German Pulse

Great things are expected of the 150 German athletes participating in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London from 29 August to 9 September. One of them is Katrin Green.   The German National Paralympic Committee will be represented at the London Paralympics with 150 athletes. Track and field athlete Katrin Green is one of Germany’s [...]

Hermann Hesse is one of the most widely read German-language authors; his books are world literature classics and he is one of the most famous 20th century writers. His great literary success is based on such works as Siddharta, Steppenwolf, The Glass Bead Game or the novel about a schoolboy Beneath the Wheel. His books, [...]

The countdown for the sports event of the year has begun: London will be welcoming top sportsmen and women from around the globe to join in the XXX Olympiad which starts on 27 July 2012. The Olympic Flame of the 2012 Summer Games will continue to burn at the British capital’s Olympic Stadium until 12 [...]

What, even the rich ride them?” she asks. “Yes, even rich people ride them.” My aunt from Istanbul can’t believe it. “What do their customers think when they see their investment banker riding a bike?” I say: “They probably think – look at that big head, showing off his wealth. Riding an expensive bike while [...]

Today’s world is looking more and more like a global information society. With just a few mouse clicks on the Internet we can find news, gather information or send messages. But there’s a long way to go before everyone can use this knowledge and gain access to education via the web. About 800 million people [...]

Germany is aiming to underscore its pioneering role in climate protection: the German Government has applied for Bonn to become the seat of the new Green Climate Fund’s headquarters (GCF). Germany is the world’s second largest contributor to climate projects. By accommodating the head office of the GCF in Bonn, Germany wants to assume suitable [...]

It is one of the world’s most successful programmes for cultural exchange: in 2012 UNESCO is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. That’s why people around the globe will be focusing this year on the significance of the convention for cultural cooperation. Germany is also planning a variety of world heritage celebration [...]

The cat is out of the bag at last in Kassel. For a long time the theme of documenta 13 was a well-kept secret, but now the final preparations for this major international art event are underway. The art world will be gathering in Kassel again from 9 June 2012. Every five years, the city [...]

They develop a pocket-size medical microscope from a smartphone, analyze the behaviour of football fans in the stadium based on the principle of swarm intelligence, or invent a mucking-out machine for horse stables – in other words, original solutions for everyday activities. When Germany’s most talented young scientists present their research results at the “Jugend [...]

Google’s going green! Well, at least the Internet company’s new headquarters is. It will be built by a team led by top German architect Christoph Ingenhoven (photograph). Google spokesperson Jordan Newman puts it this way: “We have asked them to build the most green, sustainable building possible.” Construction work will begin in 2012, right next [...]