diff --git a/src/lib/components/VerticalHelix.svelte b/src/lib/components/VerticalHelix.svelte
index 0913632..cb72865 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/VerticalHelix.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/VerticalHelix.svelte
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
    * Palette: Waterschap Brabantse Delta — #0d4f9e, #1fa0db, #bed137.
    */
 
+  import { onMount, onDestroy } from 'svelte';
   import LinkChip from './LinkChip.svelte';
 
   type ProjectLink = {
@@ -54,6 +55,37 @@
   const PERIOD = 320;
   const k = (2 * Math.PI) / PERIOD;
 
+  // Rotation: phase advances continuously, giving the strands the look of
+  // a 3D helix spinning around its long axis. One full rotation every
+  // SECONDS_PER_TURN seconds. requestAnimationFrame loop runs only when
+  // prefers-reduced-motion is "no-preference".
+  const SECONDS_PER_TURN = 24;
+  let phase = $state(0);
+  let raf = 0;
+  let lastT = 0;
+  let paused = $state(false);
+
+  function tick(t: number) {
+    if (lastT && !paused) {
+      const dt = Math.min(0.1, (t - lastT) / 1000); // clamp dt for tab-resume
+      phase = (phase + (2 * Math.PI * dt) / SECONDS_PER_TURN) % (2 * Math.PI);
+    }
+    lastT = t;
+    raf = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+  }
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    if (typeof window === 'undefined') return;
+    const mq = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)');
+    if (!mq.matches) {
+      raf = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    }
+  });
+
+  onDestroy(() => {
+    if (raf) cancelAnimationFrame(raf);
+  });
+
   type Rung = { y: number; x1: number; x2: number; depth: number; aFront: boolean };
   type Slot = {
     project: StrandProject;
@@ -73,16 +105,18 @@
   /**
    * Splits a strand into "front" or "back" segments for true 3D occlusion.
    *
-   * A strand is in front of the other where its absolute distance from CX
-   * has the same sign as the convention: strand A (sign=+1) is in front when
-   * sin(ky) > 0; strand B (sign=-1) is in front when sin(ky) < 0. In both
-   * cases the strand is in front when sign * sin(ky) > 0.
+   * Strand is in front when sign * sin(k*y + phase) > 0. Segments are cut
+   * at crossing points (where sin(k*y + phase) = 0) so consecutive front
+   * and back runs meet seamlessly at (CX, y_crossing).
    *
-   * Output is a single SVG path string with multiple `M…L…` runs separated
-   * at every crossing point so each run lives entirely on one side of the
-   * "in front" boundary.
+   * Crossings: k*y_c + phase = n*π  →  y_c = (n*π - phase) / k
    */
-  function buildStrandSplit(sign: 1 | -1, partition: 'front' | 'back', height: number): string {
+  function buildStrandSplit(
+    sign: 1 | -1,
+    partition: 'front' | 'back',
+    height: number,
+    ph: number
+  ): string {
     const steps = Math.max(240, Math.floor(height / 1.8));
     const dy = height / steps;
     const runs: string[] = [];
@@ -91,21 +125,19 @@
 
     for (let i = 0; i <= steps; i++) {
       const y = dy * i;
-      const s = Math.sin(k * y);
+      const s = Math.sin(k * y + ph);
       const x = CX + sign * AMP * s;
       const inFront = sign * s > 0;
       const want = (partition === 'front') === inFront;
 
       if (want) {
-        const cmd = inSeg ? 'L' : 'M';
-        buf.push(`${cmd}${x.toFixed(3)} ${y.toFixed(3)}`);
+        buf.push(`${inSeg ? 'L' : 'M'}${x.toFixed(3)} ${y.toFixed(3)}`);
         inSeg = true;
       } else if (inSeg) {
-        // Close out the run AT the crossing point so consecutive
-        // front/back segments meet seamlessly at (CX, y_crossing).
         const lastY = parseFloat(buf[buf.length - 1].slice(1).split(' ')[1]);
-        // Solve sin(k*y_c) = 0 in (lastY, y] → y_c = round(y / (PERIOD/2)) * PERIOD/2
-        const yc = Math.round(((lastY + y) / 2) / (PERIOD / 2)) * (PERIOD / 2);
+        const midY = (lastY + y) / 2;
+        const n = Math.round((k * midY + ph) / Math.PI);
+        const yc = (n * Math.PI - ph) / k;
         buf.push(`L${CX.toFixed(3)} ${yc.toFixed(3)}`);
         runs.push(buf.join(' '));
         buf = [];
@@ -117,16 +149,16 @@
     return runs.join(' ');
   }
 
-  const strandAFront = $derived(buildStrandSplit(1, 'front', H));
-  const strandABack = $derived(buildStrandSplit(1, 'back', H));
-  const strandBFront = $derived(buildStrandSplit(-1, 'front', H));
-  const strandBBack = $derived(buildStrandSplit(-1, 'back', H));
+  const strandAFront = $derived(buildStrandSplit(1, 'front', H, phase));
+  const strandABack = $derived(buildStrandSplit(1, 'back', H, phase));
+  const strandBFront = $derived(buildStrandSplit(-1, 'front', H, phase));
+  const strandBBack = $derived(buildStrandSplit(-1, 'back', H, phase));
 
   const rungs = $derived.by<Rung[]>(() => {
     const out: Rung[] = [];
     const RUNG_SPACING = 22;
     for (let y = 0; y <= H; y += RUNG_SPACING) {
-      const sA = Math.sin(k * y);
+      const sA = Math.sin(k * y + phase);
       out.push({
         y,
         x1: CX + AMP * sA,
@@ -142,7 +174,7 @@
     projects.map((p, i) => {
       // Y is slot-based; nodes sit on the rung centre at this Y.
       const y = TOP_PAD + i * SLOT_HEIGHT + SLOT_HEIGHT / 2;
-      const sA = Math.sin(k * y);
+      const sA = Math.sin(k * y + phase);
       return {
         project: p,
         index: i,
@@ -164,6 +196,15 @@
   style:--vh-h="{H}px"
   aria-label="Projects bound to the R&D-lab strands"
 >
+  <!-- Hover-to-pause hit area, transparent — sits behind cards but covers the
+       central helix column so users can pause to read the cards comfortably. -->
+  <div
+    class="vhelix-hover-zone"
+    role="presentation"
+    onpointerenter={() => (paused = true)}
+    onpointerleave={() => (paused = false)}
+  ></div>
+
   <svg
     class="vhelix-svg"
     viewBox="0 0 {W} {H}"
@@ -367,6 +408,18 @@
     pointer-events: none;
   }
 
+  /* Hover area is a narrow vertical strip down the centre — covers the
+     helix without stealing pointer events from the cards on either side. */
+  .vhelix-hover-zone {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 0;
+    bottom: 0;
+    left: 50%;
+    width: 280px;
+    transform: translateX(-50%);
+    z-index: 0;
+  }
+
   .vhelix-cards {
     position: relative;
     width: 100%;