After four enriching years, our Cluster Project ELEMENTS has reached its final chapter. We look back on an incredible journey filled with groundbreaking research, inspiring discussions, successful PhD defenses, prestigious awards, and over 200 publications.

With more than 100 members from diverse fields of physics, we took on the ambitious challenge of uncovering the origin of heavy elements in the universe. Our collaborative efforts brought together expertise from astrophysics, nuclear and particle physics, as well as theoretical and experimental approaches, pushing the boundaries of our understanding.

Beyond research, ELEMENTS has been deeply committed to outreach and science communication. Engaging with society and inspiring future generations of scientists has been a key part of our mission – and this impact will continue beyond the project’s official end.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our funders and partners, most notably the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and the Arts, as well as our host institutions: Goethe University Frankfurt, Technical University Darmstadt, GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy-Ion Research, and Justus-Liebig-University Gießen. Their support has been instrumental in making this research possible.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to our Principal Investigators, Work Area Leaders, administrative team, and above all, the Early Career Researchers who have been at the core of ELEMENTS, driving innovation and collaboration.

While our funding period is coming to an end, the scientific questions that brought us together remain as compelling as ever. The discoveries, collaborations, and expertise built within ELEMENTS will continue to shape the field, and we look forward to seeing how our community carries this research into the future.