Exciting experiments with yeast and high-tech: Future Day 2025

This year’s “Forsche-Schüler-Tag” (Future Day) once again brought young science enthusiasts to the Beutenberg Campus in Jena – including a hands-on program at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), with active contributions from the Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse".

In small groups, the students explored fascinating aspects of microbiology through interactive experiments and demonstrations. One of the questions they tackled: Can electricity be generated from mud? Using microbial fuel cells, they discovered that microorganisms are indeed capable of producing renewable electrical energy.

Other highlights included the synthesis of fluorescent dyes that glow under UV light – a technique researchers use to visualize biological processes – and microscope observations of fungi interacting with lung epithelial cells, offering insights into infection mechanisms.

The extraction of pigments from leaves revealed the diversity of plant-based dyes, while the “Yeast in Action” station showcased the biotechnological power of yeast – from bread baking to gas production in a self-made yeast volcano.

At the “Candida Clash: Attack of the Hyphae” station, students explored how normally harmless fungi living in and on our bodies can become dangerous pathogens. They learned under which conditions Candida species shift from benign to harmful, causing serious infections.

The “Quantifying Life” station brought them face to face with one of the biggest challenges in microbiome research: How do you measure life you cannot see? Researchers shared how they catalog microbial diversity and use advanced computer programs to visualize infection dynamics – turning invisible processes into tangible knowledge.

Through all activities, the Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse" helped communicate how microorganisms shape our health and environment – and how curiosity-driven research opens doors to understanding the unseen.

Future Day 2025 proved once again: Science is fun, full of surprises, and often hides its most fascinating stories in the tiniest of life forms. We can’t wait for the next edition!