Transport and Travel CorrespondentSunday December 29 2024
The TimesAs the train rolls past the town of Hohen Neuendorf ten miles north of Berlin
a screen on the wall flashes up an astonishing figure: 553 megabits per second (Mbps)
It is monitoring the real-time download speed of the wireless internet
The median speed for UK households is 73 Mbps
which Deutsche Bahn (DB) uses to test the latest technology
When I boarded the four-carriage “fastest lab on rails”
hooked up with the latest and best in wi-fi
It is a far cry from the passenger experience on UK railways
where travellers can watch a video at best —
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ResearchScientists reveal core genes involved in immunity of honey beesThe team's findings may help scientists and beekeepers to breed honey bees that are more resilient to stress
— A core set of genes involved in the responses of honey bees to multiple diseases caused by viruses and parasites has been identified by an international team of researchers
The findings provide a better-defined starting point for future studies of honey-bee health
and may help scientists and beekeepers breed honey bees that are more resilient to stress
honey-bee populations have experienced severe and persistent losses across the Northern Hemisphere
such as fungi and viruses," said Vincent Doublet
"The genes that we identified offer new possibilities for the generation of honey-bee stocks that are resistant to these pathogens."
recent advances in DNA sequencing have prompted numerous investigations of the genes involved in honey-bee responses to pathogens
this vast quantity of data has been too cumbersome and idiosyncratic to reveal overarching patterns in honey-bee immunity
"While many studies have used genomic approaches to understand how bees respond to viruses and parasites, it has been difficult to compare across these studies to find the core genes and pathways that help the bee fight off stressors," said Christina Grozinger, distinguished professor of entomology
"Our team created a new bioinformatics tool that has enabled us to integrate information from 19 different genomic datasets to identify the key genes involved in honey bees’ response to diseases."
The technique allowed them to identify the genes that were expressed similarly across the 19 datasets
rather than just the genes that were expressed more than others within a dataset
The scientists found that these similarly expressed genes included those that encode proteins responsible for the response to tissue damage by pathogens
and those that encode enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates from food
may illustrate the cost of the infection on the organism
The researchers report their findings in today's (Mar
"Honey bees were thought to respond to different disease organisms in entirely different ways
but we have learned that they mostly rely on a core set of genes that they turn on or off in response to any major pathogenic challenge," said Robert Paxton
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
"We can now explore the physiological mechanisms by which pathogens overcome their honey-bee hosts
and how honey bees can fight back against those pathogens."
The implications of the findings are not limited to honey bees
The team found that the core genes are part of conserved pathways — meaning they have been maintained throughout the course of evolution among insects and therefore are shared by other insects
this means that the genes provide important knowledge for understanding pathogen interactions with other insects
and for using pathogens to control insect pests
"This analysis provides unprecedented insight into the mechanisms that underpin the interactions between insects and their pathogens," said Doublet
we generated a list of genes that will likely be an important source for future functional studies
for breeding more resilient honey-bee stocks and for controlling emerging bee diseases."
the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research
Institute for Bee Research of Hohen Neuendorf; Sebastian Gisder
Institute for Bee Research of Hohen Neuendorf; Ivo Grosse
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg; Holly Holt
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology; Yves Le Conte
Royal Holloway University of London; Dino McMahon
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg; Francesco Nazzi
Università degli Studi di Udine; Elina Niño
Volume 3 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2023.1135187
The selection of honeybee strains resistant to the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is generally considered as one of the most sustainable ways of coping with this major bee parasite
breeding efforts increasingly focus on resistance parameters in addition to common beekeeping traits like honey yield and gentleness
the success strongly depends on the quantifiability and heritability of the traits accounted
To find the most suitable traits among the manifold variants to assess Varroa resistance
it is necessary to evaluate how easily a trait can be measured (i.e.
testing effort) in relation to the underlying heritability (i.e.
