Always on the bright side. What makes cleavers always stay on top of other plants, bringing them a sun-exposed location advantageous for fast plant growth? This question has been studied in a cooperation between the Plant Biomechanics Group of the University of Freiburg and the Functional Morphology and Biomechanics Group of the University of Kiel. English. Deutsch. Original paper.

Hairs with Universal Adhesion, January 2009. We are always impressed by the extraordinary locomotor abilities of living creatures, especially if a similar way of locomotion cannot be performed by humans. One example is walking on walls and the ceiling. “Labor and More” Magazine 01/2009. English. German. Russian.

TV-documentary Planetopia, October 2009.

Photo contest winner 2009, November 2009. Dr. Jan Michels, a zoologist at the Christian-Albrecht-University of Kiel, Germany, took top honors for the image of a water flea, with its defensive “crown of thorns” to protect it against predators. This stunning and unusual depiction of a whole organism detailing both external and intracellular structures was selected from more than 2000 images and movies - a competition record - to earn First Prize, $5,000 worth of Olympus equipment. MORE