"Lichtlinien" - New Cosmo Exhibition

Since June 9, 2026, the COSMO Science Forum at the Kulturpalast in Dresden has been focusing on the theme of “Lichtlinien”. During the Long Night of Science on June 26 and through August 18, 2026, visitors can discover how visible light and invisible electromagnetic waves shape our everyday lives - and how research and technology harness them. Curated by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), the exhibition showcases current projects from the Dresden area and invites visitors to experience light from scientific, technological, and artistic perspectives.

Why do we see only a small fraction of light? And what stories do the waves that remain hidden from the human eye tell us? The exhibition “Lichtlinien” explores these questions. Through exhibits, experiments, and artistic works, it demonstrates how electromagnetic waves are measured, used, and harnessed - from thermal imaging to the analysis of material properties.

The exhibition is interactive throughout. Visitors can conduct experiments at various stations and explore different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The “(in)visible selfies” demonstrate how infrared sensors “see through” certain materials. Spectral objects use polarized light to reveal hidden structures in everyday objects. The exhibition is complemented by artistic works from a residency program at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts at the HZDR, as well as a camera obscura that combines scientific observation with creative interpretation.

One of the exhibits comes from HZDR’s Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology: Fluorescent minerals vividly demonstrate how ultraviolet light can reveal the properties of materials. Under UV light, certain minerals begin to glow, revealing characteristics that remain hidden under normal lighting conditions.

Behind this fascinating effect lies an important field of research: imaging spectroscopy. Researchers in the Exploration Department at HZDR use the spectral properties of light - from the ultraviolet range to long-wavelength infrared - to develop new sensors and methods for the precise characterization of primary and secondary raw materials. At COSMO, visitors can get hands-on, turn on UV lamps, and watch as the minerals glow in different colors. This allows them to experience firsthand how light provides information about the composition and properties of materials.

With the exhibition “Lichtlinien”, the HZDR is curating a COSMO exhibition for the first time. In collaboration with other scientific institutions, the HZDR is showcasing current research projects and opening up new perspectives on light as a subject of research, a technological resource, and a cultural phenomenon.

The exhibition “Lichtlinien” is open to everyone ages 14 and up and is presented in German and English. Admission is free. There will also be short guided tours and discussion events with researchers for both adults and children.

In addition to the HZDR, the University of Rostock, the Dresden Technical Collections, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Ruhr University Bochum, the Gönnsdorf Observatory, the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, the DeltaX student laboratory, and the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology are participating in the exhibition.

“Lichtlinien” invites visitors to discover the visible and invisible dimensions of light and explore the many connections between research, technology, and perception.

About the COSMO Science Forum

COSMO is an interactive science forum at the Kulturpalast in Dresden where visitors can experience current research firsthand through a variety of event formats and interactive exhibits. COSMO is jointly operated by the Barkhausen Institute, the Department of Speculative Transformation at TU Dresden, and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in collaboration with partner institutions of the Dresden Science Alliance DRESDEN-concept, the Dresden Philharmonic, and the Central Library.

Media contact:

Simon Schmitt | Head
Communications and Media Relations at HZDR
Phone: +49 351 260 3400 | Mobile: +49 175 874 2865 | Email: s.schmitt@hzdr.de