Unethical medical research under National Socialism: Leopoldina and Max Planck Society publish database for science and remembrance

Leopoldina

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There were tens of thousands of human victims of coerced medical research under the German National Socialist regime. An important approach to processing these crimes involves raising awareness of the individual fates of those affected and thus giving them back their names and histories. Professor Dr Patrick Cramer, President of the Max Planck Society, and Professor Dr Bettina Rockenbach, President of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, emphasised this point during a press conference to present the first online database that offers systematic access to the names and biographies of victims of unethical medical research under National Socialism. The database encourages remembrance, research, and historical reflection. It was developed as part of the joint research project “Brain Research at Institutes of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society in the Context of National Socialist Injustices”, which is funded by the Max Planck Society.   “History shows us what human beings are capable of when an autocratic state rejects an established humanitarian value system in favour of racist ideology and fanaticism. Science must also remember this and recommit itself to ethical principles; today’s highly specialized research must not lose sight of the human dimension. This applies especially to the MPG, given its long history in the KWG”, says Patrick Cramer, President of the Max Planck Society.  “We can only approach our societal heritage responsibly once we have conducted historical research and if we continue to do this research. Thus, the aforementioned project contributes to a culture of remembrance which is based on scientific findings. This is predominantly the achievement of the scientists who worked to comprehensively uncover the connections between the obtaining, conservation of, and research on these tissue samples”, says Bettina Rockenbach, President of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.  The database comprises around 16,000 profiles of victims of coerced medical research under National Socialism. It also comprises more than 13,000 profiles of individuals whose fates have not yet been conclusively researched. The database connects the individuals and events to primary and secondary sources, thus creating a foundation for further studies and analyses. Private persons can use the database to search for relatives. The database offers multi-level access: The victims’ names and key biographical dates are publicly visible, in line with the database’s important function as a platform for remembrance.  Information on individual experiments and the institutions involved in them are also provided at this level. In order to make the data more tangible to the general public, selected biographies illustrate the fate of individual victims. An interactive map highlights the extent and geographical distribution of the crimes. Additional, sensitive data on the history of the illnesses and persecution suffered by the victims is not accessible to the general public. The website provides a contact form for those who wish to apply for access to this additional data for research purposes. Relatives can apply for access to all the data relating to their family members.  The database is based on the extensive research carried out by Professor Dr Paul Weindling and his team at the Oxford Brookes University in Oxford/UK. He researches the history of science and medicine under National Socialism. He focuses in particular on the victims of coerced biomedical research. This includes people who were victims of medical experiments in concentration camps as well as sick people who were murdered as part of “euthanasia” programmes. Paul Weindling aims to reconstruct and raise awareness of the individual fates of affected persons.   The database is also based on the results of the research project “Brain Research at Institutes of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society in the Context of National Socialist Injustices”, funded by the Max Planck Society. During the National Socialist era, researchers from institutes of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society – the predecessor to today’s Max Planck Society – collected samples of brain tissue from the victims of “euthanasia” murders as well as from other persecuted individuals, including prisoners of war, civilians from territory occupied by the German army, and victims of the National Socialist judicial system. Many of these samples were still used for scientific purposes long after 1945. The research project examines the historical connections between the obtaining, conservation of, and research on these brain tissue samples. The project was led by Paul Weindling, Professor Dr Herwig Czech (Medical University of Vienna/Austria), Dr Philipp Rauh (as successor to Gerrit Hohendorf (deceased), both from the Technical University of Munich), and, from 2021 as co-project leader, Professor Dr Volker Roelcke (University of Gießen/Germany).  The database is published in English and is available using the following link: https://ns-medical-victims.org/  An interview with Paul Weindling about the database has been published on the Leopoldina website: https://www.leopoldina.org/en/press/newsletter/interview-database-ns-coerced-research/   Further information on the research project “Brain Research at Institutes of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society in the Context of National Socialist Injustices”: https://www.leopoldina.org/en/ueber-uns/zentrum-fuer-wissenschaftsforschung/projekte/hirnforschung/   The Max Planck Society’s project website: https://www.mpg.de/history/kws-under-national-socialism   The Leopoldina on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/leopoldina.org     The Leopoldina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationale-akademie-der-wissenschaften-leopoldina  The Leopoldina on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalakademieleopoldina  The Leopoldina on X: https://www.twitter.com/leopoldina  About the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina   As the German National Academy of Sciences, the Leopoldina provides independent science-based policy advice on matters relevant to society. To this end, the Academy develops interdisciplinary statements based on scientific findings. In these publications, options for action are outlined; making decisions, however, is the responsibility of democratically legitimized politicians. The experts who prepare the statements work in a voluntary and unbiased manner. The Leopoldina represents the German scientific community in the international academy dialogue. This includes advising the annual summits of Heads of State and Government of the G7 and G20 countries. With around 1,700 members from more than 30 countries, the Leopoldina combines expertise from almost all research areas. Founded in 1652, it was appointed the National Academy of Sciences of Germany in 2008. The Leopoldina is committed to the common good.   About the Max Planck Society  The MPG is Germany’s leading non-university research institution with 84 institutes, around 26,000 employees, and an annual budget of approximately 2.3 billion euros. Founded in 1948 as the successor to the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, it conducts outstanding research in the natural, life, and social sciences, as well as in the humanities. 29 Nobel Prizes are evidence of its leading position among research institutes. The institutes work together with leading universities and research institutions around the world and are involved in numerous international joint research projects, including in the form of the Max Planck Centers in the USA and Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe. Examining what is now more than one hundred years of scientific history of the MPG and its predecessor the KWG is part of the organisational culture, which includes a historically informed remembrance culture.

