25.01.2010
The Start of Nature
The hour of birth: to observe the creation of an ecosystem from the start, geologists and ecologists in Cottbus want to start from time zero. Because young ecosystems are rare, the scientists are constructing the "Hühnerwasser" artificial water catchment area in a former brown-coal mine. It is hoped that the open-air laboratory will answer important questions: How does new life form in the soil? What influence do microorganisms and water have during this process? And how does the soil structure change? To project page
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The Start of Nature: Episode 10, 25/01/2010
Virtual Growth
A lot of work has already been done to explain the development of the ecosystem in the Hühnerwasser watershed, but how can the interactions between the individual findings be represented visually? And how will the researchers evaluate the results for the entire watershed? To do this, they recreate Hühnerwasser in virtual reality. Step by step they are piecing together a plethora of individual results to form a three-dimensional image of the research area – and now this will grow in parallel to the development of the real-life Hühnerwasser watershed. Also, why are there over a hundred electrodes sticking out of the ground?
18.01.2010
The Water’s Splashing
The Hühnerwasser watershed offers researchers the rare opportunity to observe the development of watercourses. How much life is there in the young streams?
11.01.2010
Taking a Bird’s Eye View
The researchers want to get an overview of what’s going on in the Hühnerwasser watershed, with a little help from a micro-drone...
14.12.2009
Waterways
Furrows, gullies and streams. What processes take place on the soil’s surface when it rains? A pink stream will reveal all…
26.10.2009
On the Matter of Life
What role does carbon play in the ecosystem and how does humus come into being? The researchers take samples that they hope will provide answers.
23.09.2009
On to New Horizons
What old soil has contained for a long time must still be formed in the Hühnerwasser: a look below the surface...
07.09.2009
Roots in the Scanner
Living underground: A unique insight into how roots grow, but how can you see underground?
06.08.2009
On Course for Growth
Canadian fleabane, Black Locust and water bears – there are now well over 100 plant species living in the new ecosystem and the number of animal species is on the increase too. How do they get on with each other?
13.07.2009
The South Welzow Oasis
Things have been happening in the Hühnerwasser: Plants are growing along the shores of a small lake. The researchers’ hopes have been vindicated, and ground water is collecting...
30.06.2009
At the Start Is...Water
Time zero: the "Hühnerwasser" artificial water catchment area in the former brown-coal open-pit mine south of Cottbus. Here, the researchers plan to study the birth of an ecosystem.The Projects
Everything about wave hunters, discrete optimisers and love à la Darwin—here, you'll experience what lies behind the individual projects as you follow the research diaries and get to know the scientists.
Function through Diversity
Pioneering work in China: The largest ever forest experiment on biodiversity
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