Elephants & Butterflies

Mitochondria are the cell’s powerhouses, but they can also drive cells to commit suicide. Neurologist Philipp Mergenthaler is looking for biochemical mechanisms that prevent cell death in stroke patients and people with rare mitochondrial diseases.

Financial mathematician Peter Friz specializes in one of the most promising fields of mathematics: the theory of rough paths. Developed to a large extent in Berlin, this theory has the potential to make financial markets more stable. 

Philosopher Alva Noë believes that we perceive using our whole body. He brings together dancers and natural scientists to explore the transformative power of art, and contest neurocentric views of the mind.

Emotions inhabit an interstitial world. Julia Weber analyses experimental literature in order to explore their affective nuances which can help enrich our emotional spectrum

Our brain effortlessly distinguishes words from noise – but how does this work? Neuroscientist David McAlpine studies the neural basis of hearing.

Mathematician Gary Froyland uses observational data and models of dynamic systems to understand the evolution of complex processes.

Are nerve cells self-willed? To better understand their information processing, Susanne Schreiber develops mathematical models and tracks down their biophysics.

Behavioral economist Bertil Tungodden is aiming to show how people perceive fairness in different ways, and how this influences their behavior.

How can we explain adequate behavior in social situations? Psychologist Marcel Brass uses behavioral experiments and neuroscientific methods to investigate social intelligence.

The RAS gene is a mysterious protein, and causes canter. Oncologist Channing Der co-discovered it in the 1980s. With his arduous research, he has made a big contribution to better therapies.

Moral philosopher R. Jay Wallace takes a close look at the rules, norms and agreements which are fundamental to our social relationships and society as a whole.