Archive of Events

The European Commission announced its decision to further investigate whether the recent reforms of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal and Public Service Broadcasters are consistent with the rule of law, a common value of the EU. At the same time the Council of Europe´s Venice Commission investigates the reforms at the request of the Foreign Minister of Poland. Are the new mechanism and the evaluation by an expert body fit to protect European constitutional values? [more]

For the first time, scientists have observed ripples in the fabric of space-time, so-called gravitational waves, arriving at the earth from a cataclysmic event in the distant universe. The discovery confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s 1915 general theory of relativity and opens new possibilities for gaining a better understanding of the universe. [more]

This very special Einstein Lecture presented by Freie Universität Berlin und Max Planck Society is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Einstein presenting his general theory of relativity. [more]

The science of light is the basis for key technologies, which have already produced a whole host of applications. One of the most commercially promising areas of photonics research is the communications sector. Laser-equipped satellites are a highly promising candidate for global quantum communication, which could bring about a revolution in IT security. What are the prospects of this new technology? [more]

2 degrees Celsius? What is still achievable in climate protection? Book launch and discussion in Berlin. The Kyoto Protocol, one of the most important climate protection treaties, came into effect in 2005. However, its goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions as the main cause of increased global warming continues to pose a challenge for international politics. In industrialised countries, CO2 emissions are still rising. The question of what can be demanded of developing and emerging economies is, as yet, unsettled. [more]