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Prof. Dr. Torsten Schaub. Photo: Thomas Roese.

The Universal Problem Solver – “AI Made in Potsdam” on its Triumphal Procession around the World

People have always had to solve tricky problems. But with the accumulation of more and more data, new challenges have emerged that are often too …
Prof. Peter van der Beek. Photo: T. Schildgen.

The Ups and Downs of Mountains – Peter van der Beek, guest scientists at the University of Potsdam, obtains an ERC Advanced Grant

The internationally well-known geologist Prof. Peter van der Beek who is currently a guest professor and scientist at the Institute for Geosciences …
Photo: Mike Thornton.

“Curiosity Is the Most Important Personality Trait of a Researcher” – Philip Wigge Is Interested in How Plants Sense Temperature

When we feel cold, we get goosebumps and put on warm clothes. When it’s very hot, we start to sweat. Plants, too, sense the temperature and use this …
Graphic: Andreas Töpfer

“Alexa, are you intelligent?” – Artificial Intelligence and What We Need It For

When you ask e-commerce giant Amazon’s virtual assistant about its intelligence, you will hear, “Yes, I think, therefore I am.” Alexa has learned …
Brigitte Duvinage with students in the lab. Photo: Karla Fritze.

Not without Experiments – Brigitte Duvinage prepares prospective chemistry teachers for everyday school life

The Chinese philosopher Confucius put it in a nutshell: “Tell me, and I will forget; show me, and I may remember; involve me, and I will understand.” …
Prof. Dr. Jana Eccard. Photo: Thomas Roese

Every Individual is Different – Biologists explore the individual behavior of small mammals

In the ancient fables of the Greek poet Aesop, animals have a character. The rural mouse is careful and has problems being around people. The urban …

Luminous Gas Halos – Astrophysicists research galaxy envelopes in the young universe

It is a journey to the beginning of our being. The hunt for galaxies in the young universe and for what surrounds these heavenly worlds is in full …
Simon Schneider and Yannick Garcin. Photo: Corinna Kallich

The Mystery of the Rainforest – Geoscientists show that humans were already shaping the central African landscape 2,600 years ago

Fields, roads, and towns but also forests planted in neat rows, and dead-straight rivers: people shape nature to better suit their purposes. The fact …
Which team will win is also a matter of probability. Photo: Thomas Roese.

Goals, Teams, and Theory – Mathematician Ulrich Kortenkamp brings together probability calculation and soccer

For some, soccer is a bore, since not much is going on. Others follow “their” team every weekend. Ulrich Kortenkamp is a soccer fan and Professor of …
Rädertierchen

Interplay of Nature – How biodiversity relates to ecological dynamics

Biodiversity is rapidly declining worldwide, on land and in the water. In Germany alone, a quarter of all plants and a third of all animal species are …