Insights

#AskDifferent 48 - Exposure to stress affects us in remarkably different ways — and neuroscientist Dr Sarah Ayash, Einstein Independent Researcher at Charité – Universitätsmedizin, is on a mission to find out why. Her research with mice reveals how individuals can respond very differently to the same social stressor: some become vulnerable, others remain resilient, and a surprising third group fails to learn to recognise threat at all. By uncovering the brain mechanisms behind these responses, Ayash shows that resilience is not a fixed trait but an active, learnable process. She also emphasises that mild, manageable stress is essential for strengthening our “psychological immune system” — and that avoiding stress altogether is counterproductive.

#AskDifferent 47 - In this episode of #AskDifferent, political scientist and Einstein Visiting Fellow Tomila Lankina explores why open resistance to Russia’s war against Ukraine remains so limited. Drawing on her forthcoming book To Live for Freedom: A History of Dissent in Russia, she traces centuries of dissent—from religious nonconformists to today’s small anti-war networks—and shows how deep social divisions and a tradition of “running away”, both literally and metaphorically, have weakened collective protest. Lankina shares her archival discoveries, contrasts Russian apathy with Ukrainian civic mobilization, and explains why Berlin is a crucial base for her research. Her message to Russians: dissent needs numbers—so keep fighting.

AskDifferent #40 – The human liver has an extraordinary ability to regenerate – a phenomenon that was even described in Greek mythology. But what happens when these self-healing powers aren't enough for patients with chronic liver diseases? In this episode of AskDifferent, we dive into groundbreaking research on liver regeneration with stem cell expert Ludovic Vallier from the Berlin Institute of Health. Vallier and his team are developing innovative organoid models—miniature livers grown from stem cells—that could revolutionize treatments and drug testing. Tune in to explore the science behind liver regeneration and the future of medical breakthroughs.