Frankfurt hat Hirn live: An Evening Full of Neuroscience
On 10 March 2026, Frankfurt once again demonstrated how much brain research is being conducted in the city: At ‘Frankfurt hat Hirn (Frankfut has brains) – live!’, scientists captivated the audience with short, engaging presentations on all aspects of the brain. Organised by the non-profit Hertie Foundation in collaboration with Frankfurt's neuroscience institutions, the event offered an entertaining and informative evening for anyone interested in learning more about current brain research.
In the special atmosphere of the St. Peter Youth Culture Church, the audience enjoyed a varied programme of flash talks, hands-on science and artistic contributions. Many young visitors in particular took the opportunity to speak directly to researchers and gain insights into the world of neuroscience.
The Max Planck Institute for Brain Research was also represented. In his flash talk ‘Small brains, big questions: neuroscience in fish larvae’, Gregor Schuhknecht, a research group leader at the institute, explained how researchers use larval zebrafish to investigate fundamental questions about how the brain works. Their transparent brains allow researchers to observe the activity of almost all nerve cells simultaneously.This makes it possible to understand how nerve cells work together to produce behaviour - and why even small brains can provide major insights.
Many other impressive flash talks offered fascinating glimpses into current research findings: such as how ‘circuit errors’ in the brain lead to stuttering, how magnets can cause hands to twitch and help stroke patients regenerate, and how structured activity emerges in the brains of ferrets even before they see for the first time. Johannes Sassenroth (hr3) hosted the evening, while magician Thomas Fraps enchanted the audience. On screen, ‘Dr. Mondino and Prof. Cervello’ explained the human brain in a humorous way, and at the Science Fair, the predominantly young audience had the chance to engage directly with researchers and their work.
‘Frankfurt hat Hirn live!’ showed how lively and versatile neuroscience can be, and how important formats are that communicate current research in an accessable way.
