acid- mosphere can also have some positive out large measurement series. ic water. The sixth group, in contrast, effects. According to Schiebel, some

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 71 Above In a refrigerated storeroom, geologist Janne Repschläger takes a sediment core off the shelf. The cores are stored at 4 degrees Celsius, the temperature of the water near the seafloor. This prevents any volume change or chemical processes from taking place. The image on the right shows various species of calcareous microplankton, including foraminifers. Right page Ralf Schiebel uses foraminifers as climate indicators. The new laboratories at the Max Planck Institute in Mainz feature state-of-the-art equipment and sufficient capacity to carry out large measurement series. The shelves hold thousands of slides of samples from research trips (right).

plants are sure to produce more bio- However, my beanpole physique – 1.92 land, on the island of Sylt. “Afterwards, mass. Moreover, warmer air can hold meters tall and weighing 70 kilos – was we had to be pulled out of the water more moisture, so the Sahel region, for unsuitable for a sports career in hand- because we were so numb with cold example, will become greener. ball, and my plan to study medicine that we could barely move,” he recalls. Even as a boy, Ralf Schiebel knew was also soon abandoned.” “When the mouthpiece was finally re- that he wanted to become a geologist “Studying geology was terrific! I im- moved, your mouth stayed molded to someday. His father’s profession was mediately gave up competitive sports, its shape and gaped open. For a while certainly a factor. “He was a geodesist, sold my surfboard and hit the books.” we were unable to eat or drink.” and as a boy I used to accompany him He met his wife in the department and But the pleasant moments far out- in the field and hold the stadia rod.” became a father at the age of 22. “From numbered the unpleasant ones. “As His favorite books were the World Atlas that point on I had a single goal: to com- you drift in the Baltic Sea in the sum- and the Bertelsmann encyclopedia. plete my studies as quickly as possible.” mer below the thermocline and look up When he painted, he mostly depicted to watch the jellyfish feeding, you researchers driving through the desert WATCHING THE JELLYFISH FEED come up with a lot of ideas about ex- in Jeeps. He loved to play handball – change processes in the ocean. And not surprising for a boy living in the During his basic studies, Ralf Schiebel when the current in the Fehmarn Belt German handball hub of Lemgo. A trained as a research scuba diver. For two tugs at you, you can feel on your own number of injuries meant that he spent summers he mapped the seaweed fields body the very same forces that trans- a lot of time at the orthopedist, which in the shallow waters of Eckernförde Bay port the sand there.” stimulated his interest in medicine. for the University of Kiel. It was a rela- Ralf Schiebel supervises students do- At the age of 19, he moved to Kiel, tively pleasant task; for another project, ing internships, which introduced him which was also handball-crazy. “I want- he dived off Sylt in the winter at water to his current field of research: micro- ed to play more handball. While I was temperatures just two degrees above paleontology. His doctoral dissertation waiting to be accepted to study medi- freezing. His task was to study the state was on benthic – that is, bottom-dwell-

cine, I enrolled in a geology course. of an artificial sandbag reef off Wester- ing – foraminifers. Photos: Thomas Hartmann (left), MPI for Chemistry (right)

72 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE_Personal Portrait

I have a really cool job. And when things go wrong, » you just have to pick yourself up again.

Research soon took Schiebel to many ologist proved to be a rocky one on with contracts for just three months, corners of the world. Each excursion more than one occasion. At the age of Schiebel took a position at ETH Zurich, was different and brought fresh surpris- 17, he almost lost his eyesight at a New where he remained for four years. es. He has collected samples off Mexico Year’s Eve party when a friend lit a fire- In 2008, long after his career had re- as well as in the radioactive waters off cracker close by. The lens of one of his ally taken off and he was conducting Fukushima. During a trip on the Aege- eyes was destroyed. Replacing it with research at the National Oceanography an Sea, his ship sailed into a blizzard an artificial one restored full vision. Centre in Southampton, UK, a ladder and had to take shelter on the leeward slipped out from under him while he side of an island for three days. FROM CABIN TO DECK WITH HIS was working on the facade of his house. Sometimes Schiebel and his col- EYES CLOSED He landed hard on the ground, result- leagues hired on board large cargo ves- ing in painful open fractures of both sels, for instance to study the ecological “I had gotten into the habit of count- ankles. “‘We’ll probably have to ampu- impact of oil platforms off the coast of ing my steps. Wherever I go, I still tate’ − that was the last thing I heard the Republic of the Congo. “Due to a lack count the steps on every staircase.” before the anesthesia kicked in,” he re- of space, I had to share a cabin with the When Ralf Schiebel first sets foot on calls. But the doctors managed to repair Congolese sailors. During the day they board a research vessel, he always pac- the crushed bones with titanium plates were intrepid seafarers, but at night the es from the cabin to the deck with his and screws. light had to stay on, and the bosun told eyes closed. He wants to make sure he These experiences have left their stories to drive away evil spirits,” Schieb- can find his way to the deck in an emer- mark. Ralf Schiebel appears serious only el recalls. “When you gazed around you gency even in the dark. at first glance. When you talk to him, from the deck in the evening, you could His private life hit a rocky patch. you quickly realize that he is a very see hundreds of lights from the drilling Weeks-long expeditions on board re- open and approachable person. Far and production platforms.” search vessels are good for science but from discouraging him, his experienc- Things haven’t always gone as hard for relationships. After eight years es challenged him. Perhaps they also

