iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/10/2026

Would you reply to this email? And if so, how? (I will give you my answer in a little while).

Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/10/2026

Das schönste Opernhaus der Welt - meine neueste Kolumne in Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. Eine kleine Geschichte vom Jakobsweg. #caminodesantiago #Jakobsweg #Oper #Kolumne #column

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

If you want to know how it looks and sounds if an astrophysics prof and a primary school director read from their children’s book in a planetarium then you can get a sense of it from this nice Reel that the #PlanetariumBochum made. With music from Niklas […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 08/10/2026

Projects start small. Left is the first 3D print of the new Africa mm-wave Telescope (AMT) to observe black holes that will eventually have a 14 m width. Right is part of a drill core from the area where the telescope will be placed on Farm Göllschau near the […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A radio dish model displayed on a wooden table, with a view of trees and a road in the background. It looks like a satellite ground station.

A close-up view of a round, grayish-black rock with layered textures, resting on a light-colored surface.

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/10/2026

Wow. Francis Halzen wins the Nobel prize in phyiscs. A great colleague who has pushed the field to a new level, led the IceCube project on Antarctica, and helped to discover extragalactic Neutrinos. Originally Belgium he now works in the US, but I can still talk Dutch to him 😉

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/09/2026

Mittwoch ab 18:00 bin ich bei Hotel Matze eingecheckt…. (Leider noch nicht NeuHier, aber wer weiß)

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/09/2026

Today we had the most unusual PhD defense of my career. Leon Houben fell 15 m in the Alps, landing on his head and loosing his memory while working on his PhD thesis. When he met me again, he had to google me. He had to re-learn everything and wrote two more […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/09/2026

You can now listen to the live recording of the „Ongelooflijke Podcast“ in a packed theatre in Ede, which was also the Dutch premiere of my book „Tussen oerknal en apocalyps“ (Between Big Bang and Apocalypse). It was a lively discussion about the very […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/09/2026

I keep getting many long letters praising in great detail my books (and those of my namesake). Obviously, these are all AI written. „I recently stumbled across your book by accident. I want to be honest about that from the beginning.“ „I read it in a single […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A handwritten letter addressed to Heino Falcke, discussing his memoir about the peaceful revolution of 1989 in East Germany. The writer reflects on the impact of the memoir, expressing admiration for Falcke's courage and commitment to speaking out against dictatorship. That book is not even mine, BTW …

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 23/09/2026

Yesterday we had the presentation of the Dutch translation of my book “Between Big Bang and Apocalypse” in the 322nd issue of the “Ongelooflijke Podcast” live in Ede. With 650 visitors it was fully booked. This shows how popular the podcast is … The […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/08/2026

The “three guys from Radboud” did it again. New paper is out in a mathematical physics journal: “Particle Creation in a Cosmological Background in Analogy to the Schwinger Effect” We calculate exactly how particles are created out of “nothing” when you […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/08/2026

I was really shocked, when I saw this! After a fantastic meeting in #Rimini (#Italy) I went to my hotel near the beach and walked a long the main shopping street: This was not hidden in the back of a store, but right in front at the walkway. And 100 m later […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/08/2026

Touché #hypocrisy #MoralGrandstanding #virtuesignalling “According to Jesus, hypocrisy can also take an even nastier form when one becomes judgemental, critical, and censorious about others without scrutinizing one's own moral behaviour to the same extent […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Such deeds are examples of what is now called 'virtue signalling or 'moral grandstanding' 21 In our times, this phenomenon can often be detected in the form of open letters in newspapers or on online platforms, for instance, which include multiple signatories, to which one can sometimes add one's own name, and in which one ostentatiously professes one's goodness. Regardless of their content, such letters can easily serve as a mode of hypocritical self-promotion if one wants to be seen as a member of a particular culture, whether conservative or progressive.
According to Jesus, hypocrisy can also take an even nastier form when one becomes judgemental, critical, and censorious about others without scrutinizing one's own moral behaviour to the same extent, so that one in fact applies a double standard in one's treatment of oneself and others
(7.I-5). In such cases, virtue signalling is immediately connected with public shaming. Hypocrites, as Jesus famously said, are typically focused on removing a speck of sawdust from the eye of their fellow beings, when they should first take the log out of their own eye (7.3-5). Indeed, modern research has recently found that 'moral grandstanding' over against others, the simultaneous conviction that ethical standards do not apply to oneself ('moral disengagement'), a perceived responsibility to propagate one's own superior beliefs ('social vigilantism' and 'social policing), a drive to achieve one's own goals ('Machiavellianism'), and a tendency towards self-promotion ('narcissism') and selfishness contribute to the tendency to shame others publicly

