First image of a star beyond the Milky Way

Astronomers have captured the first close-up picture of a star outside our galaxy. The colossal red supergiant WOH G64, 160,000 light-years away, lies within the Large Magellanic Cloud and appears on the verge of exploding as a supernova. more

Oldest modern human genomes sequenced

Genomes of seven early Europeans show they belonged to a small, isolated group that had recently mixed with Neandertals but left no present-day descendants more

Orangutan treats wound with pain-relieving plant

Researchers observe a wild orangutan applying a plant with known medicinal properties to a wound, a first for a wild animal more

News

Bat in tree
Scientists use ultra-light sensors connected like cell phones to study how bats migrate over Europe
A single step from ores to sustainable metals
Metals and alloys can be extracted, mixed and processed in a single, energy-efficient step without CO2 emissions
During the Christmas season, reindeer have plenty of time on their hands
After migrating to their wintering grounds, the animals move as little as possible to conserve energy

Topic Specials

Climate and transformation
In addition to climate forecasts, the consequences of climate change are increasingly becoming the focus of research at Max Planck Institutes
The brain
The human brain is the most complex organ that nature has ever produced: 100 billion nerve cells and many times more contact points give it capabilities that no supercomputer can match
Migration
The causes and consequences of human mobility and its history are central topics for research at Max Planck Institutes

Career

A first-class doctoral training
The International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) have been an integral part of our support for doctoral students since 2000, giving talented students the opportunity to do their doctorate under excellent conditions
The Postdoc Phase: Springboard after the Doctorate
Completed your doctorate and looking to advance in science, business, or society—or start your own company? If excellent research is key to your goals, the Max Planck Society is the place for you.

Job Offers

Postdoc and Ph.D. student positions

Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Halle (Saale)
January 08, 2025

Secretary (f/m/d) | 15 Hours/Week

Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim an der Ruhr
January 06, 2025

Fully funded PhD Positions (Doctoral Researcher m/f/d) | Condensed Matter Science

Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart
January 01, 2025

Publications


Talent Companion
Research is calling - We promote pioneers in science
75 years Max Planck Society
Annual Report 2023 of the Max Planck Society
Yearbook Highlights 2023
MaxPlanckResearch 3/2024: Focus: On Life and Survival

From the Institutes


MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deciphering relations between language families more
MPI for Gravitational Physics (Hannover)
Understanding mysterious magnetars and radio bursts with gravitational waves more
MPI for Biology Tübingen
Cancer therapy with protein design more

Multimedia


Unraveling Behavior

Unraveling Behavior

Podcast
A science podcast about the patterns driving human judgment and decision making. In each episode,  Ana Sofia Morais sits down with a researcher to explore how people make decisions, how they handle risk, and how our surroundings and the online world shape our behavior.
Cell droplet research

Cell droplet research

Video
A new hope for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. A film about the research of Anthony Hyman, who was awared the Koerber Prize 2022 and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences 2023.
Flight and Trauma

Flight and Trauma

Video
Traumatic experiences from fleeing war zones can lead to distressing symptoms, which impair everyday life. Now with Ukranian sub-titles.

Social Media