Under the motto “Playtime,” the TUM School of Natural Sciences opened its doors on this year’s Türen auf mit der Maus (Open Doors with the Mouse) to young and grown-up explorers alike. Around 800 children and their parents experienced how lively and inspiring research at the Technical University of Munich can be in two experimental lectures. “Die Sendung mit der Maus” is a German children’s show that explains everyday things with fun stories and short documentaries.
In lecture hall MW 2001 of the TUM School of Engineering and Design, Prof. Julia Herzen and Prof. Tom Nilges invited the audience to a fascinating hour full of wonder, laughter, and “aha” moments. Supported by Tobias Kubo, who prepared and carried out all of the experiments, they presented an exciting mix of physics and chemistry that made children’s hearts beat faster.
Whether it was a barking dog, a flying water rocket, or the gas-powered sled that Prof. Herzen used to race through the lecture hall at the finale – the show offered science to marvel at and laugh along with. Between eddy current brakes, candle-shooting devices, and glowing chemiluminescence, one thing became clear: research is playtime – creative, spontaneous, and full of enthusiasm.
The spirit of experimentation knew no bounds – from liquid nitrogen frozen roses, to the Leidenfrost effect where water and isopropanol turned into bouncing droplets, all the way to chemical beer brewing. There was also plenty to hear: a wine glass shattered purely through sound, and a cannon filled with guncotton provided the perfect bang for the grand finale.
Physics or chemistry? Both are fun!
In the end, the children were asked to decide what had fascinated them more that day – physics or chemistry? The conclusion was clear: both are fun!
With loud applause and shining eyes, Mouse Day 2025 at NAT came to an end. Once again, it became evident: science is not dry theory – it is vibrant, surprising, and full of playtime.
Further information and links
FRM II news article for Mouse Day 2025: https://www.frm2.tum.de/en/frm2/news-single-view-en/article/mouse-day-for-young-and-old-brings-1000-people-to-garching/
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