Psychoactive substances have been used for millennia, yet their reputation remains bleak. Today, clinical research explores MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD as potential treatments for depression and PTSD. Results show they can disrupt rigid neural pathways and open the mind to new experiences. After decades of restrictions, medical approval may now be within reach. This documentary explores why our relationship with drugs is so conflicted — and how new science may reshape it.

Science documentary by Hendrik Löbbert
Produced by mobyDOK
On behalf of Arte

Science documentary Crowdfunding and collaborative research are reshaping medical science. The Ice Bucket Challenge raised millions for ALS and led to the discovery of the NEK1 gene. Teams worldwide work on malaria treatments without patents, prioritizing access over profit. A US foundation advances a male contraceptive after industry declined for financial reasons. Can grassroots funding spark innovation where profit-driven research fails?

Science documentary by Hendrik Löbbert and Klaus Neumann-Ege
Produced by non fiction society
On behalf of 3sat

Memory is not a perfect recording device — and sometimes it creates events that never happened. False memories can lead eyewitnesses to identify suspects they’ve never seen or accuse people of crimes that never occurred. This documentary investigates how distorted memories form and why they are so dangerous in court. Real cases show how legal outcomes hinge on memories shaped by pressure, suggestion, or time. Our justice system accepts only one version of truth, yet human memory is fragile and easily rewritten. Delays, investigative pressure, and collective narratives can reshape what people believe they saw.

Science documentary by Hendrik Löbbert and Klaus Neuman-Ege
Produced by non fiction society
On behalf of 3sat

Science documentary Chemistry makes our lives easier and safer — yet toxic chemicals have accumulated for decades. While medicine, fertilizers, plastics, and softeners improve life, their by-products poison ecosystems beyond recovery. Identifying dangerous substances is difficult: chemicals interact, transform, and often remain unknown. Industry creates new compounds faster than science can assess their impact. Pollution ignores borders, making global cooperation essential — but regulation often arrives too late. Scientists now explore ways to detoxify the planet, from lab innovations to entirely new research models.

Science documentary by Caroline Ektander and Hendrik Löbbert
Produced by mobyDOK
On behalf of Arte