 

First dates: It’s not about the place. It’s about the people.

Location isn’t everything when forming new relationships, new UGA study finds

University of Georgia

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Dinner and a movie. Bowling. Hiking. A cup of coffee. There are so many options for where to go for a first date. But each of them comes with the worry: Is this going to go well?

It turns out location isn’t a dealbreaker, though, according to a new University of Georgia study.

The researchers randomly paired up 200 strangers in two different first date environments.

One room was adorned with comfortable furniture, decorations and nice lighting. The other space was completely the opposite: white cement walls, old wooden chairs, and junk lying around.

But the couples who met and talked in the plain space didn’t let that kill the vibe.

“It’s not necessarily the environment where the interaction is taking place that makes the biggest difference, but rather the quality of the interaction and conversation,” said Daisi Brand, corresponding author of the study and a graduate student in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. “It might not be how comfortable the space and physical surroundings are, but really how comfortable you make this other person feel.”

Great first dates depend on open, vulnerable communication

The experiment relied on the Fast-Friends Paradigm, a layered list of prompts to get to know someone. With 36 questions ranging from what you like to sing to your relationship with your mother, the prompts helped participants connect in both the comfortable and uncomfortable spaces.

“I think the reason that we didn’t find differences between these settings is because of the meaningful conversations that were happening in both spaces,” said Brand. “Participants reported knowing that they weren’t in an appealing setting, but they still felt close or romantically attracted to the other person.”

"You don’t need a moonlit cafe or magic backdrop to hit it off. A sincere conversation can matter more than the setting.”

—Richard Slatcher, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

The findings offer hope to people stressing about a first date location. The romance will speak for itself.

“Try to focus less on orchestrating the ‘perfect’ scenario and more on genuinely connecting with the person in front of you,” said Richard Slatcher, Gail M. Williamson Distinguished Professor and adviser on the study. “When two people really start engaging with each other, it seems that the surroundings take a back seat. You could have rose petals and candlelight or fluorescent lights and plain walls — it doesn’t matter that much if you’re both clicking.”

Long lasting connections can form, romantic or not, from good conversation

The study suggests that even if romantic relationships don’t come from first dates, friendships or other meaningful connections still could.

Participants surveyed a month after their first meeting reported feeling fondly toward the person they spent time with, as well as the experience itself, regardless of the space they were in.

“You can take heart that you don’t need a moonlit cafe or magic backdrop to hit it off. A sincere conversation can matter more than the setting,” Slatcher said.

"Stress less on where the first date might take place and try to focus on how you can create a space for openness and vulnerability.”

—Daisi Brand, Franklin College

Still, the setting may quietly shape how the interaction is remembered as strangers who chatted in a more comfortable space wanted to get closer to their partner when reflecting back.

