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Radioactivity is generally considered harmful to life. Yet in manganese nodules in the deep sea, microorganisms might benefit from it. Or even live off it? This is the intriguing hypothesis that geoscientist Walter Geibert hopes to prove.

The Volkswagen Foundation and the Hertie Foundation are each providing 1.25 million euros in support of the newly established Max Planck Centre for Democracy, Security and Human Rights. 

Populism, digital polarisation and declining trust in institutions are posing challenges to democracies worldwide. The Volkswagen Foundation is now supporting eleven new research projects that are working with partners from the field to develop solutions. Their research covers topics such as cyber violence, gender equality, Muslim family law and far-right interpretations of history, amongst others.

There are no effective medicines for many viral diseases. As a result, they can develop into a global threat. As part of the initiative "Innovative Approaches in Antiviral Drug Development", the Volkswagen Foundation is now funding four research groups that are investigating viruses which have been little studied to date and aim to develop new therapeutic strategies to combat them.

The Volkswagen Foundation’s new call focuses on the question of how concepts from the humanities and social sciences are transferred to other contexts and utilised there for political or ideological purposes – for example, to undermine trust in science, the media or the institutions of democratic society. The application deadline is 6 October 2026, online Q&As on 11 August and 8 September

The Volkswagen Foundation has been supporting basic research for decades. Without it, the pipeline for innovation would dry up. Dr Henrike Hartmann, Head of the Funding Division at the Volkswagen Foundation, and microbiologist Professor Dr Tobias Erb discuss why basic research is so important for progress.