The structure of the world and the universe

"The Universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." - Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960), English writer

The origin, shape, and structure of the universe as well as the cosmic processes on which it is based raise questions, which have fascinated and motivated humankind since antiquity.

The year 2000 marks the one-hundredth anniversary of Max Planck’s discovery of electromagnetic radiation quantization. The development of quantum theory was based on Planck’s discovery. At that time, experiments with single atoms and the visualization of quantum processes were totally inconceivable.

Plasmas are often designated as the fourth state of matter. A plasma is an ionized gas consisting of electrons and ions. It is the most subordinate state of matter.

Researchers observe distant celestial bodies with unmanned space probes. The Rosetta Mission will begin in 2003. Its destination is the comet P/Wirtanen. Research should provide insights into the origins of our solar system.

Researchers want to understand how materials are circulated and how humans affect these processes in the complex system of the earth. Measuring devices on satellites, airplanes, balloons, ships, and land have collected chemical and physical measurements of the Indian Ocean in an international project known as INDOEX. The evaluation of the data will make it possible to better understand the influence of pollutants on climate and weather.