Science usually takes ist time – sometimes even decades. For example, scientists were unable to detect the famous Higgs boson until 2012 – almost 50 years after its existence had been predicted. One of the reasons for the long wait was that suitable measurement technology was not available – after all, the particle decays after just 10 – 22 seconds. But not all natural processes occur very fast: some take a more leisurely pace. This in turn also slows down the acquisition of knowledge. It also takes considerable time if researchers have to collect data over years in order to get a clear picture. Intensive research thus sometimes requires patience and perseverance as the examples of climate research and medicine in our cover story reveal.
