Goethe-Universit盲t 鈥� Press releases

Aug 8 2025

09:06

Frankfurt physicists observe coupled quantum zero-point motion of a molecule鈥檚 atoms

Molecules in the Spotlight: Snapshots Reveal the Eternal Dance of Particles

Researchers at 看片软件 Frankfurt have, for the first time, directly visualized the so-called quantum zero-point motion in a larger molecule. This motion is exhibited by particles even at absolute zero temperature. In a collaborative experiment with the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, the University of Hamburg, the European XFEL, and other partners, they managed to make this 鈥渆ternal dance" of the atoms visible. The discovery was made possible by the COLTRIMS reaction microscope developed in Frankfurt, which is capable of reconstructing molecular structures. The findings have now been published in the journal Science.

FRANKFURT. Most of us find it difficult to grasp the quantum world: According to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, it's like observing a dance without being able to see simultaneously exactly where someone is dancing and how fast they're moving 鈥� you always must choose to focus on one. And yet, this quantum dance is far from chaotic; the dancers follow a strict choreography. In molecules, this strange behavior has another consequence: Even if a molecule should be completely frozen at absolute zero, it never truly comes to rest. The atoms it is made of perform a constant, never-ending quiet dance driven by so-called zero-point energy.

First direct measurement of correlated zero-point motion
For a long time, these patterned zero-point movements were considered impossible to measure directly. However, scientists at 看片软件 Frankfurt and partner institutions have now succeeded in doing precisely that at the world's largest X-ray laser, the European XFEL in Hamburg, Germany. They captured the 鈥渄ance of the atoms" by shining a 鈥渟potlight" on individual molecules and taking snapshots of their atoms 鈥� revealing each atom's precise choreography.

Professor Till Jahnke from the Institute for Nuclear Physics at 看片软件 Frankfurt and the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg explains: 鈥淭he exciting thing about our work is that we were able to see that the atoms don't just vibrate individually, but that they vibrate in a coupled manner, following fixed patterns. We directly measured this behavior for the first time in individual medium-sized molecules that were also in their lowest energy state. This zero-point motion is a purely quantum mechanical phenomenon that cannot be explained classically." Instead of choreography, physicists speak of vibrational modes. While the motion patterns of molecules with two or three atoms are fairly easy to follow, it quickly becomes complex with medium-sized molecules 鈥� like the studied iodopyridine, which consists of eleven atoms. Iodopyridine features a whole repertoire of 27 different vibrational modes 鈥� from ballet to tango to folk dance.

鈥淭his experiment has a long history," says Jahnke. 鈥淲e originally collected the data in 2019 during a measurement campaign led by Rebecca Boll at the European XFEL, which had an entirely different goal. It wasn't until two years later that we realized we were actually seeing signs of zero-point motion. The breakthrough came through collaboration with our colleagues from theoretical physics from the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science in Hamburg. Beno卯t Richard and Ludger Inhester, in particular, came up with new analysis methods that elevated our data interpretation to an entirely new level. Looking back, many puzzle pieces had to come together perfectly."

Explosion reveals molecular structure
But how can you capture an image of dancing particles? Using a technique called Coulomb Explosion Imaging, molecules are triggered to undergo a controlled explosion by ultrashort, high-intensity X-ray laser pulses, allowing high-resolution images of their structure to be generated. The X-ray pulse knocks many electrons out of the molecule, causing the atoms 鈥� now positively charged 鈥� to repel each other and fly apart in a fraction of a trillionth of a second. The fragments are recorded by a special apparatus that measures their time and position of impact, enabling the reconstruction of the molecule's original structure. This COLTRIMS reaction microscope has been developed over the past decades by 看片软件's Atomic Physics group. A version tailored specifically to the European XFEL was built by Dr. Gregor Kastirke during his PhD work. Seeing the device in action is something special, Kastirke says: 鈥淲itnessing such groundbreaking results makes me feel a little proud. After all, they only come about through years of preparation and close teamwork."