Illustration: After Schiebel and Hemleben/Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2017; photo: Thomas Hartmann planned in his life. The path for the ge- as a postdoc in Tübingen, sometimes made him more laid back. “I have a re-

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 73 Water depth (m) 2000 1000 300 200 100 0 74 sumed bybureaucracy:“Ifit wereupto py, butincreasingly hisworkdayiscon Research andteachingmakehimhap- Haute-Provence while still on crutches. mapping course in the mountains of in westernFrance.Hetaught his first fessorship attheUniversityofAngers of beingbedridden,hebeganhispro- Still unsteadyonhisfeetaftermonths RED TAPE HOLDSBACK RESEARCH the situationbecomes.” tions; Ibecomecalmerthemoreserious up again.Idon’t panicincriticalsitua- wrong, youjusthavetopickyourself ally cooljob.Andwhenthingsgo 1 Sea ice Sea ocean Polar

MaxPlanckResearch 3 MaxPlanckResearch 2

| 17 8

Sea ice Sea 11

12 - 1 Temperate ocean ocean Temperate

er! ButIsuspectnoonecandothat.” me, I’dhaveremainedapostdocforev- ture, itwillmostlikelybeon theMax it’s wonderful!” feed mybabyandputhim tobed– happy tocomehomeinthe evening, again,” hesayswithagrin. “I’mvery grandfather beforebecomingadaddy fact thatIthoughtwouldbecomea again has a young family, “despite the centrate fully on his research. He once Schiebelcancon- noying paperwork, found his niche. Largely freed from an- Chemistry, henowseems tohave Leader attheMaxPlanckInstitutefor 2

Or maybetheycan.AsaGroup If RalfSchiebelgoestoseain thefu- 3

Month 6

12 1 Tropical to subtropical ocean Tropical to subtropical across, amillimeter half to up Measuring microscope: the under organisms Single-celled Left hemisphere. northern the to applies diagram The limit. sunlight percent one line: yellow depth; mixing line: blue production; 100 past the of record aclimate as serve remains fossil Their seafloor. the sink to (gray) shells empty their and die off organisms single-celled these reproduce, they Once seas. tropical and in temperate 1,000 than more of depths at thrive also they whereas seas, subpolar and polar of layers top in the only live symbols) (white foraminifers Planktic latitudes. higher at than areas tropical and in subtropical year the throughout plankton in the distributed uniformly more are Foraminifers seasonally. varies latitudes Above Earth’s climate in past periods of time. of periods in past climate Earth’s the reconstruct can researchers shells, the of on compositi chemical the analyzing By world. the around sediments in oceanic occur foraminifers these of shells spherical The eye. naked the with

trients that microorganisms feed on. Winter stormsbringtothesurfacenu- Arctic couldbeanotherdestination. plankton,” Schiebelsays. derstanding ofthedailyrhythms of 20 timesadaytohelpusgainanun- drift for a week or so and drop the nets time pressure.Nowwecanletourselves vessels, you’re always under enormous the InstituteinMainz.“Onbigresearch new opportunitiesforthescientistsat completed inlate2017,itwillopenup architect LorenzoArgento.Whenit’s yacht wasdesignedbyMilanesemarine search sailboat.Thefuturistic22-meter Planck InstituteforChemistry’s re Oceanic productivity at middle and high high and middle at productivity Oceanic 3 Globigerina bulloides Globigerina

The springplanktonbloom inthe 4 million years. Green line: primary primary line: Green years. million

can just be made out out made be just can 8

meters meters 11

12 100 80 60 40 20 0 - Primary production - (g of carbon per m2 per month)

Illustration: After Schiebel and Hemleben/Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2017; photo: Thomas Hartmann ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE_Personal Portrait

As a result, the flora and fauna of the oceans are subject to seasonal changes. The researchers want to follow the GLOSSARY currents from the Canary Islands to Foraminifera: Single-celled marine organisms that form a simple or multi-chamber the subtropical gyre to analyze the calcareous shell, called a test. Most are microscopic, but some species have reached a change from nutrient-rich to nutrient- diameter of up to five centimeters. When they die or reproduce, they sink to the seafloor poor waters. to form thick layers of sediment. Depending on the environment in which they were formed, the layers contain different assemblages of species. Foraminifers therefore serve Ralf Schiebel and his colleagues as index fossils for identifying and analyzing specific geological periods. have more than enough ideas to keep them busy. Once the new vessel has Ocean acidification: Carbon dioxide from the air can dissolve in seawater, where it then completed sea trials in the Baltic Sea, occurs in the form of various compounds, including a small percentage as carbonic acid. If the first big trip will be in 2018: the Ca- the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere were to double by 2100, the quantity of carbonic acid in the water would increase significantly, and the pH − a measure of the nary Islands, Cape Verde and then per- acidic or alkaline nature of an aqueous solution − would fall from 8.1 today to 7.8. That haps as far north as Iceland. The exact would have an impact on calcareous organisms, since calcium carbonate shells form more route hasn’t been decided yet, but one easily in an alkaline milieu. Calcareous plankton and corals are at particular risk. thing is certain: The North Atlantic in winter? Never again!

Publish open access in 2,390 Taylor & Francis journals at no cost to yourself!

Under a centrally funded agreement, corresponding authors at Max Planck institutions can publish open access without paying an Article Publishing Charge (APC) themselves.

