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Saltwater crocodiles at a river bank.

Ancient DNA Revealed – Saltwater crocodiles traveled thousands of kilometers across the Indian Ocean

A genetic study is rewriting the evolutionary history of the saltwater crocodile and, at the same time, clarifying the species identity of the …
Scientist taking a wood core sample to determine the wood density of a tree.

Dense wood – How differently trees grow

Media information 27-01-2026 / Nr. 012

The density of wood in trees and shrubs varies greatly – not only between different species, but also within a species, depending on where the plants …
Zoran Nikoloski in conversation.

“If I could, I would … produce the fuel of the future from single-cell organisms” – With bioinformatics expert Zoran Nikoloski

If I had unlimited funds, I would invest in the design of synthetic enzymes. This would allow me to create any “Frankenstein” I need for chemical …
Capsella grandiflora, also known as shepherd's purse. Close-up of test plants. They each bear small labels with handwritten numbers and are attached to the plants with red threads.

“When identical genes look different: Plants as masters of adaptation” – How biologists and bioinformaticians study the interplay between genes and the environment

“Our research is essential because without plants there is no human nutrition,” emphasizes Michael Lenhard, Professor of Genetics and spokesperson of …
Gestenfeld mit untergehender Sonne

Resistant Barley – Decisive factors for heat stress tolerance in cereals

Media information 25-11-2025 / Nr. 102

How can the stress response of crops be optimized in light of rising global temperatures? Researchers of the University of Potsdam and the Leibniz …
Portrait of Christiane Scheffler

Megalomania? – Human Biologist Christiane Scheffler Researches the Growth of Children and Adolescents

An orphanage in the 19th century: All children get the same food and care, but some are given emotional attention by the staff, while the other half …
Portrait of Maren Schüle

When the Forest is Burning – Maren Schüle Analyses the Vegetation in Burnt Pine Forests

Forest fires do not only happen in Australia, California, or Canada. In Germany, too – especially in Brandenburg – there has been an increasing number …
Foto einer Kröte

Three New Toads Leap Into the Spotlight

Medieninformation 06-11-2025 / Nr. 098

Froglets and toadlets usually develop from eggs. An international team of researchers, including an expert from the University of Potsdam, has now …
Der Botschafter von Ghana in Deutschland, Prof. Ohene Adjei, und der Präsident der Universität Potsdam, Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D. posieren für ein Foto. Sie schütteln die Hände.

Expanding Links with West Africa – Ghana's Ambassador Visits Am Neuen Palais Campus

The University of Potsdam wants to strengthen and further expand its relations with various African countries. Brandenburg's largest institution of …
Experimental site in South Africa. Under a simple roof outdoors, a bare patch in the vegetation on the ground can be seen.

Devastating effects – how extreme and prolonged drought is changing global grass- and shrublands

Media Information 21-10-2025 / Nr. 094

Prolonged and extreme drought conditions in grasslands and shrublands would greatly limit the long-term health of crucial ecosystems that cover nearly …