New insights into the quantum world
The results provide entirely new insights into quantum phenomena. For the first time, researchers can directly observe the complex patterns of zero-point motion in more complex molecules. These findings demonstrate the potential of the Frankfurt-developed COLTRIMS reaction microscope. 鈥淲e're constantly improving our method and are already planning the next experiments," says Jahnke. 鈥淥ur goal is to go beyond the dance of atoms and observe in addition the dance of electrons 鈥� a choreography that is significantly faster and also influenced by atomic motion. With our apparatus, we can gradually create real short films of molecular processes 鈥� something that was once unimaginable."

Publication: Beno卯t Richard, Rebecca Boll, Sourav Banerjee, Julia M. Sch盲fer, Zoltan Jurek, Gregor Kastirke, Kilian Fehre, Markus S. Sch枚ffler, Nils Anders, Thomas M. Baumann, Sebastian Eckart, Benjamin Erk, Alberto De Fanis, Reinhard D枚rner, Sven Grundmann, Patrik Grychtol, Max Hofmann, Markus Ilchen, Max Kircher, Katharina Kubicek, Maksim Kunitski, Xiang Li, Tommaso Mazza, Severin Meister, Niklas Melzer, Jacobo Montano, Valerija Music, Yevheniy Ovcharenko, Christopher Passow, Andreas Pier, Nils Rennhack, Jonas Rist, Daniel E. Rivas, Daniel Rolles, Ilme Schlichting, Lothar Ph. H. Schmidt, Philipp Schmidt, Daniel Trabert, Florian Trinter, Rene Wagner, Peter Walter, Pawel Ziolkowski, Artem Rudenko, Michael Meyer, Robin Santra, Ludger Inhester, and Till Jahnke: Imaging collective quantum fluctuations of the structure of a complex molecule. Science (2025) DOI: 10.1126/science.adu2637

Images for download:

Caption: Ultrashort, high-intensity X-ray laser pulses trigger controlled explosions of molecules 鈥� making it possible to capture high-resolution images of molecular structures (image: Till Jahnke).

Further information
Prof. Dr. Till Jahnke
Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics Heidelberg
and
Institute for Nuclear Physics
看片软件 Frankfurt
+49 (0)69 798 47023
till.jahnke@xfel.eu

Editor: Dr. Phyllis Mania, Science Editor, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Tel +49-(0)69 798-13001, Fax 069 798-763-12531, mania@physik.uni-frankfurt.de

Jul 29 2025

11:50

Major Research Network on Religious Coexistence 鈥� LOEWE Research Cluster on Tissue Self-Regulation 鈥� Joint LOEWE Research Cluster on Medical Technology with TU Darmstadt

看片软件 Awarded Hessen鈥檚 Only LOEWE Center in the Current Funding Round

看片软件 Frankfurt has been successful with several proposals in the Hessian State Offensive for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence (LOEWE): the religion research project 鈥淒ynaRel" will receive 鈧�19 million in funding over the next four years as the only LOEWE Center in the 18th funding round. The new LOEWE Research Cluster 鈥淟ipid Space," which investigates the role of lipophilic substances in tissue self-regulation, will also receive 鈧�4.3 million over four years. 看片软件 is also a partner in the medical technology LOEWE Research Cluster 鈥淢ultiDrug-TDM", led by TU Darmstadt, and will also receive funding in the LOEWE-Exploration line for a physics project on the structure of water in nanopores.

FRANKFURT. 鈥淭his is a significant success 鈥� for our colleagues, for our university as a whole, and for the strategic Rhine-Main Universities alliance," said 看片软件 President Prof. Enrico Schleiff. 鈥淭his success highlights both the breadth of research conducted at 看片软件 and how we are addressing the major questions of our time. I am extremely pleased that the long-term preparation has borne fruit in the form of a LOEWE Center. The funding is a strong signal: In addition to acknowledging the outstanding work of those involved, the decision also confirms the trust in and the strategic further development of the humanities 鈥� which deliver such essential contributions to understanding and shaping our coexistence. 'DynaRel' strengthens our 'Universality and Diversity' profile area and firmly establishes the socially and politically relevant topic of interreligious relations as a central research focus at our university. I am proud of my colleagues and look forward to implementing the project 鈥� even more so since it also reinforces RMU thanks to our link to Mainz.