Find out more: bit.ly/MP_author

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 75

FLASHBACK_Marine Biology

The Old House and the Sea

With its verdant garden overlooking the Adriatic, it’s hard to imagine a more idyllic research setting than the Zoological Station in Rovigno, on the Istrian peninsula. The marine institute, which was established more than 125 years ago, was originally a branch of the Berlin Aquarium. It was purchased by the newly established Kaiser Wilhelm Society in 1911 and became its first research institute.

TEXT ELKE MAIER

It was around the middle of the 19th century when the sea moved The Zoological Station of the Berlin Aquarium was opened on the indoors: the aquarium was invented, and was met with great coastal road in Rovigno’s north harbor on May 10, 1891. The ground enthusiasm on the part of the general public. Large display floor of the building contained 24 cement basins, which were fed aquariums enabled people to see the “strange sea creatures” with fresh sea water twice a day, and was also covered with glass they had previously only heard about. To maintain the underwa- vessels containing marine animals. ter splendor behind the glass, supply stations were established In 1897, the popular magazine Die Gartenlaube reported that in coastal locations to provide animals, plants and seawater for “Some species of small sharks scuffle around looking for food, the aquariums. This is where the history of the Zoological Station while at the far corner of the pool an enormous electric ray (tor- in Rovigno begins. pedo) lies ready and waiting to dole out its electric shocks.” Visi- » The Berlin Aquarium Unter den Linden opened its doors on tors were particularly fascinated by the pool with the seahorses May 11, 1869. Visitors flocked to it to marvel at the filigree tube and pipefish, “but after a while, they seem very uninteresting due worms, ethereal jellyfish, comical hermit crabs and flamboyant to their low level of intelligence and their lethargy.” sea anemones. The birth of a sea horse was witnessed there for In addition to the aquarium room, the building also had an the first time in 1876, and in 1892, visitors could gaze in wonder at area for the production of wet and dry preparations, several work a giant octopus with an arm span of two and a half meters. The rooms, a library, a dark room and an apartment for Otto Hermes, Aquarium’s regular “Marine Phosphorescence Evenings” were par- the Director of the Berlin Aquarium. A west-facing patio provided ticularly popular. a magnificent view of the garden, the town and the sea. In the early years, most of the exhibited marine animals orig- “Anyone who wants to work in peace and enjoys going out inated from Trieste. When the water there became increasingly on the ocean, and, apart from their own research topics, gaining polluted due to the development of the harbor, an alternative an impression of the entire animal kingdom in the rich waters of source was sought. The harbor town of Rovigno (Rovinj in Croa- the Adriatic should go to Rovigno,” wrote Hermes. “Overall, life tian) on the Istrian peninsula – which was still part of Austria at [here …] is very pleasant.” the time – appeared to offer a perfect solution: the water there The station was thus far more than a mere outpost of the was clean and the rocky coast provided habitats for many marine Berlin Aquarium right from the outset. Researchers from differ- species. Moreover, the town was on a railway line and the trans- ent countries traveled to Rovigno to work there, and it soon be- portation of supplies to the German capital took just 29 hours. came necessary to expand the station. The shipping operation also thrived. The station sent living and preserved marine material not only to Berlin but also to a number of universities. Some of the animals were provided by the local fishermen, but the station also had its own fishing fleet consisting of two rowboats, a sailboat, a motorboat and a small steamer. Berlin-Dahlem

The German Reich Department of Health even took up work in Rovigno in 1901. Against the backdrop of German activity in the Society,

colonies, the aim was to make advances in tropical medicine, so a laboratory was set up in the station to study unicellular parasites. Planck Rovigno was still a malaria area at the time – an Eldorado for par- Max asite researchers. Fritz Schaudinn, who made medical history as a the co-discoverer of the syphilis bacterium a short time later, was head of

of the laboratory. Archives

Animated suspension: The predatory sea slug Tethys leporina while

swimming. The photo was taken at the station’s aquarium in 1912. Photo:

