In extremis: five extremes in 450 years of Leiden research
450 years image: Hubble telescope
By looking at what is different, researchers often discover the special, the unusual. And that has already brought a wealth of highlights – also in Leiden.
The most famous
De iure belli ac pacis (On the Law of War and Peace) was written by Leiden alumnus Hugo de Groot (Grotius) in 1625. This work is considered to be one of the foundations of modern international humanitarian war. Although the exact content of the book is no longer fully applicable to today’s context, the principles and philosophies Grotius introduced remain crucial to humanitarian law today. It has been translated into more languages than any other academic work from that time.
The coldest
The Kamerlingh Onnes building on Steenschuur was once the coldest place on earth. It was the home of the lab of physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes. In 1908, he used special equipment to liquify helium by cooling it to a chilling -272 degrees centigrade.
The farthest
In 2016, an international team of astronomers – including three Leiden astronomers – discovered a galaxy at a record 14.3 billion light years away. The galaxy, which is in the direction of the Ursa Major constellation, is exceptionally bright, making it possible to be observed at this record distance. Co-author Marijn Franx, Professor of Astronomy at Leiden University, said at the time: ‘For a long time, we couldn’t believe the results were right. But all the repeated controls confirmed them.’
The smallest
Sumerian is one of the smallest linguistic research fields in the world. This language, which was spoken in Mesopotamia more than 4,000 years ago, has no living speakers and is studied at just a handful of universities in the world. Leiden is one of the few places where you can specialise in Sumerian.
The stillest
Equipment that looks at atoms is extremely sensitive. If you want to accurately study the very smallest, your microscope must not be affected by passing traffic, slamming doors or footsteps. The lab in the Gorlaeus Building was designed with that in mind. The microscope is mounted on a 30-ton concrete block with suspension, which in turn supports a lead table with additional suspension. Everything there really is still, making Leiden one of the most vibration-free places in the world.
Anniversary edition of Leidraad alumni magazine
To celebrate the university’s 450th anniversary, Leidraad alumni magazine dived into the university’s history. In 45 key moments, milestones and highlights, the magazine details how the university developed over more than four centuries. This article is also in the jubilee edition, which can now be found online.
Photo: the GN-z11 galaxy at a record 13.4 billion light years away.