鈥淎n innovative research approach in the life sciences is also being funded," Schleiff continued, adding that, 鈥�'Lipid Space' builds new connections between molecular basic research and our Clusters of Excellence CPI and SCALE. This fits perfectly into our 'Science for Health' profile area and develops it strategically. The funding of the LOEWE Research Cluster 'MultiDrug-TDM', which is led by TU Darmstadt and in which 看片软件 is involved, also underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration across university boundaries: groundbreaking medical technology is being developed here that could significantly improve life-saving therapies. All of this 鈥� including the funding of a LOEWE-Exploration project by our physicists 鈥� illustrates just how broad and well-networked our research is."

The LOEWE Center 鈥淒ynaRel 鈥� Dynamics of the Religious: Ambivalent Neighborhoods between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in Historical and Contemporary Contexts" is the only center in Hesse to be funded in the current round and the second LOEWE Center with its spokesperson located at 看片软件 (the other one is the 鈥淔rankfurt Cancer Institute"). 鈥淒ynaRel" investigates the diverse and complex religious, cultural, and political dynamics between the three major monotheistic religions. Central to this approach is the concept of 鈥渁mbivalent neighborhoods": the project is based on the premise that it is only by addressing the close historical spatial and cultural interconnections between the religions that current questions at the intersection of religion and politics can be adequately addressed. In addition to exploring conflicts between religions, the researchers at the new center also examine how religious traditions can provide resources for engaging constructively with diversity and difference in today's pluralistic, post-migrant societies. The center also develops innovative educational concepts 鈥� and maintains a focus on multireligious coexistence in the state of Hesse and the Rhine-Main region.

Scholars from a wide range of disciplines 鈥� from religious studies to social sciences, educational sciences, as well as language and cultural studies 鈥� cooperate in the new LOEWE Center headed by 看片软件. The Universities of Marburg and Giessen are also involved, along with numerous international research institutions and non-university partners.
Funding Period: January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029: ~ 鈧�19 million
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Christian Wiese, Protestant Theology, 看片软件 Frankfurt, c.wiese@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Co-Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Armina Omerika, Language and Cultural Studies, 看片软件 Frankfurt, omerika@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Co-Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Antje R枚der, Sociology, Philipps University Marburg, roeder@uni-marbuerg.de

The LOEWE Research Cluster 鈥淟ipid Space 鈥� Temporally and Spatially Resolved Regulation of Tissue Homeostasis by Lipids in the Micro- and Nano-Environment" investigates how lipids 鈥� such as those forming cell membranes 鈥� and smaller fatty acids function as signaling molecules and contribute to tissue self-regulation. The scientists aim to understand how cells, e.g. in the heart or blood vessels, use lipids to communicate with neighboring cells, how this communication operates on the molecular level, and what causes and consequences disruptions have. The goal is to identify potential targets for the development of novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases, various types of inflammation, and cancer. The LOEWE Research Cluster, led by 看片软件 Frankfurt, brings together researchers from the University of Giessen, the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies.
Funding Period: January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029: ~ 鈧�4.3 million
Spokesperson: Prof. Ingrid Fleming, PhD, Vascular Signaling, 看片软件 Frankfurt, fleming@vrc.uni-frankfurt.de
Co-Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Andreas Weigert, Inflammatory Immunology, University of Heidelberg, andreas.weigert@medma.uni-heidelberg.de

看片软件 is also participating in the LOEWE Research Cluster MultiDrug-TDM 鈥� 鈥淧ersonalized Medical Technology for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring at the Point-of-Care in Pediatric Oncology." The research cluster focuses on the development of diagnostic blood tests that can be performed directly at the bedside of children and adolescents with cancer. The aim of MultiDrug-TDM is to develop a measurement system capable of determining the required levels of various pharmaceutical agents from minimal blood volumes. The researchers hope this will allow for much faster adjustment of drug dosages.
Funding Period: January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029: ~ 鈧�4.3 million

看片软件 is also receiving funding in the LOEWE-Exploration funding line for the project: The Most Important Liquid of Life: How Do Nanopores Lead to Ordered Structures in Water? The study of water inside carbon nanotubes is of interest for several reasons: the tubes are considered for use in water purification, but also as miniature reactors for chemical processes. They also serve as simplified model systems for molecular biological pores. Research on these tubes 鈥� which are 50,000 times thinner than a human hair 鈥� has shown that water behaves differently inside them than it does in its 鈥渇ree" form. Theoretical studies suggest that this is due to a different, specifically ordered structure of the water molecules. The project aims to experimentally verify this high degree of molecular ordering.
Principal Investigator: PD Dr. Mark Thomsen, Institute of Physics, 看片软件 Frankfurt
Funding period: 2 years; Funding amount: 鈧�300,000