76 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17

RÜCKBLENDE_Lockstoffe

While the zoological station flourished, the Berlin Aquarium went into decline. People had seen enough, and maintenance costs were increasing. The operator eventually went bankrupt, the Aquarium closed, and Rovigno station was transferred into the private ownership of its Director, Otto Hermes. After his death, Hermes’s heirs decided to sell the station, providing an ideal opportunity for the newly founded Kaiser Wilhelm Society. Given that it was already planning to establish two chemistry institutes, it was agreed that the field of biology and medicine shouldn’t be neglected, and that Rovigno would provide the necessary research material. Every- A prime location: The Rovigno Zoological Station was the first research institute of the newly established Kaiser Wilhelm Society – and perhaps thing fell into place when Paul Schottländer, a landowner from also the most beautiful. Breslau, agreed to provide the 100,000 marks required to buy the station. On October 1, 1911, the Zoological Station in Rovigno offi- cially changed ownership. Thilo Krumbach, a biologist and jellyfish Tough and lengthy negotiations followed. It took more than twelve expert, had been the station’s Director since 1908. years for the prospect of a solution to emerge: it was finally agreed The plans for the development of the station included the ex- that the institute would be placed under equal German and Italian pansion of its fleet. This project, however, was ill-fated. It started management. The agreement for a German-Italian Institute of Ma- with the steamer, the Albatros, which was optimally equipped rine Biology was ceremonially signed on February 25, 1930. with three laboratories and was launched in Potsdam in 1913. The post of German Director was assumed by Adolf Steuer, a plankton expert who was besotted with the Adriatic and spoke Frankfurter Zeitung from May 6, 1911 fluent Italian. He was considered the foremost expert in the flora and fauna of the Adriatic and worked to ensure that it was sur- Dr. Paul Schottländer, a landowner from Breslau, transferred a veyed and recorded as comprehensively as possible. considerable sum to the Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the purchase » The Italian Director was zoologist Massimo Sella. A very active and expansion of the zoological station in Rovigno. The Kaiser scientist, he distinguished himself in the battle against malaria. thanked the donor in a letter from the Achilleion Palace and He placed innumerable mosquitofish, which he had had specially approved the proposed use of the funds. sent from New York, in the ponds around Rovigno. These fish, which are related to the guppy, ate the larvae of the Anopheles However, due to the outbreak of the war, it never reached its mosquito, the carrier of the disease. Within just a few years, the destination. Owing to its “unseaworthy construction,” it was region was malaria-free. deemed to be of no use to the German Navy. To make matters Another of Sella’s specialties was fish migration, which he re- worse, the ship, which by then had reached Hamburg, was dam- searched using some rather original methods. He demonstrated, aged by a storm tide. It was eventually dismantled and sold off for example, that Mediterranean tuna fish migrate from the in separate parts. Atlantic. In order to accomplish this, he collected the fishhooks The Loligo, the submarine boat sponsored by Schottländer, that remained stuck in the mouths of the fish after unsuccessful fared no better: it was requisitioned by the Italian Navy due to the attempts to catch them. The fishhooks had specific forms based war and eventually ended up with a scrap dealer. This outcome on their origins. Last but not least, the creative Italian also had a was all the more frustrating given that it would have been the passion for truffles and the culinary use of sea cucumbers. world’s first research submarine. The only boat in the fleet that At the end of the Second World War, Istria became part of took to the seas in the service of science was a glass-bottomed Yugoslavia and the successful binational cooperation there came craft for the observation of marine animals. This vessel, however, to an end. The Kaiser Wilhelm Society lost the station for a second later sank in a storm. time, this time for good. The Rovigno station had been part of its The situation on land was somewhat better: up until the out- research institutes for around 21 years. break of the war, the positions available for guest scientists were In 1946, the German department was nominally transferred to well occupied, and shipping operations flourished. Animals and the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biology, which had been moved plants were sent to German, Austrian, Dutch, and Danish aquari- from Berlin to Hechingen. A few years later, the Kaiser Wilhelm In- Berlin-Dahlem

ums, universities and museums. Thilo Krumbach had had a botan- stitute for Marine Biology was established and continued to exist ical garden planted at the back of the building. He also wanted to as a Max Planck Institute until 1968. Today, marine research with- Society,

provide a display collection that would allow visitors to experi- in the Max Planck Society is located in Bremen, where the Max ence the native animals and plants and their ecology up close. To Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology was established in 1992. Planck this end, he had aquariums built in which the marine organisms The Rovigno Zoological Station still exists and now stands on

Max - lived in the middle of original coastal rock formations. Croatian soil. Since 1969, it has been a department of the Ruder the Rovigno was captured by Italian troops on November 4, 1918. Boškovi´c Institute in Zagreb. The building still looks almost the of

Krumbach succeeded in hiding parts of the station’s inventory and same on the outside as it does on the old postcards. While the library before fleeing. The station now belonged to Italy. Howev- shipping of marine animals ended a long time ago, scientists and Archives er, the Kaiser Wilhelm Society didn’t admit defeat and sought res- students still frequent the location to study the fauna and flora of

Photo: Archives of the Max Planck Society, Berlin-Dahlem Photo: titution or compensation. the Adriatic. A display aquarium is also open to visitors.

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 77 THE BEST VOGEL CONVENTION CENTER BACKDROP IS WÜRZBURG’S INNOVATIVE EVENT LOCATION

Where once printing presses churned noisily, advanced acoustic wall systems and silent air conditioning now ensure that even the finest notes can unfold their magic to full effect. Against a backdrop of spacious industrial architecture, you can take advantage of more than 4,000 square metres of event space to mount even the most spectacular of concepts, turning our VCC into an amazing changing stage that opens up undreamt-of possibilities.

Let your imagination run free and contact us. We will be happy to assist you at any time.

VCC_AZ_englisch.indd 1 15.03.17 10:55 MAX PLANCK COMMUNITY

THE BEST From the Lab to the Stage VOGEL CONVENTION CENTER BACKDROP IS WÜRZBURG’S INNOVATIVE EVENT LOCATION Olga Sin explains her research in three minutes and wins at FameLab Germany

