01 19 The Eppendorf – LifeScienceStyle Magazine p. 10 MAN AGAINST THE MACHINE? Of strengths and weaknesses: the potential and the putative risks of artificial intelligence p. 22 THE INTESTINE: THE BODY’S CENTER What does our microbiome have to do with the pathologies of different illnesses? Science is looking for answers p. 6 Closing in on Our Inner Immunity presented by ISSN 2625-1116 [email protected] i Contents SUBSCRIPTION AND FEEDBACK Editorial You want to make sure that you will continue to receive future issues? Please visit our website: www.eppendorf.com/otb and click 22 on the button “subscribe now!” We look forward to your feedback, Exploring Life Understanding which will tell us whether we have 6 indeed achieved our goal with this Microbes issue. We invite you to submit your Cooking with Herbs Ongoing research into the intestinal suggestions for improvement. Star Chef Johanna Maier on her flora can help heal the body philosophy of eating healthy p. 18 Good for You Addressing food sensitivities the scientific way Lab Lifestyle p. 26 Creative stuff made by science Dear Reader, p. 38 MASTHEAD Outstanding scientific achievements are community of young scientists and to Gentle Giants Help! Published by: Eppendorf AG, The Chinese city of Chengdu Barkhausenweg 1, 22339 Hamburg, always also an expression of a function- promoting and supporting world class is dedicated to Pandas Supporting Lab Work Germany, e-mail: [email protected] ing team. Only when all involved parties research in its beginnings. The young p. 28 Smart lab with VisioNize and green Editorial team: Florian Defren, Andreas Hochberger, pull together, groundbreaking discov- German scientist convinced the jury Susanne Janenz, Ann-Katrin Kardinahl, Dr. Kay Körner, cooling liquids in Eppendorf freezers Svenja Sterneberg, Frank Thormählen eries become possible which will help with his Harvard University-based work Viral Immunity p. 40 Proofreading: Editorial team us shape the future. Andrea Ablasser, on neural mechanisms that form the Decrypted City of Contrast Publisher: winner of the Eppendorf Award for basis of parental care. Later this year, Tokyo is shrill – but the metropolis TEMPUS CORPORATE GmbH Young European Investigators 2018, Johannes Kohl will establish his own Many immune mechanisms continue to Eppendorf News Helmut-Schmidt-Haus, Buceriusstraße, Eingang is not without serenity acknowledged exactly that: “I am great- research group at the Francis Crick remain elusive. Andrea Ablasser wants Speersort 1, 20095 Hamburg, Germany p. 32 Good to Know Management: Jan Hawerkamp ly honored to receive the prestigious Institute in London. to shed a light Eppendorf news and new solutions Project lead: Jasmin Kistner Eppendorf Award. It recognizes the A lot has happened in the world of for the cultivation of stem cells Chief Editor: Natasa Ivakovic contributions of several gifted col- science. In this edition of Off the Bench, p. 42 Authors: Ursula Barth-Modreker, Laura Färber, Andrea leagues and students, who all took part you will enjoy a front-row view and wit- Into the World Hessler, Carola Hoffmeister, Natasa Ivakovic, Susan Microorganisms for research: Junghans-Knoll, Luca Pot d'Or, Esther Sambale in this long, but exciting research ef- ness new developments, surprising from Braunschweig, Germany to Art Director: Karin Mantel fort”, she said on the occasion of the facts and trend-setting ideas. Our spe- the four corners of the earth Revolutionary Layout: Lisa Natrup award ceremony which took place in cial recommendation: the interview News p. 36 The multichannel pipettes by Photo Editor: Katrin Dugaro Carrena Heidelberg in June of last year. with Dr. Ulrich Eberl on the topic of New and surprising facts from the Eppendorf are true multitaskers Printed by: Dräger & Wullenwever The prize offered jointly by Eppen- artificial intelligence. print + media Lübeck GmbH & Co. KG realm of science and medicine p. 44 dorf and the scientific journal Nature p. 4 Image references: Coverphoto, p. 2, p. 7-9 13 Photo AG/ has been recognizing outstanding Guest Contribution Sébstien Agnetti; p. 2 Getty Images; p. 3 Eppendorf AG; work by young graduates in the field We hope you will enjoy the read, p. 4 Getty Images; p. 5 iStock; p. 10 Getty Images; p.11 of biomedical research since 1995 – the Inspiring Science Siemens Ertz Karlsruhe; p. 12-14 Die Illustratoren/Samy Second Start Löwe, Privat; p. 15 Heiko Thämlitz; p.17 Stocksy; p. 18-19 latest being the engagement of the 35- Man vs. Machine? Article reprinted from Getty Images, iStock, Eppendorf AG; p. 20-21 Marco year-old German immunologist who is AI: Where it will surpass us – ˝Science˝magazine Rossi, Eppendorf AG; p. 22-24 Getty Images; p. 25 Free- studying the secrets of our immune pik, greystonebooks; p. 26-27 Getty Images; p. 28-31 and yet never hold a candle to us p. 46 Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding; p. 32- system in in Lausanne, Switzerland. p. 10 35 Getty Images; p. 36-37 