The State of Hessen's LOEWE Research Funding Program
The State Offensive for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence 鈥� abbreviated by its German acronym LOEWE 鈥� includes several funding lines. The aim of funding LOEWE Centers is to further develop already established research alliances at universities and other research institutions into internationally visible research hubs. LOEWE Research Clusters [LOEWE-Schwerpunkte] support research areas in which existing expertise is to be consolidated, expanded, and further developed, with the goal of evolving into long-term research focuses. The LOEWE-Exploration funding line is designed to give researchers the freedom to pursue novel, innovative research ideas and to test hypotheses.
Further information:

Jul 8 2025

12:52

Researchers at 看片软件 Frankfurt Debunk Persistent Misinformation and Call for Protective Measures to Safeguard Native Species

Cute but Controversial: Position Paper Dispels Myths about Invasive Raccoons

Raccoons are often seen as cute and harmless wildlife 鈥� but that is a misconception. With an estimated population of 1.6 to 2 million in Germany, these invasive predators pose a serious threat to native species. Scientists from 看片软件 Frankfurt have addressed widespread misinformation in a position paper and are calling for effective protective measures. The message is clear: species protection must not be sacrificed to our fondness for 鈥渁dorable" animals.

FRANKFURT. 鈥淩accoons are native animals," 鈥淭hey reproduce faster when hunted," 鈥淓verything about raccoons has already been said" 鈥� these are just a few of the persistent myths circulating about raccoons in Germany. They have become deeply entrenched in public discourse and pose a serious challenge to nature conservation in Germany. Contrary to the widespread belief that these charming creatures are harmless newcomers, the North American raccoon is an invasive predator and a serious threat to many native animals 鈥� from birds and amphibians to bats.

There has been significant national coverage on the appearance, spread, impact, and management of raccoons. Unfortunately, this information is not always based on sound science. That's what researchers from 看片软件 and the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre are seeking to change. 鈥淭he public perception of raccoons as charismatic wildlife fails to reflect the regional ecological damage caused by this invasive species in Germany and Europe," says Prof. Dr. Sven Klimpel, head of the collaborative research project ZOWIAC (Zoonotic and Wildlife Ecological Impacts of Invasive Carnivores). Together with his colleagues, the parasitologist has reviewed popular assumptions about raccoons and subjected them to a critical fact-check. The result: a position paper that identifies nine widespread myths and provides clear evidence to refute them.

Alarming Numbers Speak for Themselves
With an estimated 1.6 to 2 million raccoons in Germany, the species has become one of the most common wild carnivores in Central Europe. 鈥淪ince 2005, the number of raccoons hunted annually has quadrupled 鈥� now over 200,000 鈥� and still the population continues to grow," explains Dr. Norbert Peter, ZOWIAC project leader. Particularly dramatic: in cities like Kassel, there are now more than100 raccoons per 100 hectares 鈥� roughly one raccoon per soccer field 鈥� representing one of the highest predator densities in Europe.

The consequences for native species are regionally devastating. Studies show that raccoons specifically target breeding sites of amphibians, reptiles, and ground-nesting birds; they often enter into a kind of 鈥渉unting frenzy", killing entire clutches 鈥� far more than they can consume. 鈥淲e are documenting a dramatic decline in sensitive species in areas with high raccoon densities," says Peter.

Myths with Fatal Consequences
Particularly problematic are widespread misconceptions: One common claim is that hunting raccoons causes them to reproduce more 鈥� a misinterpretation of a 35-year-old U.S. study. Another false belief is that raccoons live in a 鈥渕atriarchy" that hunting would disrupt. 鈥淭hese myths have real-world consequences," warns Dr. Dorian D枚rge, ZOWIAC's scientific coordinator. 鈥淭hey prevent necessary protective measures and thereby endanger already threatened native species."