Eight finalists presented their entries in in the brain, which reduces mobility program aimed at outstanding female front of an audience of 1,300 guests. and memory abilities – also occurs in C. junior scientists. “The self-presentation The 30-year-old postdoc attributed her elegans. What’s more, as this worm training was really helpful here,” she success to the Max Planck “Sign Up!” shares 80 percent of its proteins with emphasizes – as was, of course, the as- career-building program. humans, scientific studies could pro- sociated task of presenting in front of “What comes to mind when you duce highly significant results. Pharma- other female participants in a self-orga- think about worms? Some of you might ceutical companies, for instance, are al- nized “Science Slam.” think of bird food, some might think of ready using these worms to test sub- Having won in her regional contest gummy worm candy,” says Olga Sin, re- stances that could slow or prevent these and then in the German national final, searcher at the MPI for Molecular Bio- protein clots, Sin says. She made the in- Olga Sin even qualified for the Europe- medicine in Münster, at the start of her triguing point that, while C. elegans an final in England. Another important three-minute speech at the German has no brain, it could nonetheless help aspect for her was the success enjoyed FameLab finale in Bielefeld. She went shed light on the mechanisms and ef- by a fellow female Max Planck junior on to demonstrate that worms – and es- fects of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. scientist in the German national final: pecially the model organism C. elegans Conveying the importance of re- the jury and the audience awarded Ker- – are so much more. Specifically, that search in such a concise manner is pre- stin Göpfrich, postdoc at the MPI for they might hold the key to treatments cisely the objective of FameLab, an in- Intelligent Systems, second place. for such human illnesses as Alzheimer’s ternational science communication or Parkinson’s. competition. Sin had long harbored a To watch videos of all presentations, visit: The reason behind this suggestion desire to compete. The final push for https://www.britishcouncil.de/ is that the cause – protein aggregation her, she says, was the MPG “Sign Up!” en/famelab

Olga Sin first won the regional contest before going on to secure first place in the German national final.

Let your imagination run free and contact us. We will be happy to assist you at any time. Photo: Bielefeld Marketing/Sarah Jonek

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 79

VCC_AZ_englisch.indd 1 15.03.17 10:55 MAX PLANCK COMMUNITY

“We want to bring the best minds together”

A conversation with Vice President Ferdi Schüth about the Max Planck Schools

Every year, around 4,500 doctoral students tion to address their dif- conduct research in the Max Planck Soci- fering educational back- ety. They either dedicate themselves to a grounds, a three-month traditional individual doctorate or enroll in period studying togeth- one of the 63 International Max Planck Re- er at a central location search Schools (IMPRS), which provide a would be expedient. structured framework. The Society’s devel- That location could be opment concept is to be expanded, with the Harnack House, or it the Max Planck Schools becoming larger could be a specific uni- units. Vice President Ferdi Schüth is driv- versity where several ing the plans forward. scientists and researchers who are active in the Mr. Schüth, how do the new Graduate school are located. It Schools differ from the IMPRS model? could also be the build- Ferdi Schüth: The most significant differing for the Max Planck ence is that the new schools are geo- Institute for Physics in graphically dispersed, national alliances Munich, which our col- in which we want to bring together the leagues will vacate in a best minds in Germany. The cooperating few years. Ultimately, alliances, made up of various Max Planck we simply have to make Institutes, universities and other non- sure that there are university organizations, should grow enough teaching and and become more visible. In addition, we accommodation facili- plan to create a central applicant portal. ties available. The only criterion that matters is scientific excellence. And what comes Ferdi Schüth, Vice President and Director at the Max-Planck- after that? Institut für Kohlenforschung. Who will organize the schools, and where? The doctoral students That depends on the school in question. could progress through We want to experiment, and that’s why two or three stations in participating re- new schools to be. And we make no bones we’ve designated an initial exploration search groups and become better acquaint- about it: the new schools will be much phase. First of all, there are scientists and ed with their work. That would be equiva- more selective than the IMPRS. After all, researchers that support such schools – lent to the research internship in a Mas- the perceived quality of Harvard, Imperial, but they are spread across Germany. There- ter’s program. After that, there could Berkeley and Oxford is also based in part fore, a school will need a coordination of- perhaps be another block module before on the rigor of the selection process. fice. A centrally located Max Planck Insti- the future doctoral students decide, based tute could accommodate this office, but it on their experiences with their various ad- How will the partners share the costs? could also be situated somewhere else, be- visors, on a location for their doctorate. I In the Max Planck Society, we have budget- cause this is an open system. This aspect must point out that this is only one possi- ed funding for the pilot phase that will help is also expressed in the name: “Max Planck ble model, and legal scholars might ar- finance coordinators, travel costs and dis- Schools – a joint initiative between Ger- range things quite differently. We will have tance learning institutions, and perhaps man universities and the German research to adjust to various discipline cultures and also one or two dedicated teaching staff organizations.” the expectations of potential students. and bachelor’s degree scholarships. More- over, we believe that initiatives at the new Where are the students located? If I were a prospective doctoral student, why Graduate Schools can be linked to an IM- I imagine that, depending on the school, would I opt for one of the new schools? PRS and make use of their local funds. In students could initially progress through Ultimately, it depends on how deep your any case, funding is provided for doctoral blocks of theme modules. In many scienc- interest is in a particular area of research, students in the Max Planck Institutes’ bud- es, the decision to obtain a doctorate is and how ready you are to come into con- gets. Funding for fellows at universities made right after completion of a Bachelor’s tact with people from other locations in has been requested from the German Fed- degree. To give young people a sense of external modular blocks. The IMPRS are eral Ministry for Education and Research.

community and provide a common founda- much more specialized than we intend the Each fellow and their faculty should re- Photo: Amac Garbe /MPG

