Offshore wind farms change current patterns

Hereon researchers simulate long-term effects of wind and tidal wakes caused by wind turbines in the North Sea for the first time

By 2050, offshore wind power capacity in the North Sea is set to increase more than tenfold. Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon have analyzed the long-term overall impact of this large number of wind farms on the hydrodynamics of the North Sea for the first time. The result: the current pattern could change on a large scale. The study highlights approaches for minimizing potential risks to the environment at an early stage. The work was recently presented in the Nature journal Communications Earth & Environment.

To find new ways to shield hair from heat, sunlight and air pollution, researchers in Brazil are turning to vegan-friendly ingredients for shampoos and conditioners. Published in ACS Omega, early tests show that a fruit-algae combination added to haircare products coats strands with a protective film. Although the botanical film makes hair slightly less elastic, it improves shine and makes locks easier to comb compared to hair washed and conditioned with products not containing the biopolymer.

LMU researchers have directly measured a physical phenomenon that was theoretically described all the way back in 1933 – the polaron.

The carbon footprint of the Olympic Games remains substantial, despite reforms by the International Olympic Committee. A new study by the University of Lausanne shows that the Olympic model needs further reform to comply with the Paris Agreement and outlines possible courses of action.

Proteins often function in pairs or groups, concealing their internal connection points and making it difficult for scientists to study their individual units without altering their natural structure. Researchers successfully isolated single units of the protein SOD1, which is linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), by chemically tagging the protein and encapsulating it within tiny, self-assembled artificial cages. This technique exposed the normally hidden interface of the protein, allowing the team to identify specific compounds like quercetin that bind to these regions, offering a promising new strategy for finding drugs that inhibit disease-causing protein aggregation.