Other seemingly humane alternatives, such as neutering, are not viable: with two million animals, the task is practically impossible and legally problematic, since EU regulations explicitly prohibit the release of invasive species after capture. Another issue is emotional: raccoons are perceived as especially sympathetic animals. Research shows that this positive emotional bias strongly influences public opinion 鈥� and can hinder or block necessary control measures.

Clear Policy Recommendations
The scientists call for a decisive shift in thinking: federal funding for coordinated management plans across German states, intensive hunting in protected areas with endangered species, and 鈥� above all 鈥� fact-based education rather than emotional storytelling. 鈥淲e must implement the legal requirements for species protection consistently and not let them be overridden by sympathy for charismatic animals," urges Klimpel, addressing both policymakers and the public.

The full position paper is available on ZOWIAC's website: (in German).

It is aimed at public authorities, conservation organizations, the media, and all citizens interested in fact-based information on one of Germany's most pressing conservation issues.

Picture download:
Caption: Raccoons, often perceived as 鈥渃ute", pose a real threat to native species. Photo: Paul Dierkes

Further Information:
Prof. Dr. Sven Klimpel, Dr. Dorian D枚rge, Dr. Norbert Peter
Institut f眉r 脰kologie, Evolution und Diversit盲t
Goethe-Universit盲t Frankfurt
Senckenberg Biodiversit盲t und Klima Forschungszentrum
Tel. 069 798-42237
069 798-42069
069 798-42212
klimpel@bio.uni-frankfurt.de
doerge@bio.uni-frankfurt.de
peter@bio.uni-frankfurt.de

Editor: Dr. Phyllis Mania, Science Editor, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel: +49 (0) 69 798-13001, mania@physik.uni-frankfurt.de

Jul 2 2025

09:33

First project on provenance research at the main library of 看片软件 Frankfurt reveals further demand in this area 鈥� Successor project examines rare prints 鈥� Extensive stock from Baer鈥檚 antiquarian bookstore in Frankfurt identified

Research project at University Library uncovers more Nazi plunder than expected

Since the autumn of 2020, researchers have been combing through University Library's collections in the search for books that were unlawfully confiscated from their owners during the Nazi era. In the course of the first project, which was supported by the German Lost Art Foundation and has now ended, it became apparent that the volume of looted property in the collections is larger than expected. Provenance research must continue, not least so that the rightful owners can be identified and their possessions returned to them. At a joint press conference today, 看片软件 Frankfurt and the City of Frankfurt presented the results so far and the next steps.

FRANKFURT. In the spring of 2025, University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg in Frankfurt completed its first provenance research project and has now finalized the corresponding research report. The objective was to identify books in the library's collections that were confiscated from their owners during Nazi persecution. This project was initiated by University Library and constitutes the beginning of systematic provenance research in the library's stocks that is designed to continue over many years. A further goal is to find solutions for restitution or reparation. This is foreseen in the Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art of 1998, a legally non-binding but morally and ethically international consensus aimed at identifying looted art, locating its rightful owners or their heirs and achieving a 鈥渏ust and fair solution".

Schleiff: 鈥淭he university is facing up to its history"
鈥淭he university is facing up to its history. The scientific analysis of the library's stocks is an important part of this task. From a moral standpoint, the injustice committed during the Nazi era is not time-barred. Here, we are fully committed to the Washington Principles. That is why University Library launched the first large-scale provenance research project five years ago: We wanted to know which books from expropriated property are accommodated in our library and to make amends for the injustice done in relation to the unlawful acquisition of these works. That this task will now become so much more extensive than expected poses major challenges for us," says Professor Enrico Schleiff, President of 看片软件 Frankfurt.

The project was mostly funded by the German Lost Art Foundation in Magdeburg and received additional support from the City of Frankfurt, which owns many of the books that belonged to the previous City and University Library. This was formed after World War II through the amalgamation of several libraries, including City Library. In a contract signed in 1999, the City of Frankfurt and the State of Hesse agreed that part of the stocks would remain the property of the City. Roughly estimated, this constitutes a third of the books published before 1945.

City Councilor for Culture and Science: 鈥淭he sheer number of looted books is alarming"
Dr. Ina Hartwig, City Councilor for Culture and Science: 鈥淔or a long time, the contaminated term 'Aryanization' made people think of realty, shops or businesses that were snatched from their Jewish owners. The extensive research conducted at University Library here in Frankfurt shows, however, that this interpretation is too narrow. The sheer number of looted books in the joint collections of the university and the city is alarming and their systematic analysis long overdue. The project now completed represents a first step and is the outcome of the constructive and fruitful cooperation between 看片软件 Frankfurt, University Library and the City of Frankfurt, which we want to further expand in the future."

