Hydrogels have an astonishing ability to swell and take on water. In daily life, they are used in dressings, nappies, and more to lock moisture away. A team of researchers has now found another use: quickly extracting large amounts of freshwater from air using a specially developed hydrogel containing a hygroscopic salt. The study, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie, shows that the salt enhances the moisture uptake of the gel, making it suitable for water harvesting in dry regions.

Russian researchers performed a genetic analysis of Russian sunflower lines and identified genetic markers that can help to predict the composition of tocopherols, one of the key attributes of oil quality. The identified genetic markers will help predict the composition of tocopherols for future sunflower lines and facilitate the faster breeding of new varieties suitable for dressing and cooking oils production.

Thousands of lives could be saved each year in the WHO European Region, if Member States introduced more taxes on alcohol, a recent study involving the TU Dresden has found. Across the Region, taxes on alcohol are significantly lower than taxes on tobacco. To enhance the untapped potential of health taxes, the WHO Regional Director for Europe’s Advisory Council on Innovation and Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Advisory Council), of which Prof. Jürgen Rehm of TU Dresden is a member, has proposed a new signature initiative on taxation for countries to consider in their fiscal policies.

Computer chips and storage elements are expected to function as quickly as possible and be energy-saving at the same time. Innovative spintronic modules are at an advantage here thanks to their high speed and efficiency, as there is no lossy electrical current, rather the electrons couple with one another magnetically – like a series of tiny magnetic needles which interact with almost no friction loss. A team of scientists involving Goethe University Frankfurt and the Fritz Haber Institute in Berlin has now found promising properties with crystals grown from rare-earth atoms, which offer hope on the long path towards usage as spintronic components.