23.06.2026

How does technetium become incorporated into magnetite?

Magnetite is a major corrosion product of steel under oxygen-free conditions and can play an important role in retaining radionuclides in geological repositories. In his first paper, Thomas showed how technetium can become structurally incorporated into magnetite nanoparticles and identified the conditions and charge-balancing mechanism that enable this process. By combining high-resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy with computational modeling, Thomas revealed new insights into the fate of technetium during steel corrosion – helping to better understand its long-term retention and relevance for repository safety.

22.06. – 10.07. 26

A successful start of the aquatic and environmental analytics module

The new Aquatic and Environmental Analytics module for MSc Earth Sciences students was launched with great success. Starting from the question of whether former mining activities affect the environment in the Kappler Valley, students investigated their own water and soil samples – from field sampling to laboratory analysis and interpretation of the results.

A big thank you goes to all students for their enthusiasm, curiosity, and active participation, which greatly contributed to the success of this first edition of the module.