expected transfer to the following generation)
Various possible selection traits are described as beneficial for colony survival in the presence of Varroa destructor and therefore are measured in breeding stocks around the globe
sensu lato any reproductive failure of mother mites) and recapping of already sealed brood cells have recently gained increasing attention among the breeders because they closely resemble resistance mechanisms of some Varroa-surviving honeybee populations
it was still unknown whether the genetic background of the trait is sufficient for targeted selection
We therefore investigated the heritabilities and genetic correlations for SMR and REC
distinguishing between recapping of infested cells (RECinf) and all cells (RECall)
on an extensive dataset of Buckfast and Carniolan stock in Germany
With an accessible h² of 0.18 and 0.44 for SMR and an accessible h² of 0.44 and 0.40 for RECinf
both traits turned out to be very promising for further selection in the Buckfast and Carnica breeding population
several traits were discarded as selection criteria after a few generations
since their heritability proofed to be too low compared to the testing effort (reviewed in 5
an large-scale estimation of heritability for SMR is urgently needed to use the potential of this trait more efficiently for resistance breeding
The same applies for REC of infested cells since this trait is gaining increasing attention in breeding efforts
Detailed knowledge on the heritability would also set the basis for breeding value estimation and thus enable a more targeted selection
we estimated the heritability of SMR and REC based on an extensive dataset of Buckfast and Carniolan stock and implemented these traits in practical breeding value estimation schemes
Table 1 Number of colonies with brood investigations from the different data sources used
Figure 1 Number of colonies under brood investigation for the Carniolan breeding population. (A) Number of colonies tested by birth year of queen and data source. LLH/AGT comprises both performance tested colonies within (43) and previous projects of LLH and AGT
(B) Number of phenotypes by trait and test year
Note that the number of SMR is higher because REC was only recorded for a fraction of colonies
Abbreviations are given in the supplements
Figure 2 Number of colonies under brood investigation for the Buckfast breeding population
(A) Number of colonies tested by birth year of queen and data source
reproductive failure in terms of SMR was defined as a single infested cell containing either a) no mite offspring (i.e.
which was too young in comparison to the developmental stage of the respective host bee pupae (i.e.
For the majority of full-grown colonies, up to 1000 brood cells were opened until 25 single infested cells were found (43). For MiniPlus colonies, up to 300 brood cells were opened until at least 10 single infested cells were found (43). In heavily infested colonies, more infested brood cells were analyzed. For SMR and RECinf calculations in (43)
values obtained from less than 10 single infested cells were discarded
For some colonies analyzed by external contributors
For Carnica colonies, the clearance rate in pin tests has been obtained following the AGT protocol (25)
Respective pedigree information for each queen were derived from the Beebreed-Database (44) for Carniolan stock or the Pedigree-Database (45) for Buckfast stock
a sub-pedigree was created which contained all colonies investigated and their complete ancestor trees
for Carnica 3.250 colonies and for Buckfast 2.592 colonies were added to complete the pedigree
Models of SMR, RECall and RECinf have been set up as mixed-linear models with a direct genetic effect (effect of the worker community), a maternal genetic effect (effect of the queen), a fixed effect of the investigation series and country (MiniPlus, LLH/AGT, Austria, Croatia, Netherlands, LIB, other for Carnica; MiniPlus and performance tested colony for Buckfast) and a random effect, analogous to (21)
As the colonies have not been organised in comparative testing apiaries (some breeders sent in brood samples of only one colony per apiary)
a fixed apiary effect was out of the question
The genetic parameters (i.e., heritabilities and genetic correlations) have been calculated with programs of the BLUPF90 series (46) in an iterative process
If AIREML converged and the parameters were not on the boundary (either the genetic variance vanished
the result was verified with a subsequent REML run
If AIREML was still not successful with these parameters
The results of REML were then used in a subsequent AIREML run to confirm the result and obtain the standard errors of the parameters
single-trait models were run to estimate the genetic variance
the genetic covariance between the direct and maternal effect and the residual variance
two-trait models were composed of each combination of one-trait models with the final parameters
For the breeding values estimation, the pedigree was extended to contain siblings (and their siblings, iteratively) of colonies. Additionally, a pedigree entry for the colony was added, which represents the expectation value of an offspring queen. To calculate the breeding values, BLUPF90 was used (46)
The genetic trend shows the yearly averages of all breeding values per year obtained from colonies with measured SMR phenotypes
To estimate the predictive power of the breeding model