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/08/2026

This is really getting close. Folks should take this seriously and listen to the officials. Some of our friends from the local volunteer firefighters were down there in the night (Thank you!!). This is already considered the biggest wildfire in our state […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/08/2026

Stunning view of the wildfire near Hürtgenwald in the Eifel/Germany near Belgium seen from an ultralight airplane (from ULAMO) #wildfire #hurtgenwald #waldbrand

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/08/2026

An now the clouds are coming back just as the crowds arrive 🙄 (it must be the water vapor from all these people 😁). #acoruna #eclipse

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/08/2026

Gestern auf den Felsen in Muxia noch eben eine Kolumne über die Sonnenfinsternis für den Kölner Stadtanzeiger geschrieben…#SoFi #eclipse #sonnenfinsternis #eclipse2026

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 07/08/2026

Angekommen. We arrived. 2700 km. 6 years. A "moving" arrival in every sense of the word. #caminodesantiago #Camino2026 #jakobsweg #santiago #santiagodecompostela

We arrived in Santiago: A smiling couple poses for a selfie in front of a grand, ornate building with tall spires, suggesting a historical or religious site. The sky is clear and blue.

A grand stone building with intricate architecture and multiple spires, silhouetted against a clear sky. The structure features ornate details and large windows, with scaffolding visible on one side. Santiago cathedral

A large, ornate church interior with golden decorations. People are visible in the foreground, taking pictures with their phones. A large incense burner is suspended from the ceiling, releasing smoke, creating a spiritual atmosphere.

Two hikers, a man and a woman, stand on a hilltop, admiring the view. They are facing a line of bronze statues representing historical figures, set against a backdrop of a colorful sunrise. The landscape includes trees and buildings in the distance

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/08/2026

Some impressions from the past days of our pilgrimage on the #caminodesantiago. Continuing where we left two years ago. We are twelve days further this year and now approaching Santiago. Only 66 km to go still - strikingly close, given that we started in Cologne six years ago.

Palas de Rei. A stone church building with a bell tower is featured. The architecture appears rustic, with a cross on the tower and another in front.

Castromaior. Castle from
4 BC in Galicia. The image depicts ancient stone ruins of a structure surrounded by dry grass and distant hills under a cloudy sky.

Church of Portomarin. A large stone building with a rose window and ornate entrance is visible in the foreground, surrounded by a plaza with people walking. To the left, a two-story building with green accents is seen. The sky is clear and blue.

Camino after Fonfria. A scenic landscape at sunrise, featuring rolling hills and valleys. The horizon displays soft hues of orange and pink, with a mist hovering over the lower areas. Fields are arranged in patches, interspersed with trees and winding roads.

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 23/07/2026

My new MyCamino GPS Slide Show App for MacOS is now available for beta testing! We actually had a lot of fun finally reliving our #Camino over 2300 km with 3000 pictures, 100 tracks and maps - watching four consecutive evenings (even together with parents and […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A scenic view of a sunrise over a misty landscape with trees silhouetted against the golden sky. A map of the area shows a blue route, labeled with travel details, including total traveled distance and stage information.