While further research is needed on things like the role of temperature and food and drink, the study provides evidence that a good chat can go a long way.

“Stress less on where the first date might take place and try to focus on how you can create a space for openness and vulnerability through that dialogue,” Brand said. “When trying to form those early steps of closeness and connection, that conversation is so important. Be ready to ask meaningful questions and learn more about this person.”

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Journal

Collabra

DOI

10.1525/collabra.140690 

Article Title

“Is It (Un)romantic in Here or Is It Just Me?”: Examining the Effects of Physical Settings on Relationship Initiation Processes

 

Sepsis can kill even previously healthy people if recognized too late, finds study

More sepsis awareness among the general public and first responders could benefit more people

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

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A recent study University of Michigan led study finds that ten percent of patients hospitalized with sepsis were previously healthy—and many of those who ultimately died did so because it was too late to intervene.

The work, led by Rachel Hechtman, M.D., Hallie Prescott, M.D., and their team, focused on healthy patients as a way to tease out the effects of advanced age, comorbidities and other common risk factors on sepsis outcomes.

Using data from 66 hospitals in Michigan from more than 25,000 patients with sepsis, the team identified a subset as previously healthy, lacking major health conditions such as cancer, chronic pulmonary disease and heart failure.

Previously healthy patients tended to have less organ failure upon arrival at the hospital and more COVID-19 related sepsis (the study included data from 11/2020 – 10/2024).

Treatment for these patients differed as well, with less adherence to sepsis management practices, such as blood culture collection and timely delivery of antibiotics.

Those who unfortunately died tended to be older, and had more acute respiratory dysfunction, altered mental status and shock upon admission to the hospital.

During their course of treatment, these patients also received vasopressors and invasive mechanical ventilation more often than survivors, notes the authors.

Most of their deaths were deemed to be unpreventable due to how sick they were when they arrived at the hospital.

Overall, almost 10% of previously healthy patients with sepsis died within 90 days of hospitalization.

The study, notes the team, identifies system level opportunities to reduce the rate of death in patients with sepsis.

“Efforts to increase sepsis awareness among the public and first responders would benefit everyone. Some of these tragic deaths among previously healthy people might have been avoided if their illness had been prevented through vaccination or recognized and treated early before they got sick enough to come to the hospital,” said Hechtman.

Additional authors: Megan E. Heath, Ph.D.; Jennifer K. Horowitz, M.A.; Elizabeth McLaughlin, M.S., RN; Patricia J. Posa, R.N., B.S.N., M.S.A., CCRN; John Blamoun, M.D.; Paul Bozyk, M.D.; Megan Cahill, D.O., M.B.A., FACOEP; Rania Esteitie, M.D., FCCP, ATSF; Kevin Furlong, D.O.; Namita Jayaprakash, MB, BcH BAO, MRCEM; Jessica Jones, PharmD; Maximiliano Tamae-Kakazu, M.D.; Joan Nagelkirk, M.D.; Thomas Pfotenhauer, D.O.; Derek C. Angus, M.D., M.P.H., FRCP; Scott A. Flanders, M.D.; Elizabeth S. Munroe, M.D.

Funding/disclosures: This study was supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network as part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Value Partnerships program. R. K. H. and H. C. P. were supported by the National Institutes of Health [Grant T32HL007749-31].

Paper cited: “Epidemiologic Characteristics and Management of Sepsis Among Previously Healthy Patients,” CHEST Critical Care. DOI: 10.1016/j.chstcc.2025.100148  

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Journal

CHEST Critical Care

DOI

10.1016/j.chstcc.2025.100148 

Article Title

Epidemiologic Characteristics and Management of Sepsis Among Previously Healthy Patients

Hospitals, sanitation linked to spread of antibiotic resistance in Guatemala

Washington State University

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PULLMAN, Wash. — In Guatemalan communities, a recent visit to a health clinic or hospital — not antibiotic use — is the strongest predictor of carrying bacteria resistant to critical antibiotics, according to a new study led by Washington State University.