the following validation procedure was used which relates the breeding values calculated ignoring the phenotypes of the test year (and all subsequent years) with the phenotypes of the test year
The breeding values were estimated with the full pedigree
the Pearson correlation coefficients between the breeding values and the phenotypes (adjusted for the fixed effect) were calculated
all tested colonies of the test year were sorted by their breeding values and split into four quartiles
the average phenotype (adjusted for the fixed effect) of each quartile was calculated
This process was iterated for test years 2017 to 2022 for the Carncia population and 2019 to 2022 for the Buckfast population
The calculation of genetic parameters was feasible for all single-trait and double-trait models. All investigated traits show comparatively high heritabilities (Table 2)
Table 2 Heritabilities in Carnica colonies
The worker heritabilities hw2 for SMR and pintest show a peculiarity of heritabilities larger than 1. This is possible because “the worker” is not a single animal but a collection of individuals. However, this heritability is not accessible to selection because one can only use individual animals for selection and not the full community of workers. This effect is compensated for by the correction formula of the accessible selection (21)
which puts the potential for selection progress into perspective
The heritability is very similar for SMR and both recapping traits
The genetic correlations between the queen and worker effect are strongly negative, especially for SMR (Table 3)
Table 3 Genetic correlations between traits in Carnica colonies
The genetic correlation (see Table 3) is highest between both recapping traits
SMR can be considered as not correlated to both recapping traits
the low values are overshadowed by the standard errors
the pintest is correlated to SMR and both recapping traits with a medium correlation coefficient
The trend of the phenotypes (Figure 3A) shows a strong upward trend for SMR, while REC starts low, peaks in 2018 and decreases again. The genetic trend (Figure 3B) shows a similar picture
the stock was successfully selected for SMR
The genetic effect of both recapping traits starts lower than the current level
The trend is very similar for both Recapping traits
not surprisingly because of the high genetic correlation
In comparison between the two Recapping traits
Figure 3 (A) Phenotypic and (B) genetic trends for SMR
RECall and RECinf in the Carniolan population
The high predicitvity of the recapping traits shows that it would be possible to effectively select for RECinf and RECall, but apparently, this has not been done in the investigated population. For RECinf, the highest quartile is 20 percent points higher than the lowest (Figure 4B). For RECall, the highest quartile is by 14 percent points larger than the other three (Figure 4C)
Figure 4 Validation charts for (A) SMR
(B) RECinf and (C) RECall breeding values in the Carnica population
The calculation of genetic parameters for the Buckfast population was feasible for all traits including the two-trait models. This is a remarkable result because the number of phenotypes was considerably smaller than for the Carnica population and it does not span over generations (Table 1; Figure 2A)
The heritabilities for SMR and RECall in the Buckfast population are smaller than in the Carnica population, while for RECinf they are slightly higher (see Table 4)
All traits are dominated by the worker effect
Table 4 Heritabilities in Buckfast colonies
The genetic correlation between queen and worker effect is negative for SMR
similar to the parameters in the Carnica population
For both recapping traits the genetic correlation between queen and worker effect is positive
the standard errors are so large that it is not considered significantly distinguishable from zero
The genetic correlation between both recapping traits is even higher than in the Carnica population (Table 5)
It is so close to one that it suggests it may be not possible to select for RECinf without also increasing RECall
The correlation from SMR to RECall is slightly negative regarding the standard error at the same amount
The genetic correlation of SMR to RECinf is effectively zero at this level of standard error
Table 5 Genetic correlations between traits in Buckfast colonies
Although only 5 years are represented, a positive genetic trend is visible for all traits (Figure 5)
These trends are more apparent in the genetic trends than in the phenotypes where they are nearly invisible
The genetic trend is much stronger for RECinf and RECall than for SMR
Figure 5 (A) Phenotypic and (B) genetic trends for SMR
RECall and RECinf in the Buckfast population
The predictivity of breeding values (correlations in Figure 6) is highest for RECall (0.235)
In comparison to the results in the Carnica population
the ranking among the traits RECall and RECinf is reversed
The predictivity of SMR and RECall is somewhat higher than in the Carnica population
whereas the predictivity for RECinf is much lower
Figure 6 Validation charts for (A) SMR
(B) RECinf and (C) RECall breeding values in the Buckfast population
For SMR, the low quartile separates from the rest, as opposed to the Carnica population (Figure 4A) where the highest quartile stands out
The difference between the highest and lowest quartile is about 8 percent points higher than in the Carnica population
