Lucid Dreaming
Transform the imagination into a testing ground.
To dive into a lucid dream is to cross the fragile boundary between night and consciousness. In this mysterious space, the mind becomes an explorer of its own inner landscapes. This project invites you to discover how science studies those suspended moments when we become aware that we are dreaming, and when the imagination becomes a testing ground.
Between neuroscience and dreamlike poetry, we will explore the cerebral mechanisms of lucid dreaming, its applications for learning, creativity and even trauma healing. You will also hear how these inner journeys can become tools for understanding the brain and pushing the limits of perception.
A scientific and poetic journey through the nocturnal universe, where dreams cease to be illusions and become a personal tool.
Urban Gardens
Come garden with us in the city: grow peas with rhizobium bacteria!
Many research groups around the world are working to increase vegetable productivity using sustainable farming methods, i.e., without chemical fertilizers. One of the most promising research projects is being conducted at the University of Queensland, Australia, where scientists are studying the influence of bacteria on the growth of a large number of vegetables.
With this in mind, the Hackuarium laboratory team set out to study the effect of rhizobial bacteria on the growth and, above all, the yield of peas. Based on our previous work, we have only obtained statistically significant results for a single season, but in 2026, we have already started again, and we have high hopes for this year, especially if many people join us in this participatory research project.
AGiR! for genomic integrity
Genomic integrity is a concept related to public health that encompasses all molecular and genetic aspects of cells. Many lifestyle habits can influence this integrity and, as a result, have an impact on health and future generations.
Within Hackuarium, the AGiR! project aims to promote participatory research by developing DIT (Do It Together) methods that make it easy to analyze your own cells for DNA damage using classic techniques dating back to the 1970s.
The principle is based on the use of cells from the oral mucosa to perform micronucleus and comet assays to measure DNA breaks. These analyses provide a better understanding of how our lifestyle choices can help preserve genomic integrity.
GoGo Workshop
GoGo Workshop brings together Hackuarium’s various workshop offerings. These fun and customizable workshops are designed for both curious individuals and teams looking for an original group activity.
Offered over a few hours or several days, they cover a variety of topics such as microbiology, bioart, and microbiome exploration. Their goal is to combine fun, learning, and sustainability to support Hackuarium’s activities. The terms are flexible and can be discussed.
Bioluminescence Investigations
The Bioluminescence Investigations initiative seeks to study life forms that emit light (bioluminescence). Members have manipulated dinoflagellates and bacteria such as Photobacterium phosphorum, among others, and have also begun to explore fungal bioluminescence (luminescent mycelium, P. stipticus).
Two students from Nyon initially launched the project as part of their high school graduation project, ordering luminous strains (Vibrio fischeri). Molecular approaches (PCR on the 16S rRNA gene) confirmed the bacterial identity of the kit material, which was in fact P. phosphorum, through sequencing.
Experiments are also underway to optimize conditions (salts, temperature, pH) in order to obtain brighter colonies and capture higher-quality images.
Future prospects include improving luminescence in the context of participatory science.
Codind4All
The Coding4All project aims to break down the digital divide for everyone.
Starting with a small robot on a cord, we have progressed and helped members of the local senior citizens’ group (55+) to build robotic cars.
Next, master your phone!
More information can be found on this page.
Fun with Fungi
Le projet vise à explorer les champignons — mycéliums, levures et organismes fongiques divers — sous plusieurs angles : croissance mycélienne sur différents substrats, séquençage d l’ADN pour les identifier, et applications potentielles dans le cadre de la biodiversité ou du soutien aux abeilles. (#mycelia4bees)
Une composante marquante de ce projet est l’approche participative : les chercheurs collaborent avec la communauté pour mener des analyses métagénomiques, notamment pour étudier la biodiversité des mycéliums et tester comment ceux-ci pourraient contribuer à la santé des abeilles. Le projet a été soutenu par une campagne de financement participatif (crowdfunding) qui a permis d’acquérir du matériel de séquençage et de cultiver des mycéliums sur des supports à mettre près des ruches d’abeilles.
D’autres pistes d’expérimentation comprennent la production de biomatériaux à base de mycélium, des travaux de bioart, et des études sur la bioremédiation : par exemple, tester la capacité de champignons à se développer sur des mégots de cigarettes pour les dégrader/dépolluer.