Hans Meinhardt, a pioneer in the field of theoretical biology, died on 11 February 2016 in Tübingen. He made numerous important contributions to developmental biology by spearheading the use of mathematical models to investigate the logic of patterning in complex biological systems. His work expanded our understanding of the mechanisms behind diverse biological processes, from the generation of...

In the first decade of the 20th century, a horse named Hans drew worldwide attention in Berlin as the first and most famous "speaking" and thinking animal. Hans solved calculations by tapping numbers or letters with his hoof in order to answer questions. Later on, it turned out that the horse was able to give the correct answer by reading the microscopic signals in the face of the questioning p...

Biomass, which represents both cellulosic and non-cellulosic materials, contains the most abundant source of fermentable carbohydrates that can be fermented into fuels and chemicals. According to the Department of Energy (DOE) “Roadmap for Biomass Technology in the United States,” biobased transportation fuels are projected to increase from the 0.5% of U.S. consumption in 2001 to 4% in 2010, 10...