the result resembles the results found in the Carnica population
where the highest quartile is considerably higher than the others
The difference between the highest and lowest quartile is about 14 percent points for both
the selection based on breeding values rather than raw measurements of phenotypes will most probably also advance the selection on SMR
it is very important to avoid a situation in which breeds show high values of SMR and REC but are less adapted to other factors or are unmanageable for beekeeping
The estimation of genetic correlations between SMR
RECinf and RECall on the one hand and the traditional breeding traits on the other hand serves to foresee problems of this kind
a continuation of brood investigation as part of the performance test is highly recommended
since such information cannot be obtained from MiniPlus colonies
it seems to be important to account for multiple resistance traits in the future
Besides their possibly varying importance discussed above
several of these traits appear to be linked and thus selected in parallel
Despite the fact that only SMR was measured in the beginning
the genetic trend for both REC traits also started lower than the current level
This indicates that the genetic progress obtained for SMR also unintentionally led to an increase in REC as well
the small range of SMR breeding values in the Carnica population indicates that the strong genetic trend for this trait is partly dependent on the selection of other causally linked parameters
up to now this serves mainly as an additional information for the breeders
What is lacking is an outcome variable of this “vitality test” both readily applicable to the regular breeder and expressive for the mathematical model
the negative genetic correlations between queen and worker effects for REC and SMR in the Carnica population investigated in the present study already indicate previous selection on these parameters
This is especially apparent in the strong genetic progress of SMR
while the quartile distribution for RECinf suggests that the potential for a bigger selection effect rather could be used in the future
both investigated populations show promising heritabilities and genetic trends for these traits
but are likewise dependent on a large-scale performance testing of colonies
the calculation of genetic parameters for the Buckfast population proved less problematic than expected from the fact that only three seasons of data recording could be used and values mainly derived from MiniPlus colonies
the concept of Buckfast breeding distinctively differs in some points from the methods widely used in Carnica breeding which may lead to differences in population structure
selection is solely based on performance of colonies without any form of morphometric analysis of workers and drones
This also includes the performance testing of new and mainly unselected strains derived from different subspecies of Apis mellifera
beside the regular testing and selection of established Buckfast lines
This might partly explain differences in the genetic correlations between queen and worker effects for REC parameters
which were negative for Carnica colonies but positive for Buckfast colonies
positive correlations indicate a situation where the trait has not been selected previously but might be accessible for targeted selection
According to the quartile distribution for SMR in both populations
the selection for high SMR values can be predicted to be more effective in the Buckfast population (lowest quartile stands out) when compared to the Carnica population (highest quartile stands out)
this trend seems to be inverse with less effective selection for high RECinf values in the Buckfast population
a positive genetic trend was also visible for all traits in the Buckfast population
these trends were not apparent in the phenotypes
which shows that selection can occur without immediately being visible in the raw phenotype data
are more than fulfilled for the Buckfast stock investigated in the present study
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors
The investigation was designed by AH, MG, and RB. Data acquisition related to (43) was performed by JO and MG, other data sources listed in Table 1 were handled by AH
Statistical analysis and calculation of genetic parameters was performed by AH
AH and MG prepared the first draft of the manuscript
and MG commented on earlier versions of the manuscript and contributed in the writing process
All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version
Referring to (43): The project was supported by funds of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) based on a decision of the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany via the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) under the innovation support programme
We thank all involved breeders for their huge commitment in bee breeding
as well as Hilda Strasser for assistance in data collection
For good collaboration in different projects
we especially thank the breeding organizations AGT and GdeB
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations
Any product that may be evaluated in this article
or claim that may be made by its manufacturer
is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Toleranzzucht e.V.; GdeB
Gemeinschaft der europäischen Buckfastimker e.V.; LIB
Länderinstitut für Bienenkunde e.V.
Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen Bieneninstitut Kirchain; MDI
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Received: 31 December 2022; Accepted: 08 February 2023;Published: 21 February 2023
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*Correspondence: Andreas Hoppe, QW5kcmVhcy5Ib3BwZUBodS1iZXJsaW4uZGU=
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Whether you’re looking for a spacious family home or a place with an easy commute
here are the best suburbs and cities near Berlin
By Victoria Pearce
and large family homes are out of the question
are some great hidden gems that offer affordable housing and more spacious living options
these commuter towns have an easier (albeit slower) pace of life within easy reach of the action
Discover the magic of Berlin’s suburbs by reading the following sections:
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Berlin is Germany’s vibrant capital
Known for its tumultuous past, the city has since transformed itself into a global hub of creativity
Given that the rental market in the capital has exploded in recent years, moving to the outskirts of the city might be a good option for those seeking a suitable home on a budget
The small cities and charming villages near Berlin provide a great alternative to the dense inner-city housing
offering more space for those seeking a home with a garden
or a place for their growing family to enjoy
Berlin’s excellent public transport network also makes it possible to commute into the city from dozens or even hundreds of kilometers away
living in the suburbs allows residents to enjoy the best of both worlds
Although property prices in the suburbs are lower than in the city
they have also felt the pinch of an increasingly competitive housing market
finding accommodation within budget can be a challenge – but not impossible
There are several ways to find a place to live in the suburbs
some people use a local estate agent (Makler)
online property portals are also popular to find housing
some online advertisements are listed as provisionsfreie (i.e.
You can find rental accommodation on the following websites:
When searching for properties to rent, it is important to keep in mind that scams do exist. Be cautious and vet advertisements and agents carefully, especially when you don’t speak German fluently or are contacting people online
One of the big draws of the suburbs is the size of the homes
You are much more likely to find houses with gardens or larger apartments in cities near Berlin
Population growth has also resulted in the development of more apartment blocks across the region
These can offer lower rents with close proximity to parks or nature reserves
Similar to the rest of Germany, Berlin’s suburbia has a large percentage of renters. In 2023, more than half of the country’s population (52.4%) lived in rented accommodation
This was the highest share in the European Union (EU)
Although rental rates have increased as the region’s population grows
rentals are still more affordable rentals in cities near Berlin than in the capital itself
Rent in the suburbs can be separated into the following categories:
If you compare these costs to those in Mitte
where rents regularly exceed €1,900 for a similarly sized apartment
you can see why many people choose to expand their housing search beyond the city limits
For potential buyers in Germany, there’s both good news and bad news. After a decade-long house price boom, real estate prices are in freefall (2024)
The housing market is struggling as higher mortgage interest rates and rising inflation have increased affordability constraints
Conversely, Berlin is the most affordable city in Germany
If you’re employed, you should be able to get a mortgage with no additional requirements – regardless of your nationality. That being said, while there are no restrictions for expats looking to purchase a home
there is also no need to jump into it straight away
buying property makes more sense if you are already familiar with the area or are moving to be close to family
you might want to consider renting when you first arrive so that you can explore the different cities near Berlin
you can be sure to buy property in a suburb where you will enjoy living for the long term
Real estate guide: buying a house in Germany
The German capital is entirely surrounded by the Brandenburg region
That means that many villages and commuter cities near Berlin are part of the same government district
Fortunately, public transport links are plentiful between Berlin and the suburbs outlined below
commute time has a large impact on rental prices
with the cheapest housing often being found where commutes are the longest
Natural beauty is plentiful outside Berlin
these areas tend to attract people who are drawn to nature or those seeking a quieter environment
Although nightlife is harder to come by outside of Berlin
are well-known for their events and cultural scene
Keep reading for a closer look at some of the top cities near Berlin
Well known for its many popular attractions, Bernau has several museums and is the host of the annual Hussite Festival (Hussitenfest)
which celebrates the town’s medieval history
Its fascinating past is still present in its impressive 8-meter-high defense walls that surround the town and its small alleyways that take visitors back in time
only one original city gate – the Steintor – still remains and now serves as a local museum
Bernau features a mix of modern high-rise housing estates and historic half-timbered buildings from the early 19th century
Residents enjoy this scenic town for its quiet streets and pleasant neighborhoods
Hohen Neuendorf is not an old town but a pleasant one
This city near Berlin was developed as a commuter town in the early 20th century
tranquil setting and easy access to the city center
making this a popular choice for workers headed to an inner-city office every day
Most of the housing in Hohen Neuendorf is relatively new
Once home to the world’s first radio station
Nauen is a quiet satellite in Berlin’s orbit
Said to be one of the most beautiful in Brandenburg
the old town is a popular choice for families who seek larger gardens and quiet streets
With wind turbines scattered around the town’s edge
Nauen is set near many areas of natural beauty
Expats looking for social entertainment may want to look elsewhere
This village does not have many cultural events or substantial nightlife
Oranienburg’s pleasant streets hide the town’s dark past
having been a concentration camp for both Nazis and Soviets