80 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 MAX PLANCK COMMUNITY

Childcare Subsidies

Applications can now be made to Max Planck Institutes

ceive funding to enable collaborations It looks like a baby version of a smiling ing contracts, and postdocs with a col- to take place on an equal footing. The emoji – but on a pastel green back- lective agreement for public employees other non-university institutions will ground: the cheeky face complete with (TVöD). Childcare costs pose a particu- have to account for the funding from pacifier adorns the cover of a new fly- lar challenge for these income groups. their own budgets, as the Max Planck er explaining how scientists and re- A precondition for funding is that Society has done. searchers can obtain financial assis- both parents work or that the recipi- tance for childcare for infants between ent is a single parent. If the mother Has there been any response from the the ages of three months and one year. and father both work in the Max IMPRS, which might be worried about It’s not as straightforward as it sounds: Planck Society, only one parent may their future appeal? for reasons relating to public funding claim the subsidy. The funding will In the initial phase, it was not clear to law, the Max Planck Society is not per- cover no more than half of monthly the IMPRS whether they were being mitted to bear childcare costs; it may childcare costs, up to a maximum of left to wither away or whether there only fund the provision of the corre- 400 euros per month, for up to ten would be no new ones. That is by no sponding infrastructure. months. Applications should be sub- means the plan. There are essentially This is where the Max Planck Foun- mitted to the Institutes’ administra- three options for the IMPRS. First: they dation comes in – to provide a jump- tions; the data will then be collected cease to exist because they become start and help young researchers quick- centrally to assess need for the coming part of a new Graduate School and ly reenter the world of science. The tar- year. The Max Planck Foundation will form the basis of a new local structure get group for childcare for the youngest initially provide 500,000 euros for the that must be retained for doctoral stu- children are doctoral students with fund- pilot project. dents. Second: they continue to oper- ate under their current name but belong to a new School that comprises all the IMPRS, with a common application portal and a common teaching program. And third: the IMPRS and the new Schools coexist, which will typi- cally be the case if there is only a slight thematic overlap between the two.

What do you think of the idea of the President of Hamburg University, who suggested Albert Einstein as a neutral figure to name the schools after? We simply can’t spend ten years trying to establish something new. Everyone – however grudgingly – has to admit that the most internationally recognized name in the German scientific community, the one that stands for high quality in basic research, is Max Planck. It would be negligent not to use such a well-known brand name.

And what is the schedule? The selection meeting has already taken place, and a decision has been made. At the beginning of September, it will be announced which Schools will be supported in the pilot phase. Interview: Susanne Beer Photo: Amac Garbe /MPG

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 81 Established in 2006 the Ernst Haage Prize honors young scientists for outstanding achievements in the field of chemical energy conversion and fosters young academics in Eparticular.stablished in 2006 the Ernst Haage Prize honorsThe prize young is awarded scien- tistsby the for Ernst outstanding Haage- achievementsFoundation and in is in Award Research theendowed field of with chemical energy conversion and€ 7,500. fosters young Conversion“ Energy „Chemical academics in particular.Nominees must be scientists who hold a docto- Therate prizefrom ais Germanawarded research institution/universi- by the Ernst Haage- Foundationty. They should and haveis their primary residence in Award Research in endowedGermany, withbe no more than 40 years old and not

€have 7,500. a permanent employment contract. Conversion“ Energy „Chemical ominations may be submitted to the Foundati- NNominees must be scientists who hold a docto- rateon‘s fromBoard a Germanof Trustees research by September institution/universi- 15th 2017 ty.and They should should include have thetheir following primary residencedocuments: in Germany, be no more than 40 years old and not have- Two a permanent pages of laudation employment contract. Nominations- Curriculum may vitae be insubmitted table form to the Foundati- on‘s- CompleteBoard of Trustees publication by September list 15th 2017 and- Upshould to three include reprints the of following works by documents:the nominee - Two pages of laudation Personal- Curriculum applications vitae in cannot table formbe considered. - Complete publication list - Up to three reprints of works by the nominee The prize recognizes outstanding scientific Personalachievements applications in the cannotfield of be chemical considered. energy conversion, for example in the following divisi- Tons:he prize recognizes outstanding scientific achievements in the field of chemical energy conversion,–Hydrogen foras aexample medium in for the transferring following divisi- ons: and storing energy –Hydrogen–Photovoltaic as storagea medium solutions for transferring –Electrochemical and storing energy storage –Photovoltaic–Biomass and storagebioenergy solutions –Electrochemical storage –CO 2 transformation –Biomass–Hydrogen and oxidation bioenergy and electrolysis –CO transformation –Reduction 2 of nitrogen –Hydrogen oxidation and electrolysis –Reduction– Artifi cial and of naturalnitrogen photosynthesis Established in 2006 the Ernst HaageEstablished in 2006 the Ernst Haage Prize Prize honors young scien- honors young scien- Etistsstablished for outstanding in 2006 the Ernst Haagetists for outstanding Prize honorsachievements–Development young scien-in of new experimentalachievements in tists– Artifi for cialoutstanding and natural photosynthesis the field of chemical the field of chemical achievements in theenergy field conversion of chemical energy conversion energyand fosters conversion young and fosters young andacademics fosters inyoung academics in Fascinated by Microbiology academicsparticular. in particular. particular.–DevelopmentThe prize is awarded of new experimentalThe prize is awarded The and prize theoretical is awarded methods to fi nd newForty-six doctoral students meet in Marburg to shed light on their by the Ernst Haage- by the Ernst Haage- by the Ernst Haage- in Award Research in Award Research

