Interviews

THe European Research Council (ERC) has awarded oncologist Prof. Dr. Dr. Sonja Loges from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf with an ERC starting grant of 1.5 million euros over the next five years. Her research aims to improve on current cancer therapies. [Read on in German . . .]

The University key research area Photon and Nanoscience includes a broad spectrum of successful projects in basic research. Topics range from magnetism, laser and quantum physics, and nanochemistry to biophysical problems such as the decoding of molecules using ultrafast lasers and state-of-the-art...

When plants are exposed to individual stimuli, they respond by transmitting signals using electric currents. During dry conditions, for example, the roots send signals to the leaves telling them to slow down photosynthesis. In a new experiment, a research team working in wood science has shown that...

More and more research data are available digitally, resulting in immense amounts of data that require secure storage. On top of this, storage technologies are developing at a fast pace. The mass of data produced by our researchers needs to be stored for the long term, archived systematically...

Every three years up-and-coming economists have the chance to meet and exchange ideas with Nobel Prize laureates during the Lindau Meeting on Economic Sciences at Lake Constance. Universität Hamburg will be represented this year too: Annemarie Paul, research associate in the Department of Economics...

Climate change is causing temperatures to rise across the globe—even in Siberia. In many places there the permafrost is in danger of thawing. What will this mean for local populations and their land-use practices? Together with an interdisciplinary team, Professor. Dr. J. Otto Habeck from the...

Even old trees absorb large amounts of carbon, removing CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the atmosphere. This was recently proven for the first time using trees from the rainforests in Surinam, as Professor Michael Köhl from Universität Hamburg’s Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN)...

Centuries-old Arabic Koran and Biblical manuscripts or fragments of Homer's Illiad: manuscripts shaped the world’s cultures long before the printed book. Even today they play an important part in many non-European cultures. [Read on in German . . .]

The informatics campus in Stellingen is home to an unusual community of researchers, students, and robots. Just like small children do at school, the robots there learn to mind their manners, show respect, and be considerate of others. [Read on in German . . .]

In April 2017 nine higher education institutions in Hamburg co-founded a port of call for doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers: The Hamburg Research Academy (HRA). Although still under construction, we asked academic director Prof. Dr. Marc Föcking and deputy managing director Elena Nendza...

Will the Gulf Stream continue to transport enough warmth to Europe? How fast will the Arctic sea ice melt? What will drive our Earth system in the future? Universität Hamburg's core research area Climate, Earth and Environment investigates fundamental questions into the processes and characteristics...

On behalf of the Ministry for Environment and Energy (BUE) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (FHH), researchers from the Center of Natural History (CeNak) at Universität Hamburg analyzed the prevalence of selected animal groups in wetland areas of Duvenwischen in the suburb of Volksdorf...

Thirty students finally had a good reason this summer semester to binge-watch their favorite TV program—in fact it was an academic requirement of a history class on the US fantasy series "Game of Thrones." The aim of instructors Prof. Dr. Barbara Müller and Prof. Christoph Dartmann was to impart...

Hamburg resarchers are undertaking a world-first experiment investigating the effects of global warming on a Hamburg island ("Hallig") in the Elb River. [Read on in German . . .]

The Stammheim Red Army Faction trial from May 1975 to April 1977 is a seminal event in German history. Lawyers, judges, defendants, and defense attorneys engaged in a war of words, defendants went on hunger strike, there was a wiretapping scandal as well as accusations that defendants had been held...

A behemoth moves house: starting today, everything in the Philturm, from its lecture halls to its libraries, will be moved to temporary quarters in Überseering 35 in City Nord. Once the tallest building (52 m) on the Von-Melle-Campus has been cleared, movers will face their next logistical...

In their pursuit of democracy, Athenians of the 4th century B.C. were avid lottery fans. And they used a sophisticated lottery machine—the cleroterion. Historian Prof. Dr. Kaja Harter-Uibopuu and her team have now reconstructed the clever contraption. [Read on in German]

Fast schon fanatisch waren die Athener des 4. Jahrhunderts v. Chr., wenn es um das Losen ging – für sie war es der Versuch, die Demokratie zur Perfektion zu treiben. Für das Losverfahren benutzten sie ein ausgefeiltes Gerät: das Kleroterion. Historikerin Prof. Dr. Kaja Harter-Uibopuu und ihr Team...

From 24–28 July 2017 leading international researchers in the field of string mathematics will be convening at Universität Hamburg for the StringMath 2017 conference to address current developments in the field. Conference organizers are expecting over 200 participants from the fields of physics...