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!
- Confirmed figures for the first time: Investments in BESSY are worthwhile for Berlin and GermanyAn impact analysis by DIW Econ demonstrates the scientific and economic value of BESSY II. Every euro invested yields three euros for Germany and as much as ten euros for the State of Berlin. Furthermore, the study provides an economic forecast for the construction of BESSY III.
The impact analysis was presented on 3 September 2026 to Dr Henry Marx, State Secretary for Science and Research in the Berlin Senate. He supports the investment and is a strong advocate for BESSY III. - Detailed insights at BESSY II into the oxidation processes of copperBefore pure copper oxide builds up, complex superstructures such as ‘29’CuxO, are formed. The new results on the '29' CuxO superstructure have relevance for catalyst research and corrosion protection in the development of safe copper containers for nuclear waste repositories.
- BESSY II: New sample environment allows glimpse into thermocatalytic processesA novel measurement cell allows, for the first time, soft and hard X-ray investigations under high pressures of up to 20 bar and temperatures of up to 400°C. This provides new insights into thermocatalytic processes, such as the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis for producing synthetic fuels. The development of the measurement cell is considered a significant achievement within the Care-O-Sene project.