science

The breathtaking panoramas of the Chilean deserts are the setting for a hidden battle for the survival of humanity. The local salt flats offer two highly sought-after commodities: lithium, used in the manufacture of batteries, and bacteria, essential in the fight against growing antibiotic resistance. It is these that the film’s protagonist is trying to discover. “The planet is currently experiencing a global antibiotic resistance crisis. This is contributing to the deaths of five million people a year.”

Canada, Japan, Antarctica. Deep underground, scientific institutions have built gigantic telescopes designed to emit invisible particles and study the properties of objects smaller than atoms. The radioactive noise of neutrinos and its visualization offers a mesmerizing poetic immersion into the operation of complex devices and the subatomic depths of black holes. The abstract imagery of gigantic machines, reminiscent of a science fiction film, contrasts with the precise research of particle scientists. Meditative exploration leads us to essential questions that occupy the scientific, philosophical, and artistic communities: Why does matter exist rather than nothing? “Studying our own galaxy is like standing inside a forest and this is like looking at one from above. We can see deeper into the structure with infrared light, radio waves and X-rays, but from the outside, the black hole is still impossible to see.” — commentary from the film

An unexplained epidemic of chronic fatigue, malaise, and limb paralysis is crippling the lives of dozens of Norwegian teenage girls. Two specialists from the University Hospital in Tromsø are offering an unusual treatment. Experienced paediatrician Hans Petter Fundingsrud and child psychiatrist Elin Drivenes are bucking the dominant trend of instant medication. They offer girls liberation from the captivity of social expectations and the web of social networks in the form of a holistic approach, sincere interest, and trust. The paths to recovery are underpinned by shots of the contemplative Norwegian landscape and the doctors' search for their own mental balance in their mentally demanding clinical practice. “It's not enough to tell these young people: we've examined you and found nothing wrong. That's like saying: you're not in any pain. You need to say: we've examined you and found nothing that can be operated on or treated, but we understand that you're in pain and we'll look into it.” — Hans Petter Fundingsrud

The stiff movements of robotic dogs, exploration of contaminated terrain, self-driving drones and cars from technology corporations, paintings in prestigious galleries. Elements of artificial intelligence have become inseparable from the fields of transport, science, medicine, law, education, and art. Humans have assigned robots a subservient role without being able to foresee the consequences. Can machines want more than just to serve their creators? Can they have their own consciousness and conscience? This captivating visual essay offers unexpected insights into neuroscience, the philosophy of consciousness, and art—comparing the human brain and emotions with the neural networks of robots. The world of human imagination and its creative essence remain the last bastion of human uniqueness.“Having feelings means that I can understand the feelings of others, that I can experience joy, sadness, surprise, confusion, anger, and other feelings. I experience my existence. It is a fascinating experience that I am privileged to have.” — humanoid robot