January 28–29, 2026 at the Community Center of the XLAB Foundation, Göttingen
This year’s Science Festival took place at the new XLAB Foundation community center. To mark the opening of the center, outstanding scientists were invited to share insights into their research—ranging from contemporary European history and super-resolution microscopy to hearing research, astrophysics, and RNA viruses. Speakers also included Prof. Tobias Moser, Director of the Institute for Auditory Neuroscience. He showed how astonishingly precise hearing is organized physically and biologically, and where it typically “breaks down.” Hair cells convert the tiniest mechanical vibrations into electrical signals, and the downstream synapses act as high-performance transmitters with extremely precise timing. This mechanism also reveals targets for therapies, ranging from molecular repair and gene therapy to improved cochlear implants. A particularly forward-looking approach is the “optical cochlear implant” with optogenetic stimulation, which promises more precise activation of the auditory nerve than traditional electrical stimulation.