Now a pretty city near Berlin, locals enjoy a pleasant and relaxed lifestyle. Tourists often visit the area for its memorials and the 350-year-old baroque Oranienburg Palace (Schloss Oranienburg)
The former Prussian palace with its large open park is home to a museum and a cultural center
Oranienburg is a good choice if you prefer a village setting and don’t blame a place for its historical past
The capital of Brandenburg, Potsdam, is a tourist destination in its own right. The city near Berlin is home to several palaces, including Sanssouci Palace (Schloss Sanssouci)
which was once the summer home of Frederick the Great (former King of Prussia)
Potsdam has many businesses, including a major film studio and 30 research facilities. It is also home to the Berlin Brandenberg International School
the historic town center dissolves into fairly typical Berlin suburbs
With many cultural offerings within Potsdam’s borders
you don’t necessarily have to head to the capital to socialize and find entertainment
so it may not be the best option if you are looking to save money by living outside Berlin
with low housing costs and a convivial atmosphere
The satellite city was established 800 years ago and now has a population of 27,000
Rathenow is a sleepy area compared to Berlin
The area is popular with families who appreciate having more space and access to nearby parks and lakes
Strausberg offers authentic small-town German life within easy commuting distance of the capital
this city near Berlin is located just 30 kilometers from the Polish border.Sports enthusiasts will particularly enjoy Strausberg because of its many sporting facilities and traditions
thin town is a popular option for hybrid workers who want the price and quality of life from the countryside but still need to commute to the big city
Teltow is located on the outskirts of Berlin
This German suburb has followed the city through its many trials and tribulations and served as a border between West Berlin and East Germany
and new developments continue to spring up to provide affordable housing for workers flocking to the German capital
Its location provides easy access to higher education institutes in both Berlin and Potsdam
Teltow primarily offers apartments and townhouses
If you’re hoping for a single-family house
the town does boast plenty of parks and outdoor spaces you can visit
Developed as a vacation resort in the early 20th century
This small town with a little over 21,000 inhabitants is located in a nature reserve between two lakes
making it an ideal choice for those who love the outdoors
a small compound was built nearby to house high-ranking officials of the East German government away from the rest of the population
While the building has been out of use for a long time
the natural beauty that drew officials to Wandlitz can still be found today
The villages and cities near Berlin are all fairly safe and can be a good choice if you need more space or crave a quieter environment
Reported crime rates are also generally lower than in the German capital
this does not necessarily mean that these areas are to be avoided
Zeuthen is mostly made up of family homes with gardens
The town is a short distance away from Berlin Mitte and has easy access to Schönefeld airport
Whether you’re renting on a budget or buying a spacious family home
you’ll want to be sure you end up in a place that suits you best
It is important that you consider your housing requirements
and commuting plans before you settle on an area
if you know you need to work on-site in central Berlin most days per week
moving to a suburb may not make sense at all
trading in some of Berlin’s excitement for quieter suburban living could be the perfect fit
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when looking for a city near Berlin to call your home:
Victoria is an American writer (and mom) living in the UK
she focuses on local content for employment law and business culture articles
Colossal
Artist Diane Meyer has spent the last several years meditating on the Berlin Wall and the physical and visual divisions between
Meyer embroiders 43 photographs with meticulous stitches that overlay pedestrians
Each embroidered area represents the former wall
which would have bisected or blocked the views now seen in Meyer’s photographs
The project is part of Meyer’s broader practice of “combining a traditional
analogue process with the visual language of digital imaging,” the artist tells Colossal
I was experimenting with large landscape images using thousands of little tiny squares of carpet remnants which functioned as pixels
I think these early experiments ultimately led me to the work that I am doing now.” Meyer explains that for the Berlin series
she sought to evoke how the wall continues to exude a felt presence in the city
I started thinking about the relationship between forgetting and digital file corruption
particularly given how photographs are strongly tied to and ultimately often replace memory
By re-inserting the Berlin Wall through embroidery
a pixelated view of what is behind the wall is seen
creating the effect of an almost ghost-like trace in the landscape
Meyer shares with Colossal that the materials of her artistic practice have evolved over time
shifting from straight photography to more multimedia approaches
but that she has consistently returned to some core concepts
“My work has long been defined by explorations into the physical
and psychological qualities that characterize place,” says Meyer
shifting genre and medium depending on the conceptual framework she is working within
a series of elementary school class pictures from the 1970s
which Meyer explains is an outgrowth of a previous project centered around family photographs
the artist seeks to focus on body language by obscuring the normal focal point of facial features with stitched interventions
“I am interested in exploring these details to reveal not only the relationships between the various figures
children were taught and instructed to pose in particular ways
often based on gender,” Meyer tells Colossal
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TALE Townhouse - Hohen Neuendorf. Image Cortesia de LAMILUXIn Germany
a trend in the real estate market is the so-called townhouse: narrow
This type of building is particularly appealing to families who don't want to give up city life or their own garden or terrace
In the Hohen Neuendorf skyline in Brandenburg
a total of 34 skylights have been installed to give residents easy and private access to the terrace.