Daniela Poth, Director of University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg: 鈥淲ith Daniel Dudde and Darleen Pappelau, we have been able to assign two very competent specialists to this task. With great interest, perseverance and care, they have taken on the detective work of tracing and documenting the books' journeys and determining their rightful owners. They have presented a magnificently systematic assessment, for which we thank them most sincerely, and we hope that they will continue provenance research at University Library with the same dedication in the future too. We also thank, of course, the Executive Board for its support at all levels."

Dr. Uwe Hartmann, Head of the Department for Cultural Property Losses in Europe in the 20th Century at the German Lost Art Foundation: 鈥淲e are delighted that with University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg another important cultural institution in Frankfurt has acknowledged its historical and moral responsibility to review its own stock in order to ascertain how books and other objects were acquired during the Nazi era. The aim here is to find out whether these were once confiscated or extorted from their rightful owners. The results of the first research project funded by the German Lost Art Foundation corroborate the extent to which University Library also benefited from the looted property of Jewish and other citizens persecuted by the Nazi regime. We wish the provenance research team every success for the second project too!"

The project was originally planned to take two years. However, it was extended by the same length of time due to the unexpectedly high amount of research required. Namely, it emerged during the course of the project that the percentage of Nazi plunder in the collections under inspection was significantly higher than first assumed. When drafting the project, the researchers based their calculations on the empirical data of comparable projects. The situation in Frankfurt, however, was quite different: As a city with a large Jewish population, Frankfurt experienced persecution and expropriation under the Nazi regime on a greater scale 鈥� from which libraries and other cultural institutions, as the recipients of expropriated cultural assets, also 鈥減rofited". That is why the percentage of Nazi plunder in Frankfurt's University Library is correspondingly higher than elsewhere.

Added to this is the fact that Frankfurt was a central hub of the Allies' restitution efforts after the end of the war: The collection point for stolen and orphaned book collections was established first of all on the premises of Frankfurt's former City and University Library and later moved as the Offenbach Archival Depot to the neighboring city. Millions of books were amassed there and, as far as possible, returned to their rightful owners worldwide. If this was not possible, the books remained temporarily in Offenbach and were then, from 1947 onwards, gradually handed over to the University of Frankfurt.

Of 75,000 books, ten percent were probably confiscated illegally
Some of the stocks that arrived at University Library during the Nazi era and in the post-war period were systematically analyzed for the first time within the first provenance research project. The project team attempted to trace their origins on the basis of stamps, bookplates and notes in the over 75,000 books that were examined in the first project phase. In the process, they discovered around 7,500 books that can be attributed to 350 different former owners and were probably confiscated illegally. Because of this high percentage, which surprised even experts, it was only possible to complete some of the individual cases.

In these first four years, many books have already been restituted, that is, returned to their rightful owners or their heirs. The restitution process varied greatly from case to case in terms of scale, duration and the solution found. In 35 cases involving a total of 90 books, it was possible to find a just and fair solution in line with the Washington Principles 鈥� including restitutions, regifts and buybacks. Books from Frankfurt's University Library were returned to private individuals in Germany and aboard as well as to a large number of organizations, among them political parties, trade unions, Jewish communities and Masonic lodges.

A particularly important case is the books from the antiquarian bookstore of Joseph Baer & Co., a Frankfurt institution of global renown that was liquidated by the Nazi state in 1934. The libraries in Frankfurt took over extensive stocks back then at a price that was far too low. Up until 1945, there were several academic libraries in Frankfurt which, as the predecessor institutions of today's University Library, together performed the role of a university library. Thanks to extensive research, it was possible within the project to investigate and systematically document this injustice for the first time. In the first project alone, the researchers working at the library identified over 5,000 books from Baer's bookstore that must be viewed as Nazi plunder. The aim now is to contact the store's heirs and arrive at a just and fair solution with them. The project team has started to search for these heirs and will continue to do so alongside its ongoing research on this case. Further important finds of Baer provenance can be expected in the successor project that started recently.

