And What If Life Came from the Stars?
A conversation with Ernst Zürcher, the researcher who demonstrated the moon’s influence on trees. Interview by Louis Defèche.
Ernst Zürcher und Louis Defèche · 17 June 2026 · 18 min
Section · English Issue 25-26/2026
Section
English Issue 25-26/2026
7 articles
Well-being Instead of Well-off
UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has released its 2026 report on child well-being. Germany is in 25th place out of the 37 countries evaluated. How is that possible?
Philipp Reubke · 17 June 2026 · 4 min
Working with the Intelligence of Life
Every time we go online, AI is there. Whether we want it to or not, AI is becoming part of our everyday lives. In many cases, it is incredibly convenient—the machine knows! In other situations, it’s enormously unsettling—how can a machine know that? And then there’s the question: Are there other forms of intelligence besides AI? There is the intelligence of life. Ernst Zürcher knows this. Trees are living witnesses to annual rhythms, pulsations of cosmic forces. They are also …
Ueli Hurter · 17 June 2026 · 1 min
A Path Among the Like-Minded
Weimar, Germany. During a study trip to Weimar, students of the Anthroposophy Studies at the Goetheanum explore Rudolf Steiner’s early biographical experiences with the works of Goethe, Schiller, Nietzsche, and the Bauhaus School of Art. Nicolas Sanchez Goñi shares his experiences. Questions by Andrea de la Cruz, Coordinator for Studies and Continuing Education.
Andrea de la Cruz Barral · 17 June 2026 · 2 min
There Are Infinite Truths
Ytterjärna, Sweden. What is life like as a young person in today’s world? We asked around. Answers from Phoebe Leenhouwers from Aotearoa New Zealand, currently a participant of the Youth Initiative Program in Ytterjärna, Sweden.
Paula Boslau · 17 June 2026 · 1 min
The Microcollege Movement
It is not about finding absolute truth or absolute wisdom, but rather about thinking, reading, growing, and connecting with one’s own sense of purpose. These are, in essence, the words of Lucien Lucius Nunn, the founder of Deep Springs Microcollege. “Microcollege”? This is the name given to an emerging movement within U.S. educational institutions, characterized by small student bodies, limited screen time, student self-governance, manual labor, a strong connection to the land, discussion-based academic courses with a high practical component, and a holistic approach to individual development. The Thoreau College in Wisconsin is one such microcollege. Its programs are heavily inspired by the ideas of Rudolf Steiner and Waldorf education, as well as by Danish folk high schools. On the Thoreau College Podcast, listeners can learn more about the background, practices, and influences (including the Camphill Movement) of microcolleges.
Redaktion · 17 June 2026 · 1 min
Learning From Trees
A tree’s life story is inscribed in its core. Each year, a new layer of cells forms around the existing wood. It’s thickness and color tell the story of weather and circumstances. Was it windy, wet, particularly hot that year? Was there a fire? A drought? It’s all written in the layers of wood, if you know how to read it, and enclosed in a layer of bark.
Laura Liska · 17 June 2026 · 1 min