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/07/2026

Was einem Physiker beim Blick auf einen romantischen Sonnenuntergang so alles in den Sinn kommt (und was das mit dem Klimawandel und Christian Lindner zu tun hat). Meine Sommerkolumne! #Kolumne #Koln #KStA #Langeoog

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/07/2026

Das war mal wieder eine richtig tolle Kombi: Planetarium und Kekskrümel - viele begeisterte Kinder (und Eltern und Großeltern). Und das Keksrümellied ist einfach sehr berührend - vor allem, wenn die Kinder in der Kuppel am Ende mitsingen. Da bekommt man noch […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 17/07/2026

Fedi-Friends mit neugierigen Kindern im Raum Stuttgart? Am Samstag lesen wir aus unserem Kekskrümel-Kinderbuch im Planetarium Stuttgart - mit Action 😉. Langweilig wird es bei der Reise in die Unendlichkeit nicht! (Es geht hier tatsächlich um unser erstes Buch).

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/07/2026

Here is a hobby experiment that escalated wildly. For our long #Camino tracks I wanted a slide show that understands stages, animates GPS tracks, synchronises my photos to it, and shows where they were taken. I also wanted to inspect and edit GPX tracks and […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/07/2026

Observed a bizarre physics effect in our hotel: My wife noticed an annoying humming noise. Turned out to be 50 Hz AC hum, which was very localised. It wasn’t audible any more half-way along the bed. So we slept with our heads towards the foot end. I did use […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A spectrogram displaying sound frequency analysis, showing amplitude in decibels (dBFS) plotted against frequency in Hz. The visual features a blue waveform indicating various frequencies and amplitudes, peaking at -30 dB at 50 Hz.

A digital audio spectrum analyzer display showing a frequency spectrum from 0 to 2000 Hz. The amplitude is represented in dBFS, with a prominent low-frequency peak and several smaller peaks throughout the mid-range and high frequencies. Main peak is at -48 dB at 50 Hz.

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/06/2026

Am 1. Juli bin ich auf der Lit Potsdam im Gespräch mit Michael Köhlmeier und Dennis Scheck, am 17. Juli beim Faustmuseum in der Nähe von Karlsruhe. Falls ihr Zeit habt und in der Gegend seid … #litpotsdam

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/06/2026

Ein Lob an die Heide Bäckerei Meyer. Der Erdbeerkuchen ist wirklich lecker. Damit sitzt man wirklich 1. Klasse auf dem Boden 😉 (neuer Zug, Klimaanlage funktioniert, was will man mehr).

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/06/2026

Habe ich aus Koreas von unserem EHT Kollaborationstreffen mitgebracht (schaut mal auf die Augen😉). In Korea nie benutzt, im stehenden ICE ohne Klimaanlage Gold wert 🥵. #AntikeTechnikFunktioniert

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/06/2026

Bin gleich (19:35) live im RBB bei radioeins live - wir reden über mein Buch Zwischen Urknall und Apokalypse und die lit.potsdam

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/06/2026

Here the official conference photo from the 2026 Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration meeting at Yonsei University in Seoul - spot me, I do stand out in that crowd with the most gray hair😉. I can promise some really exciting news this year about black hole […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/06/2026

Exciting week ahead in Seoul for the annual Event Horizon Telescope collaboration Meeting, hosted by Yonsei University (started by Christian missionaries in the 19th century). It will be all about black hole imaging. Tuesday I give a public lecture. #astronomy #astrodon #blackholes

A banner for the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration Meeting, scheduled in Seoul, Korea, from June 21-26, 2026. It features an artistic representation of a black hole against a starry background, along with a skyline that includes landmarks

The image features a black tote bag with an illustration of a swirling orange and yellow pattern, representing an astronomical concept, along with the text "Event Horizon Telescope" and organization names. Nearby, there is a decorative folding fan with an illustrated tiger with black hole eyes

A large stone monument inscribed with text in Korean and English, featuring the phrase "The Truth Will Make You Free" along with the biblical reference John 8:32. The stone is surrounded by green trees and grass.