Foundation and is Foundation and is research passion from two sides in Award Research Foundation and is endowedendowed withwith endowed with „Chemical Energy Conversion“ Energy „Chemical Conversion“ Energy „Chemical € € 7,500. 7,500.and theoretical methods to fi €nd 7,500. new Conversion“ Energy „Chemical N N ominees ominees application mustmust areas bebe scientists scientistsin the energy whowhoNominees must be scientists whoresearch. holdholdhold a docto- aa docto-docto- raterate from from aa GermanGerman researchresearch institution/universi-institution/universi-rate from a German research institution/university.ty. TheyThey shouldshould havehave theirtheir primaryprimaryty. They should have their primary residence in residenceresidence inin Germany,Germany, bebe nono moremore thanthan 4040 yearsGermany, be no more than 40 years old and not oldold andand notnot have a permanent employment contract. have application a permanent areas employment in the energy have a permanentcontract. employment contract.research. Nominations may be submitted to the Foundati- on‘sNominations Board of mayTrustees be submitted by September Nominationsto may be submitted to the Foundati-the 15thFoundati- 2017 andon‘s shouldBoard ofinclude Trustees the by followingSeptemberon‘s Board of Trustees by September 15th 2017 documents: 15th 2017 and should include the followingand should include the following documents: documents: - Two pages of laudation -- Curriculum Two pages vitaeof laudation in table form- Two pages of laudation -- Complete Curriculum publication vitae in table list form- Curriculum vitae in table form - Up to three reprints of works by the -nominee Complete publication list - Complete publication list - Up to three reprints of works- Up to three reprints ofby works by the the Personal nominee applications cannot be nominee considered. Personal applications cannot bePersonal applicationsconsidered. cannot be considered. The prize recognizes outstanding scientific achievements in the field of chemical energy conversion,he prize forrecognizes example inoutstanding the he prizefollowing recognizes outstanding scientific scientific divisi- ons:T T achievements in the field of chemicalachievements in the field of chemical energy energy –Hydrogenconversion, foras aexample medium in for the transferring conversion,following for example in the following divisi- divisi- ons: and storing energy ons: –Photovoltaic storage solutions –Electrochemical–Hydrogen as a medium storage for transferring–Hydrogen as a medium for transferring –Biomass and storing and energy bioenergy and storing energy –CO transformation –Photovoltaic ErnstErnst2 storage HaageHaage solutions–Photovoltaic storage solutionsPrize –Hydrogen–Electrochemical oxidation storage and electrolysis–Electrochemical storage –Reduction of nitrogen Lively interaction: In mid-May, PhD students from the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial ––Biomass Artifi cial and and naturalbioenergy photosynthesis–Biomass and bioenergy Microbiology in Marburg and the Bremen-based Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology –Development–CO 2 transformation of new experimental–CO 2 transformation met up at the two-day “It MaTter(s)” conference. In several sessions, young scientists presented –Hydrogen and theoretical oxidation methods and electrolysisto fi –Hydrogennd oxidation and electrolysis newtheir research in Marburg. Two poster sessions, with posters from all groups and departments, –Reduction application of areas nitrogen in the energy–Reduction of nitrogen research.rounded out the event. – Artifi cial and natural photosynthesis– Artifi cial and natural photosynthesis –Development of new experimental–Development of new experimental call Ernstand theoretical for proposalsHaage methods to fi nd and theoretical methods toPrize fi nd new newThe Max Planck Society is made2017 up of Selected doctoral students presented callcall application forfor areas proposalsproposals in the energy application areas in the energyresearch. research. over 80 Institutes – but only2017 2017two of their research in a series of sessions, these are dedicated to understanding ranging from marine ecosystems, sur- the function of microorganisms and re- face structures and the marine nitrogen Directorate of the MaxErnst Planck Institute HaageErnst HaagePrize Prize searching how they contribute to im- cycle to mitosis mechanisms, synthetic for Chemical Energy Conversion portant processes in our world. To get CO fixation and plant-pathogen inter- call for proposalscall for proposals 2017 20172 Attn. Ms. Christin Ernst to know each other’s work, as well as actions. Two poster sessions, with post- Stiftstr. 34-36 D-45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr to build networks and gain inspiration ers from all groups and departments, Catchword:Directorate Ernstof the Haage Directorate of the for further research, researchers from rounded out the event. Max Planck Institute Max Planck Institute both of these Max Planck Institutes “Lots of scientific discussions and For further information on the Ernst Haage for Chemical Energy Conversion for Chemical Energy Conversion met up at the two-day “It MaTter(s)” potential collaborations have come Prize,Attn. theMs. FoundationChristin Ernst and award ceremony,Attn. Ms. Christin Ernst please visit http://www.cec.mpg.de Stiftstr. 34-36 Stiftstr. 34-36 conference held in mid-May. The meet- about thanks to this lively interaction,” Prof.D-45470 Dr. Robert Mülheim Schlögl an der Ruhr D-45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr ing was held at the Max Planck Insti- say Max Mundt and Laura Zeugner, Prof.Catchword: Dr. Serena Ernst DeBeer Haage Catchword: Ernst Haage tute for Terrestrial Microbiology in members of the ten-person organiza- Prof.Directorate Dr. Wolfgang of the Lubitz Marburg, where the doctoral students tion team made up of doctoral students Prof. Dr. Frank Neese For further information on the ErnstFor further information on the ErnstHaage Haage from the Max Planck Institute for Ma- from the two Max Planck Institutes. Fol- Prize, the Foundation and award ceremony,Prize, the Foundation and award ceremony, please visit http://www.cec.mpg.deplease visit http://www.cec.mpg.de rine Microbiology in Bremen had the lowing the great success of this confer- opportunity to enjoy tours of all de- ence, a repeat event has already been DirectorateProf. Dr. Robert of the Schlögl Prof. Dr. Robert Schlögl Max Planck Institute partments and laboratories. planned for next year in Bremen. Photo: Greta Giljan Prof. Dr. Serena DeBeer Prof. Dr. Serena DeBeer Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Lubitz Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Lubitz forMaxProf. Chemical PlanckDr. Frank Institute Energy Neese Conversion Prof. Dr. Frank Neese 82 MaxPlanckResearch 3 | 17 Attn.for Chemical Ms. Christin Energy Ernst Conversion Stiftstr.Attn. Ms. 34-36 Christin Ernst D-45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr Catchword:Stiftstr. 34-36 Ernst Haage D-45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr ForCatchword: further information Ernst Haage on the Ernst Haage Prize, the Foundation and award ceremony, pleaseFor further visit informationhttp://www.cec.mpg.de on the Ernst Haage Prize, the Foundation and award ceremony, Prof. Dr. Robert Schlögl Prof.please Dr. visit Serena http://www.cec.mpg.de DeBeer Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Lubitz Prof.Prof. Dr.Dr. FrankRobert Neese Schlögl Prof. Dr. Serena DeBeer Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Lubitz Prof. Dr. Frank Neese SCHLESWIG- Research Establishments HOLSTEIN Rostock Plön Greifswald MECKLENBURG- WESTERN POMERANIA Institute / research center Hamburg Sub-institute / external branch Other research establishments Associated research organizations Bremen BRANDENBURG LOWER SAXONY The Netherlands Nijmegen Berlin Italy Hanover Potsdam Rome Florence Magdeburg USA Münster SAXONY-ANHALT Jupiter, Florida NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA Brazil Dortmund Halle Manaus Mülheim Göttingen Leipzig Luxembourg Düsseldorf Luxembourg Cologne SAXONY Bonn Jena Dresden Marburg THURINGIA Bad Münstereifel HESSE