Previous research in Guatemala’s Western Highlands found nearly 46% of residents were colonized in the gastrointestinal tract with bacteria known as extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (ESCrE). These bacteria, often E. coli, can render the commonly used and important antibiotic ceftriaxone ineffective, complicating care for infections such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections. The new study, published in Scientific Reports, examined 951 residents from the same region to identify factors linked to ESCrE colonization.

“By identifying the most important risk factors for carrying these resistant bacteria, we can begin to target interventions where they will have the most impact,” said Dr. Brooke Ramay, the study’s lead author and an assistant research professor in the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Paul G. Allen School for Global Health. “This knowledge is critical not only for protecting communities in Guatemala but also for addressing the global threat posed by antibiotic resistance.”

While most studies on antimicrobial resistance have focused on infection and mortality, this research examined colonization — when bacteria live in or on a person without causing illness.

“We’re colonized with all types of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” Ramay said. “Being colonized isn’t necessarily harmful, but it means you can carry and spread these bacteria to others in the community or in health care facilities. And when these bacteria get into the wrong place — your bloodstream, urinary tract or other vulnerable sites, for example — they can cause serious infections.”

While the study doesn’t prove that health care visits cause colonization, it’s likely that exposure to hospitals and clinics increases the chance of picking up resistant bacteria through contact with surfaces, medical equipment, water or staff. It’s also possible that people who need medical care already have health conditions like chronic illness, diarrhea or malnutrition that make them more vulnerable to colonization.

“People who had reported going to a health care facility or a hospital for treatment for any type of illness had a much higher risk of being colonized in the gastrointestinal tract with these bacteria,” Ramay said. “This could be due to exposure to the health care environment facilitating transmission. Alternatively, this might be because inflammatory processes occurring in the gut of sick individuals make it easier for these bacteria to colonize. We are exploring this further in ongoing studies.”

The study also found urban residents and households without trash pickup were roughly twice as likely to carry the bacteria compared to rural residents or those with waste services. People using piped or well water were about 1.5 times more likely to be colonized than those using bottled water, possibly due to bacterial biofilms in water infrastructure or contamination during storage.

Contrary to common assumptions, the study found no significant link between colonization and self-reported antibiotic use.

“We’ve seen this in other projects as well,” she said. “In Guatemala, we observe significant effects of antibiotic use on antibiotic resistance in environments with improved hygiene. In households with poor hygiene, transmission factors play a much greater role in colonization risk.”

The research was completed in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and University del Valle de Guatemala as part of the broader Antimicrobial Resistance in Communities and Hospitals (ARCH) study partnership, which has research projects in six countries. ARCH studies have shown a wide range of ESCrE prevalence, ranging from 34 to 52 percent in Kenya, 29 percent in Chile, 72 percent in India, 24 to 26 percent in Botswana, 78 percent in Bangladesh and 46 percent in Guatemala. WSU is leading the ARCH efforts in both Guatemala and Kenya.

While resistant bacteria remain rare in the U.S., global travel and trade could mean they are just a flight away.

“These bacteria and the resistance genes they carry do not respect borders,” Ramay said. “By understanding and addressing colonization risk factors abroad, we can help slow their spread everywhere.”

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Journal

Scientific Reports

DOI

10.1038/s41598-025-03379-9 

Method of Research

Observational study

Article Title

Risk factors associated with community colonization of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales from an antibiotic resistance in communities and hospitals (ARCH) study, Guatemala

 

Breaking new ground in stealth technology: KRISS develops core radar components domestically

KRISS pioneers domestic innovation, achieving self-reliant technology transfer to defense sector

National Research Council of Science & Technology

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Schematic of FSS Degisn Software Developed by KRISS

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Credit: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS)

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS, President Lee Ho Seong) has successfully localized core Radar Stealth technologies through indigenous development, without reliance on foreign technologies. This achievement is a significant milestone, laying the foundation for the establishment of stealth weapon systems in Korea, which have long been difficult to import due to their classification as national strategic military assets.

As global military tensions rise and competition in advanced weapon development intensifies, the importance of developing stealth weapon systems has increased significantly. Radar stealth technology, which absorbs or scatters electromagnetic waves to avoid detection by enemy radar, is a key element for ensuring both autonomy and concealment in weapon systems. As this technology is classified as a strategic military asset in leading countries, its import, particularly software and testing equipment, is strictly restricted, highlighting the continuous need for domestic development.

