MPR 2 /2010

Civil wars, famine, corrupt governments: Africa just doesn’t seem to be able to find peace.
Nevertheless, some positive prospects are opening up.

No, the sky is not falling, but it does occasionally rain down cosmic chunks. And these are an enrichment for research.

What goes on in the heads of zebra finches when the males and females engage in a tête-à-tête?

Machines are naturally dumb. They lack flexibility and the ability to react appropriately and at the right time. Scientists are trying to teach robots something akin to intelligence.

In December 2004, a giant wave hit the coasts of the Gulf of Bengal, wreaking catastrophic damage. But the destruction from this tsunami affected more than just nature: it also threw the economic and social order into disarray.

What is the significance of the dances of bees, which have been observed since antiquity? Karl von Frisch decoded the mystery.

Personal Portrait: James W. Vaupel