Ancient Egypt/Pyramids:
On the banks of the Nile, the ancient Egyptians created a flourishing high culture early on. They built magnificent temples and invented hieroglyphs. They constructed tombs for their pharaohs to last for eternity: the pyramids. To this day, it is not exactly known how they were able to move the massive stone blocks. Why were the pharaohs mummified and buried with treasures?

Snakes & Lizards/Birds:
We admire and fear them: snakes. Some are the size of a pencil, while others spray their deadly venom. Lizards also fascinate us, from geckos to Komodo dragons. Today's birds are descendants of giant reptiles, the dinosaurs. How do they build their nests? Where do the smallest birds in the world live? And why can't some birds fly?

The Stars/The Time:
Humans have always observed the stars. Today, space travel and powerful telescopes provide images that allow for scientific study of the stars. What is the Milky Way? What is a white dwarf? Time - most people do not know exactly what it is, even though it greatly influences our lives. Is there a beginning, is there an end to time?

Author's Note:
Manfred Baur, born on May 30 in the Allgäu region, wanted to reach for the stars as a child, dreaming of becoming an astronaut! He read WAS-IST-WAS books, looked at the stars through a telescope, and eventually became a chemist, later a documentary filmmaker. As a father of a daughter and a son who always wanted to hear new stories from him, he gladly accepted the opportunity to travel with the WAS-IST-WAS characters Theo, Tess, and Quentin. Together, they ventured into Ancient Egypt, climbed the highest mountain in the world, and explored the deep sea - the adventures never run out. Sometimes, Manfred Baur also travels without the three, preferring to go to Africa, the sea, or the lakes near Munich, where he now lives.