With the start of this second provenance research project, work will initially continue for a further two years. The German Lost Art Foundation has granted extensive funds for this project too. The focus is now shifting to new types of stock: Particularly in the spotlight this time are old, rare and valuable prints from the 16th to the 20th century found in special collections assembled since the 1940s. It is already considered certain that even this second project will be unable to conclude the search for Nazi plunder: University Library is preparing itself for a lengthy task.

About University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg
With its extensive stocks and collections, University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg is one of the most important academic libraries in Germany. It functions as a university library with numerous regional tasks, an academic library for the City of Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region and a specialist library as part of the nationwide supply of literature and information.

Download photographs, captions and charts:

Further Information
Dr. Mathias Jehn
Head of the Curation, Specialist Information & Educational Resources Department, University Library
Freimannplatz 1
60325 Frankfurt
Tel. +49(0) 69 798-39007
Email m.jehn@ub.uni-frankfurt.de

Jun 26 2025

11:54

Roundtable with Forensic Architecture and The Art of Counter-Investigation.聽Special Edition event in the series 鈥淎utopsies: Conversations between Collections and Research鈥�

AUTOPSIES: Modes of Counter-Investigation

FRANKFURT. How do we critically engage archives of colonial, historical, political, and racial violence? What modes of counter investigation might be employed? Researchers from Forensic Architecture (London), the project 鈥淭he Art of Counter-Investigation鈥� (Institute for Social Research, Frankfurt), and the fields of media and film studies will discuss the challenges of archival investigation in the contexts of colonial and political violence. Questions include forensic methods of investigation and counter investigation, aesthetic practices of engaging archives, issues of restitution and reparation, acts of erasure, silencing, and epistemic violence.

The event expands upon the midday Autopsies-conversation between Hans Peter Hahn (Ethnology) and A茂sha Othmann (看片软件 Library) on Frankfurt University Library鈥檚 Koloniales Bildarchiv.

Audience members are asked to screen in advance Forensic Architecture鈥檚 project video, freely available here:

The public event takes place on

Wednesday July 2, 2025, 6:15 - 7:45 pm,
Lecture Hall Center, Room HZ 9,
Campus Westend, 看片软件 Frankfurt.
Admission is free.

Roundtable Participants:

Agata Nguyen Chuong (she/her) is an advanced researcher at Forensic Architecture and project lead of FA鈥檚 research into the Ovaherero and Nama genocide.

Laliv Melamed is professor of digital film culture at 看片软件, Frankfurt. She received her PhD from New York University and specializes in documentary and non-fiction film and media. She is the author of Sovereign Intimacy: Private Media and the Traces of Colonial Violence (University of California Press, 2023).

Felix Trautmann is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Social Research and currently works in the research project 鈥淭he Art of the Counter-Investigation鈥� (IfS Frankfurt and HfG Offenbach) on artistic investigations of right-wing violence in contemporary Germany.

Franziska Wildt is a research associate at the Institute for Social Research in Frankfurt. She co-directs the Working Group 鈥淎esthetics and Media Cultures鈥�.

The series 鈥淎utopsies鈥� (etymologically: 鈥渢o see with one鈥檚 own eyes鈥�) examines sources and objects from Frankfurt University Library鈥檚 special collections, primarily through critical first-hand observation. Collection curators engage with humanities scholars in a series of conversations that highlight intersecting research questions between scholars in the humanities and the curators of Frankfurt Library鈥檚 collections. Frankfurt University Library houses a large holding of historical materials and unique pieces. These include medieval to modern manuscripts, archival materials and estates, as well as non-textual materials such as image collections.

Further information about this and other FZHG series is available here:

Information:
Dr. Nathan Taylor
Frankfurt Humanities Research Centre
n.taylor@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Tel: +49 (0)69 798 32113

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Press releases

看片软件 PR & Communication Department聽

Molecules in the Spotlight: Snapshots Reveal the Eternal Dance of Particles

看片软件 Awarded Hessen鈥檚 Only LOEWE Center in the Current Funding Round

Cute but Controversial: Position Paper Dispels Myths about Invasive Raccoons

Research project at University Library uncovers more Nazi plunder than expected

AUTOPSIES: Modes of Counter-Investigation