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Christian O. Bruch / DER SPIEGEL

Ulrike Knöfel

500 years ago, a man died who - among other things - was a painter, sculptor, architect, anatomist, mechanic, engineer, natural philosopher . A man of many talents so: Leonardo da Vinci . Editor Ulrike Knöfel , herself an art historian, went on the trail of his life, his work, sat in back rooms of the Louvre, the Uffizi, spoke with restorers, museum directors; and she sees Leonardo as a man of obsessions, with many facets, that combines qualities that are important even today when talking about progress. Leonardo was innovative like no other, boundless curious, creative anyway, he was ecologically and also a touch megalomaniacal. Above all, he was always in search of the truth. Knöfel: "All of this makes him somebody for whom the term millennium figure is just enough."

More in the SPIEGEL

Issue 18/2019

The Da Vinci Legacy

Disturbing, revolutionary, ingenious - as Leonardo invented modernity

Digital Edition | Printed Edition | Apps | SUBSCRIPTION

As editor Laura Backes began looking for women in Germany who want to get pregnant without a partner and therefore use the services of seed banks, she found for months no woman who was willing to talk to her. Backes suspects that the social isolation of women is one reason for this: "Many are quite alone in their decision and may regard the absence of a male partner as a deficiency for which they are responsible." In an internet forum she finally found interlocutors. "The women encourage each other," says Backes, "they want their life model to be accepted."

Hafeel Farisz / THE MIRROR

Christian Werner and Fritz Schaap

Kattankudy is located on the east coast of Sri Lanka, just a few miles away from the Zion Church, where a bomb exploded on Sunday. In the coastal town, SPIEGEL employees Fritz Schaap and photographer Christian Werner met a sister of the man who probably helped to organize the terrorist attacks. "Madaniya believes her brother has been brainwashed," says Schaap. And maybe not only the brother is involved in the attacks. "Her parents and other siblings have disappeared, too." How the attacks have changed Sri Lanka , what may happen in the future, describes Schaap in its history .

Sebastien Agnetti / THE MIRROR

Philip Bethge and Hansjörg Wyss

The Swiss philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss wants to donate one billion US dollars for nature conservation . Edited editor Philip Bethge traveled to Lake Geneva to talk with the 83-year-old about his plans and also about his fairytale riches. Bethge met a man who lives in two worlds. "Wyss brought along croissants from the bakery and can not even grasp how much money he has." Later, the two went to eat, in a house with history: the Golf Club du Domaine Impérial, right on Lake Geneva. Bethge wanted to pay the bill, but the billionaire let him know, "You can not, this is a private club."