The observatory
This (part) project is a growing collection of computational instruments for observing how natural systems organize themselves. The goal is to extract principles and measurable structures from behavior, derive candidate rules/heuristics, and translate them into computational models that can later be applied to digital systems.
Digital systems shape behavior because they structure what is visible, reachable, and likely. Today, many of these structures are optimized for efficiency and conversion, which often produces linear paths and predictable outcomes.
Observatory starts from a different question: what if we treat organization itself as a design material and learn alternative organizational logics from natural systems that already solve complexity through local rules, feedback, and adaptation? The prototypes on this page are not final applications, but instruments for observing behavior, extracting measurable structures, and translating them into computational models that can later be tested in digital environments.
Concept
Many systems in nature produce complex organization without central control: patterns emerge through local interactions, feedback, and adaptation. In the Observatory, I build prototypes that make these dynamics legible — as structures that can be measured, compared, and eventually modeled.
The Question
How can natural principles be used as a structural model for digital ecosystems to develop more dynamic and relational forms of organization, navigation, and interaction?
Prototype 01 – Particle Life Playground
This prototype was built as a first observation instrument: a way to study how complex, collective behavior can emerge from extremely simple local rules: attraction and repulsion. Inspired by the project particle-life and biophysical interaction models, where local forces produce global structure.
the playground makes it possible to run many variations and observe recurring patterns such as clustering, boundaries, flows, and phase shifts between stability and chaos. The goal is not to simulate humans directly, but to build intuition and measurable descriptors for how “rule sets” shape movement and collective organization
“There is a widespread belief that learning no longer works in old age because the brain loses its malleability and changeability over time. But this is incorrect”
Niels Birbaumer
Dein Gehirn weiß mehr, als du denkst
Neurogenesis is the process by which the brain creates new neurons, primarily in the hippocampus, a region critical for memory, learning, and emotional regulation.3 For decades, it was believed that neurogenesis only occurred during early development. However, research has shown that the adult brain continues to generate new neurons throughout life, challenging the idea that the brain becomes static after childhood.
The creation of new neurons is a critical aspect of brain adaptability. For example, research by Dr. Tracey Shors at Rutgers University demonstrates that while new neurons are constantly formed, they often die unless they are actively engaged through learning or cognitive challenges.5,6 This highlights the importance of creating stimulating environments to preserve and utilize these new neurons.
Neurogenesis: The birth of new cells