which are essential for maximizing natural light in buildings
the company is one of the largest global manufacturers of carbon fiber and glass-reinforced plastics
its smoke and heat extraction systems contribute significantly to fire safety
explains: “Our flat roof access hatches not only feature excellent thermal insulation and durability
but also prioritize architectural and comfort considerations.” The hatches come in various sizes and opening mechanisms
The comfort of the LAMILUX flat roof access hatch epitomizes a harmonious fusion of innovation
From its sleek design to its cutting-edge safety features and energy-efficient performance
it sets a new benchmark for roof access solutions in modern urban environments
the journey from the busy streets below to the tranquil rooftop above becomes a seamless transition
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the German photographer set out to convey the truth about how people really lived in the communist GDR – depicting her fellow citizens with a ‘timeless coolness’
the German photographer set out to convey the truth about how people really lived in the communist GDR – depicting her fellow citizens with a ‘timeless coolness’
SmartBees – the largest EU research project to date for increasing the sustainability of beekeeping with an overall budget of EUR 6 million – has now come to an end
beekeepers and scientists worked with companies from 15 EU member states and adjacent regions on improving our understanding of the threats honeybees face on our continent
developing countermeasures and protecting the intraspecific diversity of honeybees
The rich variety of European bees provides the basis for adapting to future stressors such as climate change or the emergence of new diseases
The first goal of the project was to ascertain the remaining diversity
Samples were accordingly analysed from over 2,200 populations from all ten bee subspecies represented on the continent
The good news: all subspecies are still present in at least residual quantities
they can now be easily and economically determined by means of a DNA chip
which allows beekeepers who wish to work with their local subspecies to confirm the origin of their bees
In order to facilitate the apiculture of locally adapted bees
SmartBees set up a network in over ten countries
Its members were trained intensively in modern beekeeping methods
Comprehensive information material was prepared in 15 languages
beekeepers of all European subspecies are now also able to conduct efficient breeding planning using the central apiary database beebreed.eu
They are networked in the newly founded International Honey Bee Breeding Networking (IHBBN)
Another goal of the project was to better understand the most important causes of losses to bee populations and to curb this trend by selecting resistant bees
These factors largely concern the Varroa mite – an introduced parasite of the bee brood that transmits and furthers the spread of dangerous viruses
Project partners from the United Kingdom were able to show that substances in the saliva of the mites contribute to the weakening of the bees’ immune system
As part of a collaboration between Hohen Neuendorf and partners in Denmark
it was also possible to identify bee genes that are of key importance for Varroa resistance
Prof Dr Kaspar Bienefeld (Institute for Bee Research Hohen Neuendorf
and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) emphasises: “The SmartBees project not only provided valuable new insights that will have a sustainable
positive influence on beekeeping in Europe
SmartBees is also a great example of what synergy effects can be achieved with European cooperation in research.”