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/06/2026

After a long and tedious ascent I finally made it to Monte Toodelöh - Cologne’s highest mountain at a whopping altitude of 118 m. #cologne

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 09/06/2026

Today at ESTEC, not for WAMS26, who have a much cooler poster admittedly, but we are talking about imaging black holes from space, which is not too bad either …

A modern building with a distinctive architectural design, surrounded by greenery, is visible alongside several flagpoles displaying various national flags. The sky is clear and blue, indicating a sunny day. ESTEC

A large sign welcoming visitors to WAMS26, featuring an astronaut standing on a red, Mars-like landscape. Logos for ESA and NASA are displayed prominently. The sky is clear blue.

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/06/2026

This weekend we went to Erfurt to present our book „Kekskrümel unter dem Himmelszelt - wie entstand die Erde“ about how the Earth was formed in the theatre. This was part of the children’s book week and we had a sold out crowd of many curious kids. Parents […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A stage setup for a children's event, featuring a projector screen displaying an animated camping scene. Props include a blow-up mattress, plush toys, and grass elements. Banners promote the "Kinderbuchtage" event happening in 2026 in Erfurt.

A stage setting featuring a speaker in front of a large audience, mostly consisting of children and adults seated. Two promotional banners are visible on either side. The event appears to be a performance or presentation, with a table and equipment set up on stage.

A stage setup in a theater, featuring a wooden lectern with a stuffed mouse on top, a laptop displaying images, a camping tent, a blue mat, and several empty chairs in the audience area.

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 07/05/2026

Pff. My bagpack was stolen in the ICE train from Brussels to Cologne. They actually had a very similar looking business backpack and simply exchanged it while it was on the shelf above me. The conductors recognized this as a very standard trick these days. My […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/05/2026

Wie schön. Der zweite Band unserer Kekskrümel-Reihe ist zum Kinder- und Jugendhörbuch des Monats gekürt worden 😊 (und nimmt damit Teil an der Wahl zum Kinderhörbuch des Jahres). #bucher #kinderbuch #wisskomm #KinderbuchdesMonats

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/04/2026

Today in Solorhurn, where I will read from both of my books: for kids (crumbles under the sky) and for adults (big bang and apocalypse).

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/04/2026

A stopover in Olten, Switzerland. There’s something magical in the air. My train from Cologne to Basel was right on time 🤔

A sign on a stone wall displaying "Gleis 8" and "Gleis 9 ¾".

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 05/04/2026

Er ist wahrhaftig auferstanden. Hij is opgestaan. He is risen. Easter is and remains the most emotional and most inspiring of all holidays for me. Frohe Ostern. Zalig Pasen. Happy Easter.

A wooden cross stands in front of a stained glass window in a light-colored room. The window features an ornate design with geometric patterns and colors. Photo from my protestant church in Frechen/Germany.

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 31/03/2026

Advertisement for the Dutch translation of my book "Between Big Bang and Apocalypse" is just out. Apparently it will appear in September.

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Prof Heino Falcke @hfalcke.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/03/2026

Heute war ich als Gast bei 3nach9 bei Radio Bremen. Es waren tolle, nachdenkliche Gespräche. Natürlich wurde ich direkt über Meteoriten gefragt (ich dank @cosmos4u war ich gut vorbereitet). Lasst euch überraschen und schaut es euch an.

A television screen displays a stage set for a discussion or interview. The setting features four orange chairs arranged around a floral centerpiece, with a seated audience visible in the background. The lighting is dim, creating a cozy atmosphere.

Johannes Oerding, Heino Falcke und Pierre Litbarski

A lively studio scene with a diverse crowd engaged in conversation, seated in modern chairs. The background features a well-lit stage setup with multiple broadcasting lights and brick walls. Some guests appear to be networking or preparing for an event.

An inviting lounge area featuring four orange armchairs arranged around a circular coffee table. The table holds several glasses, vases with colorful flowers, and a microphone. In the background, people are gathered, engaged in conversation.

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