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Look up the word „mortar“ and you find more than one meaning. In military terms, it once described an older type of gun. Today it often means a shell-launching mortar[1]. …

Many commercially available plastics are, by nature, hard and brittle at room temperature. Only the addition of special additives, known as plasticizers, enables their processing and use for everyday consumer …

Nature shows us how it is done. Saponins, lecithins and phospholipids are plant compounds found in legumes, chestnuts, nuts and many other species. Despite their chemical differences, these substances share …

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are organic compounds that are harmful to humans and animals and degrade only very slowly in the environment. They contaminate air, soil and water and can …

Corrosion is a global problem. Steel structures in particular are affected, such as bridges and load-bearing structures, but also industrial plants, railway tracks, pipelines, vehicles, and machinery. In 2009, the …

The “Archimedean screw,” invented by the ancient mathematician and engineer Archimedes of Syracuse (c. 287–212 BC) and named after him, was used for irrigating fields and can be regarded as …

Screws, Nuts, and Threads – a Brief Overview What do a toothpaste tube, a jar of jam, a water bottle, and a light bulb have in common? A screw connection. …

Releasing What Was Once Firmly Bonded “They stick together like pitch and sulphur” – this well-known saying describes the behaviour of many industrial, plastic and polymer adhesives: the aim is …

How Hydroxide and Hydronium Ions Ensure Cleanliness in the Bathroom Hygiene plays a more important role than ever in the current situation. Regular hand washing, social distancing, respiratory hygiene and …

How Hot Is It Really? The air that surrounds us everywhere affects our comfort and well-being through its temperature. If it is too hot or too cold, we feel uncomfortable. …