15.05.2026
The Collaborative Research Centre 1491 “Cosmic Interacting Matter” will receive funding for another four years. The German Research Foundation has approved the continued funding of the CRC, led by spokesperson Prof. Dr. Julia Tjus at Ruhr University Bochum, from 1 July 2026. There is a lot going on in the sky: stars are born and die, charged particles, radiation and neutrinos collide and influence one another. The Collaborative Research Centre has been investigating these interactions in the Universe since 2022. The team studies previously unexplored connections between different energies and particles in space: from cosmic rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos to turbulent electromagnetic fields.
Uncovering mechanisms of origin
“While our understanding of the fundamental building blocks of matter is already well established, the specific interactions responsible for multimessenger emissions from galaxies across a broad range of energies and particle species remain an important research question,” says Julia Tjus.
By combining investigations of cosmic radiation with experiments in particle physics, the team of the Collaborative Research Centre aims to uncover the mechanisms by which high-energy particles, gamma rays and neutrinos are produced. Computer-aided modelling is also intended to illuminate the interplay between charged particles and turbulent electromagnetic fields at the plasma level.
Questions about dark matter
Since visible matter also makes up only one fifth of the Universe, understanding the nature of dark matter remains one of the greatest challenges of modern science. “Four years ago, we began working on a unified description of interacting cosmic matter and brought together scientists from the fields of particle, plasma and astrophysics to address three central scientific questions,” says Julia Tjus:
In the first funding phase, global structures were developed and tested using individual examples. In the second funding phase, the focus will be on the quantification and systematization of these framework concepts. “Building on the results of the past four years, we will further expand our approach to developing methods for bridging boundaries in order to answer our fundamental questions in the coming years,” says Julia Tjus.
12.05.2026
We are pleased to invite you to the public lecture
“Die unsichtbare Macht im All – Magnetfelder in Zwerggalaxien” (in German).
Sam Taziaux will take you on a journey through space, exploring the magnetic fields of the Universe and how they shape galaxies. The lecture focuses in particular on dwarf galaxies, the smallest and most common type of galaxies, which nevertheless play a key role in the formation and evolution of larger cosmic structures.
When: 20.05.26 at 20:00
Where: Planetarium Bochum
For registration and further information, please have a look at the Planetarium’s homepage.
17.04.2026
We are pleased to invite you to the public lecture “Der Wind der fernen Sonne(n)" (in German).
Jens Kleimann will be speaking about the heliosphere and stellar winds of both the Sun and other stars (including binaries) from a modeller's perspective, and also touch upon galactic winds
When 22.04.26 at 20:00
Where Planetarium Bochum
For registration and further information, please have a look at the Planetarium’s homepage.
Picture:
Artist's rendering of a colliding wind binary
24.01.2026
Congratualtions to our spokesperson Julia Tjus!
On January 21, 2026, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA) officially accepted her as an international member of the Physics class. The election took place on January 14, and in addition to Tjus, the KVA accepted eight other new members.
The Swedish Academy of Sciences has only 175 places for international members, all of whom are elected for life. A place therefore only becomes available when an international member dies. “Personally, I consider this a very special distinction and honor,” says Julia Tjus. “Apart from the fact that the chance of being accepted is minimal, it also offers the opportunity to help shape things like the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physics.”
20.01.2026
SFB1491 wishes all members and collaborators a successful 2026!
