Videos
Children who struggle to connect with their caregivers because the latter are glued to their smartphones; millions of people who project their sense of existence onto their social media accounts; and many more who escape reality through daily gaming. Joachim Bauer sees these striking phenomena as a loss of touch with reality and a threat to humanity. According to Bauer, the philosophical framework underpinning these phenomena is so-called transhumanism – the merging of man and machine. In the near future, he argues, humans will be able to have their minds ‘uploaded’ onto a computer and thus achieve immortality. In his lecture, he presents arguments that expose these narratives as a regression beyond the Enlightenment and emphasises: ‘Human beings derive their value not from cognitive feats, but from themselves’.
The immune system is the only mobile organ: immune cells constantly patrol the entire body, scanning their surroundings. The immune system plays a role in every disease – which makes it all the more important to understand this complex defence system in its entirety. The Heidelberg-based immunologist Stefan Meuer has made a significant contribution to research into human immune cells over the past few decades. Meuer describes his field as a ‘game-changer’ in medicine over the last 30 years. In his lecture, he will provide insights into advances in rheumatology drugs, immunotherapies and the latest findings in transplant medicine.
Germany’s forests are in a worse state than they have been for a long time. Climate change – with rising temperatures, droughts and extreme weather events – is bringing about major changes in a short space of time. Forests are falling ill, becoming weakened and falling victim to insects, fungal diseases and storms. Heidelberg’s municipal forest is also feeling the effects of climate change. During the drought-stricken summer of 2022, it carried out around 75 per cent less photosynthesis than in previous years. The talk highlights what sustainable and forward-looking forest management must look like and what we as humans can do for nature. Forestry scientist Dr Lutz Fähser developed an eco-socially oriented concept of ‘near-natural forest management’ in Lübeck’s municipal forest. To this day, he continues to support forest-related projects in over 30 countries.
Flying has always fascinated humankind. Even Leonardo da Vinci wanted to emulate the birds with his flying machines. Countless stories revolve around flying – from Icarus to Harry Potter and even Father Christmas. In his new book *Flights of Fancy* (2021), Richard Dawkins addresses a young audience specifically, though it can also be read by adults. He aims to inspire young people with an interest in scientific topics and encourage them to grow into self-determined individuals. Richard Dawkins, born in 1941, is one of the most influential evolutionary biologists of our time. However, he achieved worldwide fame through his outspoken and highly polarising criticism of religion.
ChatGPT is currently the talk of the town – because the chatbot can compose complete, complex texts with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Is this a turning point for university teaching? There is a fear that many students could use ChatGPT to produce seminar papers at the touch of a button. However, Robert Lepenies, a political scientist and economist, would not cast general suspicion on anyone, as young people want to learn! Rather, ChatGPT could revolutionise the way students interact with course materials and lecturers. For example, it can answer individual questions, even in large lecture groups. However, a balanced approach is needed, one that combines technology with human interaction. Lecturers should guide the learning process and encourage critical thinking.
In the beginning was light – around 13.8 billion years ago, the history of our cosmos began with the Big Bang. How could stars and galaxies suddenly emerge from the darkness? What did the light of that first day look like? The Heidelberg astrophysicist Hans-Walter Rix has been asking himself these questions for over two decades. The James Webb Space Telescope, which has been orbiting in space since 2021, is now transmitting images that he has been waiting for for years. They show what the universe looked like after the Big Bang and provide unprecedented insights into the galaxy. The lecture takes us on a journey through time, exploring the history of the universe and explaining how many stars were already part of the first galaxies, and whether we now need to revise our understanding of the Big Bang theory. Prof. Dr Hans-Walter Rix is Director of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg. He researches the formation of galaxies, their structure and dynamics, and is involved in major international astrophysics projects run by NASA and ESA.
In the beginning was light – around 13.8 billion years ago, the history of our cosmos began with the Big Bang. How could stars and galaxies suddenly emerge from the darkness? What did the light of that first day look like? The Heidelberg astrophysicist Hans-Walter Rix has been asking himself these questions for over two decades. The James Webb Space Telescope, which has been orbiting in space since 2021, is now transmitting images that he has been waiting for for years. They show what the universe looked like after the Big Bang and provide unprecedented insights into the galaxy. The lecture takes us on a journey through time, exploring the history of the universe and explaining how many stars were already part of the first galaxies, and whether we now need to revise our understanding of the Big Bang theory. Prof. Dr Hans-Walter Rix is Director of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg. He researches the formation of galaxies, their structure and dynamics, and is involved in major international astrophysics projects run by NASA and ESA.
