They can’t talk, but they do offer answers: Geophysicist Serge Shapiro uses seismic waves to coax the secrets out of deep layers of stone. Thanks to his invention, it will not be necessary to drill as much to explore underground reservoirs in the future.

Imagine storing a thousand times more information on your hard disk: Miniaturization of devices is an important goal in contemporary science and technology. Data storage devices form the cornerstone of the technologically advanced world that we live in. In current data storage devices information is currently stored at the macroscopic level, but the ultimate aim is to be able to store information in individual molecules. So far this vision has remained beyond the reach of scientists.

It’s just a word, but for Peter Szondi it made all the difference: The institute to be founded in December 1965 at Freie Universität would not be called merely the “Seminar for Comparative Literature” but rather the “Seminar for General and Comparative Literature.”

The Botanic Garden in Berlin’s Dahlem district is known for its rare and exotic plants, such as titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), the world’s largest flower, which blooms only every couple of years, with a meters-tall inflorescence – and a distinctive odor of carrion, which has also earned it the name “corpse flower.”

Talking in coherent sentences about experiences, hopes, and goals – according to the European framework of reference for languages, language learners have to be able to do this at a certain level of learning. Muhammed’s German language skills are not yet quite up to the task; he still feels more comfortable in English at this point.

The two scholars agree that the atmosphere here is perfect for dedicating yourself to research. Both scholars are using this semester-long visit to make great progress in their respective projects. 

The Research Alumni Program at Freie Universität offers doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers from abroad grants for research stays at Freie Universität.