RHINELAND Bad Nauheim PALATINATE Mainz Frankfurt

Kaiserslautern SAARLAND Erlangen Saarbrücken Heidelberg BAVARIA Stuttgart

Tübingen Garching BADEN- Munich WÜRTTEMBERG Martinsried Freiburg Seewiesen Radolfzell

Publisher‘s Information

MaxPlanckResearch is published by the Science Translation MaxPlanckResearch seeks to keep partners and friends of the and Corporate Communication Office of the Baker & Harrison Translations Max Planck Society up to date on the latest research conducted at Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science. Ferdinand-Maria-Straße 30 the Max Planck Institutes. Four editions of the magazine are pub- Legal headquarters of the Association: Berlin. 80639 Munich lished in German each year, all of which are translated into English. ISSN 1616-4172 Tel. +49 89 8583608-0 At present, the English version has a circulation of 10,000 copies e-mail: [email protected] ( : 85,000 copies). It is free of charge. None Publisher’s mailing address MaxPlanckForschung Hofgartenstraße 8, D-80539 Munich Art Direction of the views and opinions expressed in MaxPlanckResearch may Tel. +49 89 2108-1719 / -1276 (Fax: -1405) Julia Kessler, Sandra Koch be interpreted as representing the official views of the Max Planck e-mail: [email protected] Voßstraße 9, 81543 Munich Society and its associated bodies. Reprint of texts is permitted only The magazine as ePaper: www.mpg.de/mpresearch Tel. +49 89 27818770 with the prior approval of the publisher. Photographic rights may App for free download: www.mpg.de/mpr-mobile e-mail: [email protected] be granted by agreement. The Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissen- Lithography Content Authority schaften e.V. (Max Planck Society) comprises 84 institutes and KSA Media GmbH Dr. Christina Beck (-1276) research facilities where around 22,300 employees, including some Zeuggasse 7, 86150 Augsburg Editors-in-Chief 6,000 permanently employed scientists, work and conduct Printing & Distribution Peter Hergersberg (Chemistry, Physics, Technology; -1536) research. The annual budget for 2017 is 1.6 billion euros. Research Vogel Druck- & Medienservice GmbH Helmut Hornung (Astronomy; -1404) activities of the Max Planck Society focus on basic research in Leibnizstraße 5, 97204 Höchberg natural sciences and the humanities. The Max Planck Society is Editorial Staff Advertising a non-profit organization registered under Dr. Elke Maier (Biology, Medicine; -1064) Beatrice Rieck private law as an incorporated association. Its Dr. Harald Rösch (Biology, Medicine; -1756) Vogel Druck und Medienservice GmbH central decision-making body is the Senate, Mechthild Zimmermann (Culture, Society; -1720) Leibnizstraße 5, 97204 Höchberg with members from the world of politics, the Photo Editor Tel.: +49 931 4600-2721 (Fax: -2145) scientific community, and the professional pub- Susanne Schauer (-1562) e-mail: [email protected] lic, providing for a well-balanced partnership.

MaxPlanckResearch is printed on paper from responsibly managed forests and bears the seal of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)

3 | 17 MaxPlanckResearch 83 Research doesn’t have to be heavy.

App for Go paperless! immediate & free download The Max Planck Society’s magazine is available as ePaper: www.mpg.de/mpr-mobile

Internet: www.mpg.de/mpresearch