Kniffelix is a digital interactive platform from the Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg) designed to inspire children, teens, and anyone interested—ages 8 to 99+—to explore science and technology. As an experimental blog, Kniffelix combines fascinating everyday phenomena with scientific explanations and invites its users to get hands-on. Instead of just reading about science, they can discover how scientific principles work through their own experiments.
What are Quests?
Quest are our learning content on Kniffelix. They focus on questions about everyday life, nature, and science: What distinguishes fungi, plants, and animals? What keeps airplanes in the air? What are aerogels, and what makes them so special? These and many other topics are presented in the form of quests, experiments, videos, and quizzes. Within a quest, users are given research or experimental tasks to complete. But users don’t have to work on these tasks alone! That’s what the Kniffelix Community is for. The tasks associated with the quests are therefore called Community Tasks. If you want to learn more about Community Tasks and exactly how they work, click here.
At what age are the quests recommended?
The content on Kniffelix is divided into quests for beginners and quests for advanced learners. The quests for beginners are aimed specifically at children ages eight and up and use short stories, engaging questions, and simple experiments to show that our everyday lives are full of fascinating scientific phenomena. The quests for advanced learners are recommended especially for students in middle school and beyond. They address more complex questions and bridge the gap between everyday observations and current research, technical applications, academic programs, and career fields.
How do I find the quests?
On our homepage at www.Kniffelix.de, you’ll first find the quests for beginners, followed by those for advanced players. If you don’t want to scroll, you can also click on “Quests” in the menu at the top to view all quests.
And what exactly is career and college counseling?
Another important goal of Kniffelix is career and academic guidance. Young people gain insights into the diverse paths leading into the world of science and technology. The program introduces both traditional degree programs and dual study programs, as well as apprenticeship-based careers and technical fields. Researchers, students, and professionals share stories about their career paths and daily work, demonstrating just how varied career paths in the STEM field can be.
Kniffelix aims not only to impart knowledge but also to spark curiosity. The project is designed to encourage young people to ask questions, question their observations, and seek answers on their own. At the same time, it explains how scientists work and how research is conducted. In this way, Kniffelix builds a bridge between everyday life, science, higher education, and careers.
