wow² Space – Humans and Space, 31 Oct and 1 Nov 2026
What does it take for humans to live permanently on the moon? Can looking at Earth from space help us better understand climate change? And how do you simulate a journey into space without ever leaving Earth? Find answers to these and other questions on Saturday, 31 October, and Sunday, 1 November 2026, at ETH Zurich.
Under the title "Humans and Space", ETH Zurich's public event format wow² returns for its second edition. For two days, the ETH Main Building will be all about one question: what are we humans searching for in space — and what does space research bring to our lives here on Earth? The free programme brings together science, technology and society, and is aimed at a broad audience, from children to teenagers to adults.
At talks, live podcasts and debates, visitors meet researchers and experts from across space and aerospace research, from lunar research to climate research, gravitational waves and life as an analogue astronaut. Guests include analogue astronaut Eleonore Poli, climate researcher Andreas Prein, planetary researcher Anna Mittelholz, former magician and now ETH innovation lead Marco Tempest, as well as Thomas Zurbuchen, former Science Mission Director at NASA.
Those looking for something more entertaining will find it at "BLACK BOX": satirist Patrick "Karpi" Karpiczenko and science communicator Mirko Bischofberger bring researchers into conversation and turn current studies into punchlines — somewhere between a talk show and a game show. At "Cook the Science", star chef Markus Stöckli and physics professor Thomas Michaels show what happens when an ingredient no one sees but every cook needs suddenly disappears: gravity.
A highlight for tech enthusiasts is the four-legged robot LunarLeaper: ETH Zurich Space and the Robotic Systems Lab are developing it to one day track down lava tunnels on the moon, possible living spaces for a permanent moon base. Visitors can watch live as researchers train the robot to walk, climb and jump. Exhibitions and demonstrations also showcase current student projects, including the Mars rover CRATER, developed by a student association in just nine months.
Guided tours and planetarium shows take visitors on a journey through the universe, from the Semper Observatory in the centre of Zurich to shows that bring a total solar eclipse or the birth of a star to life. There's also plenty on offer for younger visitors: from programming a Magic Cube to analogue missions on Earth, lectures and workshops invite children and teenagers to join in.
Under the title "Humans and Space", ETH Zurich's public event format wow² returns for its second edition. For two days, the ETH Main Building will be all about one question: what are we humans searching for in space — and what does space research bring to our lives here on Earth? The free programme brings together science, technology and society, and is aimed at a broad audience, from children to teenagers to adults.
At talks, live podcasts and debates, visitors meet researchers and experts from across space and aerospace research, from lunar research to climate research, gravitational waves and life as an analogue astronaut. Guests include analogue astronaut Eleonore Poli, climate researcher Andreas Prein, planetary researcher Anna Mittelholz, former magician and now ETH innovation lead Marco Tempest, as well as Thomas Zurbuchen, former Science Mission Director at NASA.
Those looking for something more entertaining will find it at "BLACK BOX": satirist Patrick "Karpi" Karpiczenko and science communicator Mirko Bischofberger bring researchers into conversation and turn current studies into punchlines — somewhere between a talk show and a game show. At "Cook the Science", star chef Markus Stöckli and physics professor Thomas Michaels show what happens when an ingredient no one sees but every cook needs suddenly disappears: gravity.
A highlight for tech enthusiasts is the four-legged robot LunarLeaper: ETH Zurich Space and the Robotic Systems Lab are developing it to one day track down lava tunnels on the moon, possible living spaces for a permanent moon base. Visitors can watch live as researchers train the robot to walk, climb and jump. Exhibitions and demonstrations also showcase current student projects, including the Mars rover CRATER, developed by a student association in just nine months.
Guided tours and planetarium shows take visitors on a journey through the universe, from the Semper Observatory in the centre of Zurich to shows that bring a total solar eclipse or the birth of a star to life. There's also plenty on offer for younger visitors: from programming a Magic Cube to analogue missions on Earth, lectures and workshops invite children and teenagers to join in.
