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Pilsner yeast, the well-known micro-organism that brewers use every year to make hundreds of billions of litres of pilsner and other lagers, came into being 500 years ago through an accidental encounter between two species of yeast. The yeast strains now used to brew pilsner can all be traced back to that time. This is the conclusion reached by TU Delft researchers based on extensive DNA analysis.

The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CEA) has announced that it has elected Mark van Loosdrecht, Professor of Environmental Biotechnology, as a member.

Clarivate has published its annual list of Highly Cited Researchers. On this list, the names of the most cited researchers in a certain field (or cross-field) can be found. This year, seven Delft researchers, or researchers who have a TU Delft affiliation, have been included.

How do you make a base on Mars? Simple: you send some bacteria to the red planet and you let them mine iron.

Researchers at TU Delft have discovered a method to stretch and compress quantum materials using hydrogen gas. They demonstrated this effect using a tiny string of a material called tungsten trioxide, which acts as a sponge for hydrogen. The research is a promising new step in the development of micromechanical resonators, which have a wide range of possible applications. They can be used in inkjet printers, as sensors for environmental conditions, and as active components in future nano-electronics.

On 20 November 2019, TU Delft will open the Industrial Catalysis Lab, a new high-tech facility that makes it possible to carry out experiments under high pressure and at high temperatures. The lab forms a bridge between industry and the academic world, where experiments are usually carried out under lower pressure and at lower temperatures. In this building, researchers led by a new professor will develop innovations in the field of catalysis. Catalysis is a technology that accelerates chemical reactions and that forms the basis for many of our plastics, fuels and fertilizers.

TU Delft's Reactor Institute Delft (RID) will get a new look in the form of new dome plating. As of 4 November, a scaffolding is being built around the dome for this purpose. Because of the shape of the dome, building the scaffolding is a specialist job. This will take a few weeks. It is expected that all 1,200 plates will be replaced in the second quarter of 2020.

What if we could use bacteria to break down plastic on a large scale? What if we could have bacteria produce biofuel more efficiently? Unfortunately, this is not yet possible, but on Monday a group of students from TU Delft presented a plan to change this in Boston. They won two prizes.

From the five Teachers of The Year, Timon Idema was chosen to represent the TNW faculty in the next round of the election. "I think that's an honour, it's nice to get recognition in this way. Certainly because I like education very much."