KRISS has successfully developed both a Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) design software and an electromagnetic wave evaluation system for radomes*—a vital component in radar stealth systems. This is the first case in which every stage of the process, from design, prototype fabrication, to performance testing, has been accomplished entirely using domestic technology, without reliance on foreign systems.

* Radome: A radome is a structural enclosure designed to protect radar or other antenna systems from external environmental factors. Typically constructed from materials that allow designated electromagnetic waves to pass through with minimal interference, a radome shields the antenna from weather conditions (such as rain, snow, and wind) and physical impacts, while also preventing accidents involving rotating antennas.

Radomes are hemispherical structures that enclose radar and communication antennas on aircraft, missiles, or other vehicles. They must be precisely designed to protect the internal systems from external environmental conditions while allowing electromagnetic signals to pass through with minimal distortion. In defense applications, radomes are subjected to extreme conditions such as high thermal loads and intense shock during high-speed flight. As such, they must simultaneously meet multiple performance requirements, including high electromagnetic transmittance and phase stability.

The FSS in a radome functions as a type of frequency filter, designed to selectively transmit or reflect electromagnetic waves at specific frequencies. To enhance the performance of the FSS, high-performance electromagnetic simulation software is essential for accurately modeling wave transmission characteristics. However, widely used commercial software packages are associated with significant cost barriers, with licenses for individual users exceeding KRW 100 million (approx. USD 75,000) and annual maintenance fees surpassing KRW 20 million (approx. USD 15,000).

KRISS has developed new FSS design software incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and parallel computation techniques. Optimized for analyzing radome structures composed of multilayer composite materials, the software delivers over a 50-fold increase in design speed compared to conventional tools.

Furthermore, KRISS has also developed an electromagnetic wave evaluation system that enables in-house performance testing and optimization of radomes. Traditionally, the process used to take over a month to complete electromagnetic tests required to meet the stringent performance standards of defense-grade radomes. By applying artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the newly developed system enables performance measurements more than five times faster than traditional testing methods. This advancement is expected to significantly reduce both the time and cost needed to deploy radomes in operational settings.

The technology, developed through collaborative research across four KRISS research groups*, has been transferred to Korea Electrotechnology Research (KER), a company specializing in advanced defense weapon systems and precision electromagnetic measurement equipment. The technology transfer, valued at 500 million KRW, was formalized through an agreement signing ceremony held at KRISS on Tuesday, August 5

* Electromagnetic Wave Metrology Group, Emerging Research Instruments Group, Quantum Electricity and Magnetism Metrology Group, and Material Property Metrology Group.

Dr. HONG Young-Pyo, Head of the Electromagnetic Wave Metrology Group at KRISS, stated, "The technologies we have developed are not only applicable to the defense sector but also hold great potential for various radar-related industries, including mobility, maritime, and aerospace applications."

These research results were published in July in IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, the world’s leading journal in the field of electromagnetics. Additionally, the design software and measurement equipment technologies have been separately filed for patent protection.

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Journal

IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques

DOI

10.1109/TMTT.2025.3587043 

Article Title

Field-calibrated Integrated Optical Waveguide Electro-optic Probe with Segmented Electrode

Schematic of High-Speed Radome Evaluation Technology Developed by KRISS

Dr. KIM Jin-Hyeok (left) and Dr. YUN Dal-Jae (right), senior researchers at KRISS, are measuring a radome using an AI-powered antenna measurement equipment.

Dr. HWANG In-June (left) and Dr. JUNG Haewon (right) of KRISS are aligning the distance and position of an antenna for FSS measurement.

Research Team for Indigenous Development of Core Radar Stealth Design and Evaluation Technologies

(From left: Dr. JUNG Haewon, Principal Researcher; Dr. YUN Dal-Jae, Senior Researcher; Dr. HWANG In-June, Senior Researcher; Dr. LEE In-Ho, Principal Researcher; Dr. HONG Young-Pyo, Head of the Electromagnetic Wave Metrology Group; Dr. KIM Jin-Hyeok, Senior Researcher)

Credit

Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS)