On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 8:00 p.m., Lecture Hall (MW 0001) was transformed into a stage for an extraordinary journey through the world of chemistry and the cosmos. Inspired by Douglas Adams’ cult novel, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the experimental show took the audience on an adventurous voyage through space. The event was organized by the Chair of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry led by Prof. Roland Fischer together with the chemistry lab course team.

The storyline follows the character Master Fischer and his AMC Crew as they search for new planets and stars, discovering the chemical elements of the periodic table along the way. Each celestial body was paired with an experiment that spectacularly showcased the properties of the respective element. In the second part, the Vogons — the notorious bureaucratic species from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — attack Earth. The finale culminates in explosions, pyrotechnics, and impressive chemical reactions that left the audience in awe.

When asked how the idea for the show originated, Patrick Mollik, one of the three main organizers alongside Theresa Bloehs and Ivan Antsiburov, and a doctoral researcher in the Fischer research group, explains: “The story is based on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. We revised and modernized a script from 2018.” The audience was meant to observe and be amazed. “That’s why we chose not the most didactically interesting experiments, but the most impressive ones.” Preparing the show was a logistical mammoth project. Revising the script, arranging the musical accompaniment, creating the presentation visuals, and procuring the experimental equipment — handled by NAT lab technician Tobias Kubo, including numerous trips to bring everything together — required enormous effort. Rehearsing the sequences also posed challenges: “In the end, all the individual tasks and experiments have to come together as one big show.”

As with any live performance, there were minor unexpected difficulties. At one point, burning methane could have damaged the plastic floor of the lecture hall. The solution was simple yet creative: the floor was wetted with a mop to protect it. “Many people underestimate how much work goes into a show like this,” Mollik reports. But the most rewarding moment is when their own enthusiasm for chemistry spreads to the audience: “It’s wonderful to share our fascination for chemistry with friends, family, and colleagues.”

An evening full of explosions, pyrotechnics, and interstellar adventure – one that will remain in the audience’s memory for a long time.

Further Information and Links

• Prof. Roland Fischer, Chair of Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry
• Our team for laboratory courses and experimental lectures at the TUM School of Natural Sciences

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