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SearchMega MenuHomepageNewsWomen's TeamNewsWimmer
Youssef and Scheel to Leave the ClubA Farewell to Three Union WomenAt the end of the season
Nour Youssef and Luca Scheel - will leave the women's team of 1
Nour Youssef and Luca Scheel - will leave the women's team of 1
Bundesliga at the age of 15 in the 2016/17 season
This was followed by four years at Bayer 04 Leverkusen
and one season at Blau-Weiß Hohen Neuendorf
Wimmer suffered two serious knee injuries at the age of 19
the creative midfielder wanted to rediscover the joy of football at her old club
as the ball-playing technician quickly developed into the control center of the midfield
in the 40th minute against FC Carl Zeiss Jena II in November 2022
Wimmer's progress was again halted by terrible misfortune
suffering a serious knee injury for the third time
Wimmer fought her way back into team training via rehab
but did not make any further appearances due to stress and safety reasons
She is now ending her career at the age of just 22
Pauline Wimmer played a total of 18 league matches for 1
The 18-year-old Nour Youssef joined the youth department of 1
FC Union Berlin in 2018 and made it to the semi-finals of the German Championship with the U17s in 2022
she was also promoted to the women's first team squad
the winger played her way into the hearts of spectators
scoring 13 goals in 23 Regionalliga appearances
Youssef has scored three times in twelve games and also made her debut for the Palestinian national team
Youssef scored two goals at the West Asian Championship and only lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners Jordan
Luca Scheel: Farewell after a successful comeback
Luca Scheel's chapter with Union is also coming to an end
The midfielder initially moved to the U23s in the summer of 2019 before making the leap to the first team after two years
Scheel largely played in defensive midfield until she suffered a serious knee injury in December 2022
The 22-year-old was out for around a year as a result
but was able to return to the pitch at the beginning of this year after a long period of suffering and has since made seven appearances for Union
Luca Scheel has played 29 Regionalliga games for 1
“After what is now my third serious knee injury
I am unfortunately forced to end my career prematurely," said Wimmer on the terrible decision she has had to make
"I had very good times at Union and would have liked to attack again in the 2
I am very grateful to the club for the professional medical support and everything else
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for everyone involved from the outside and I'm delighted that football in Berlin is finally flourishing.”
“I have had a great time at Union over the years and got to know a lot of great people," said Youssef
"I won't forget moments like the U17 semi-final at the Sradion An der Alten Försterei
my first year as a women's player and the championship
I'm also very proud that I was able to put myself forward for the Palestinian national team through my development here
Now I have decided to take on a new challenge
I would like to thank the entire club and wish Union all the best for the future.”
I became a professional player here and I'm very grateful for that
now is the right time for me to leave and take on new challenges
All three players have made their contribution to the history of 1
FC Union Berlin and will therefore always remain a part of the club
Nachfolgend findest du eine Übersicht über alle Mandate
die Mitglieder der Tierschutzpartei aktuell innehaben
sowie weiter unten ausgewählte ehemalige Mandate und die dazugehörigen Informationen wie das Bundesland
ob der:die jeweilige Mandatsträger:in den Vorsitz der Fraktion innehat(te)
die Wahlergebnisse sowie den Amtsbeginn und das Amtsende
Hier finden Sie eine Übersicht über alle unsere Anträge in den kommunalen Gremien
März 2025 fand im Alten Feuerwehrhaus in Stuttgart-Süd ab 10 Uhr der Landesparteitag Baden-Württemberg (BW) mit
Der Kölner Motivwagen mit Anti-NoAfD-Satire darf auf dem großen Faschingsumzug Mannheim 2.3
Neutralitätspflicht nicht mitfahren – 1 Woche nach der Bundestagswahl
Wie auch zur letzten Bundestagswahl gibt es auch dieses Jahr wieder einige bekannte Gesichter aus der vegan-tierrechtlichen Szene
die ganz explizit zur Nichtwahl der Tierschutzpartei aufrufen
Die Bundestagswahl kam schneller als erwartet
Zum Glück hatten wir unsere Aufstellungsversammlung für die Landesliste bereits im September abgehalten
Wir sind besorgt und entsetzt über das Ergebnis der US-Wahlen
Donald Trump und sein Umfeld stellen ein fatales Risiko für die nationale als auch die globale Stabilität und für die Menschenrechte dar
haben bei der ersten Umfrage im Rahmen der Parteistrategie teilgenommen
Insgesamt wurden 2.505 Stimmen für 33 Fragen abgegeben
Bei dieser ersten Umfrage ging es um die Themenfelder
die seit längerer Zeit besonders häufig parteiintern diskutiert werden:
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