Research up close! The Long Night of Science at HZB
Before entering the experimental hall and the tunnel, guests explore the BESSY II light source model. © Bildschön / Tom Maelsa
On 28 June, it's that time again: the Long Night of Science will take place from 5 pm to midnight in Berlin and also in Adlershof! Come around and take a look behind the scenes of our exciting research.
We will open the doors of our laboratories and BESSY II light source to you, your families and friends. Meet scientists who will tell you about the latest breakthroughs in energy and materials research: batteries, solar cells and catalysts are the focus of our work at HZB!
Children of all ages will also have lots to discover. An extra programme with experiments in our school laboratory awaits you.
> Please find here the programme (BESSY II light source and Kekuléstraße)
And last but not least, some great news: the Long Night of Science is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion, there is a special gift: all tickets cost just 5 euros this year! Info Tickets
We cannot wait to see you at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin!
- Surprising insights into the chemistry of hydroxyl radicals at BESSY IIHow do radicals form in aqueous solutions when exposed to UV light? This question is important for health research and environmental protection, for example with regard to the overfertilisation of water bodies by intensive agriculture. A team at BESSY II has now developed a new method of investigating hydroxyl radicals in solution. By using a clever trick, the scientists gained surprising insights into the reaction pathway.
- A duo for BESSY III light sourceSince 1 March 2026, Renske van der Veen and Andreas Jankowiak have formed the leadership team of BESSY III. Together, they will drive forward HZB’s central project: the planning and realisation of BESSY III light source in Berlin-Adlershof. Here, they talk about their motivation, the next steps, and why BESSY III is a a cross-generational project.
- Protein crystallography at BESSY II: faster, better and more and more automaticMany diseases are linked to malfunctions of proteins in the organism. The three-dimensional architecture of these molecules is often highly complex, but it can provide valuable insights into biological processes and the development of drugs. X-ray diffraction at the MX beamlines of BESSY II can be used to decipher the 3D structure of proteins. To date, more than 5000 structures have been solved at the three MX beamlines. Here, we present a review and an outlook with Manfred Weiss, head of the research group for macromolecular crystallography.