https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/news-and-research-areas/research-news http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-08_Stylish_design_made_from_sustainable_materials___two_DITF_research_projects_receive_Techtextil_Innovation_Awards Materials made from domestic, renewable raw materials reduce CO₂ emissions, prevent microplastics from entering the environment, and close the material cycle. The German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are developing nature-based alternatives to synthetically produced and predominantly petroleum-based materials. Two research projects have received a prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award. NUO Flexholz and the lignin-coated material FormLig demonstrate that sustainable concepts can meet high standards of functionality and design. Both projects were carried out in close collaboration with industry. Fri, 08 May 2026 15:00:14 GMT http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-08_Stylish_design_made_from_sustainable_materials___two_DITF_research_projects_receive_Techtextil_Innovation_Awards 2026-05-08T15:00:14Z http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-08_Language_Documentation_in_Nigeria__Grammar_and_Dictionary_for_the_Endangered_Language_Kam After ten years, Dr. Jakob Lesage of Humboldt University presents the most comprehensive documentation yet of a minority language in Nigeria – based on a partnership with the local community, a model for the future study of endangered languages. Fri, 08 May 2026 14:44:49 GMT http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-08_Language_Documentation_in_Nigeria__Grammar_and_Dictionary_for_the_Endangered_Language_Kam 2026-05-08T14:44:49Z http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-08_On_Air_Travel_and_Digital_Currencies__Baker_McKenzie_Award_Honors_Two_Outstanding_Dissertations_in_Business_Law Each year, Goethe University’s Faculty of Law recognizes exceptional academic achievement through a number of prestigious awards. The 2026 Baker McKenzie Award, presented by the renowned law firm of the same name, will go to Dr. Alexander Heger and Dr. Felix-Julius Konow for their outstanding doctoral dissertations in business law. Fri, 08 May 2026 14:25:54 GMT http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-08_On_Air_Travel_and_Digital_Currencies__Baker_McKenzie_Award_Honors_Two_Outstanding_Dissertations_in_Business_Law 2026-05-08T14:25:54Z http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-08_New_research_proposes_Dante_s_Inferno_modelled_a_planetary_impact_500_years_before_modern_science_ What if Dante’s Inferno wasn’t just poetry? New research suggests the 14th-century epic may have quietly mapped the mechanics of a planetary impact, centuries before modern meteoritics existed. Fri, 08 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-08_New_research_proposes_Dante_s_Inferno_modelled_a_planetary_impact_500_years_before_modern_science_ 2026-05-08T14:00:00Z http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-08_ON___OFF__A_Simple_Mechanism_as_the_Key_to_New_Insights The simple mechanism of ON & OFF accompanies us every day from morning until night, as we turn lights on and off, along with devices, programs and motors. Behind this lies a fundamental principle of our world: processes begin and end, states are activated or deactivated, and transitions mark change. In research, switching on and switching off are used as an essential tool – and are therefore often key to new insights, for example when genes are switched on or immune responses switched off. The latest issue of RUPERTO CAROLA, the research magazine published by Heidelberg University, shows the many different ways in which these “switching points” contribute to gaining new insights. Fri, 08 May 2026 13:44:58 GMT http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-08_ON___OFF__A_Simple_Mechanism_as_the_Key_to_New_Insights 2026-05-08T13:44:58Z http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-07_When_faith_meets_a_melting_point__New_study_warns_Hajj_pilgrimage_is_breaching_human_survivability_limits Embargoed until Thursday, 07 May at 17:30 CEST Vienna - New research shows extreme heat and humidity are already pushing Hajj pilgrims beyond survivability limits, with the greatest danger during Arafat and future pilgrimages expected to become more hazardous. Thu, 07 May 2026 17:30:00 GMT http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-07_When_faith_meets_a_melting_point__New_study_warns_Hajj_pilgrimage_is_breaching_human_survivability_limits 2026-05-07T17:30:00Z http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-07_When_nerve_cells_form_new_connections__approach_to_treating_spinal_cord_injuries_developed In a mouse model, a new approach has led to the formation of new neural connections in the injured spinal cord, partially restoring lost function. However, further steps and studies are needed before potential treatments can be developed for humans/publication in “Neurobiology of Disease” Thu, 07 May 2026 14:13:34 GMT http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-07_When_nerve_cells_form_new_connections__approach_to_treating_spinal_cord_injuries_developed 2026-05-07T14:13:34Z http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-07_Future_Risks__Privacy_and_Security_in_On-Body_Interaction_Techniques_ Compared to the possibilities offered by on-body interaction techniques such as wearables, smartphones and computers are increasingly beginning to look like technologies of the past. But what risks arise when mini-computers worn continuously on the body become part of everyday life? This question was investigated by CISPA researcher Dañiel Gerhardt. His central finding is that privacy and security issues are closely intertwined, creating significant risks for users. As a potential solution, he developed his own set of design guidelines. He presented his paper “Privacy & Safety Challenges of On-Body Interaction Techniques” at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Thu, 07 May 2026 12:19:48 GMT http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-07_Future_Risks__Privacy_and_Security_in_On-Body_Interaction_Techniques_ 2026-05-07T12:19:48Z http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-07_Researchers_separate_microparticles_according_to_size_and_guide_them_on_different_paths New method enables individual control of colloidal particles: potential applications include drug delivery and development of new materials Thu, 07 May 2026 12:15:00 GMT http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-07_Researchers_separate_microparticles_according_to_size_and_guide_them_on_different_paths 2026-05-07T12:15:00Z http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-07_Largest_study_on_the_genetics_of_blood_proteins_highlights_new_disease_mechanisms_and_drug_repurposing_opportunities Involving a collaboration with 118 investigators contributing from 89 institutions, scientists from the and Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) and the Precision Healthcare University Research Institute (Queen Mary University of London) have led the world’s largest study on the genetic regulation of >1,000 blood proteins which holds the potential to transform our understanding of different diseases and their treatment opportunities. Thu, 07 May 2026 11:29:16 GMT http://www.research-in-germany.org/idw-news/en_US/2026/5/2026-05-07_Largest_study_on_the_genetics_of_blood_proteins_highlights_new_disease_mechanisms_and_drug_repurposing_opportunities 2026-05-07T11:29:16Z