Stocksy, iStock; p. 38-39 Elin We are pleased to introduce her in our Thomas, Science-Inspiredjewelry.com, Eppendorf AG; career portrait. p. 40-41 Eppendorf AG; p. 42-43 Eppendorf AG, Kohl- lab.org; p. 44-45 Eppendorf AG; p. 46-47 iStock; p. 48-51 A further award winner is intro- Eva van Pelt The Right Source Eppendorf AG duced in our news pages: in 2018, Jo- Member of the Management Board Publishing in media owned by dubious hannes Kohl won the 17th internation- Chief Commercial Officer publishers harms science Trademark references: All external trademarks al Eppendorf & Science Prize for and brands can be found on our website p. 12 web.eppendorf.com/off-the-bench/assets/trademarks.pdf Neurobiology, which we present in PS You would like to experience “Off collaboration with the scientific journal the Bench” in digital format? Simply Eppendorf®, the Eppendorf Brand Design, CryoCube®, Science. It is no coincidence that Ep- visit our website! ® ® ® ® CellXpert , CCCadvanced , epPoints , epT.I.P.S. , pendorf is engaged in not one, but two, Researching Beauty Eppendorf PhysioCare Concept® and VisioNize® are How cosmetics firms develop 48 registered trademarks of Eppendorf AG. awards. We have always been commit- custom products Science Photos New Brunswick is trademark of Eppendorf AG, Germany. ted to fostering close contact with the www.eppendorf.com/otb p. 16 Trails of Life/ Leopard Gecko ISSN 2625-1116 2 3 News News Science News ! An animal’s influence The settlement of Breathe in, breathe out – wolves will always effect changes in the detecting cancer ecosystem Detecting cancer early and as accurately as possible forms the basis of any successful ther- apy. British researchers are currently working on bringing a novel breath-biopsy technology to market. Their idea has matured to the point that a large clinical trial is now possible. To this end, breath samples will be taken from 1,500 patients diagnosed with different types of can- cer and analyzed. The idea is not entirely new, but the re- 16,000 searchers at Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre and Owlstone Medical are pursuing a genes of pregnant women were different approach: they aim to identify mole- cules called “volatile organic compounds” compared between the early and (VOCs) that are linked to the presence of certain tumor types and which can be detected in the the late stages of pregnancy. exhaled breath of patients. Preliminary results are expected in 2021. According to this American study, more than 400 genes displayed altered activity. The results could The nicotine help detect abnormal genetic fallout changes and thus identify high- transmissible risk pregnancies. through sperm Nicotine’s negative impact on offspring is not limited to uter- When the Wolves Came … ine transmission during preg- Less forest – same number of trees nancy and passive smoke inha- Ever since the resettlement of roughly 30 wolves into populations of willow, poplar and aspen in particular lation. According to a study 720,000 satellite images have been scrutinized by five scientists Yellowstone National Park more than 20 years ago, were able to recover substantially. “We would have conducted at Florida State Uni- over the course of a year to provide an overview of the tree the park’s ecosystems have changed more dramati- never seen these responses if the park hadn’t followed versity, paternal sperm also plays population in central Europe. The study conducted by the Hum- cally than previously anticipated. Whereas previously an ecological-process management paradigm allowing a role. For example, the offspring of boldt University in Berlin, Germany and the University of Natural moose had been the predominant herbivores, their natural ecological processes to take place with minimal male mice that had previously been Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria, investigated the population has since declined, leaving room for other human intervention,” says Professor Mark Boyce, exposed to nicotine over a period of steep increase in tree mortality observed over the past 30 years. animals, such as bison, to thrive. ecologist and study author from the University of Al- three months displayed abnormal be- Tree mortality has in fact doubled – the main causes include The resulting changes in foraging and feeding be- berta in Canada, in a statement. He notes that these haviors such as hyperactivity and increasing winter storms as well as bark beetles which multiply havior displayed by these species have influenced the results might not necessarily be repeated in other learning difficulties across multiple rapidly during the dry summer months. Even though the total vegetation in the National Park on a large scale: the systems, namely due to the influence of humans. generations. It is unclear at this time to forested area is decreasing, the number of trees remains con- what extent these results may be applied stant as it is mostly the older, larger trees that are dying.