Research News

When active filaments are exposed to localized illumination, they accumulate into stable structures along the boundaries of the illuminated area. Based on this fact, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) developed a model that can be used to simulate the self-organization of thread-like living matter. This model provides important insights for potential technical applications in the formation of structures. more

Scientists measure the variability in music pieces more

Members of the Junge Akademie are formulating guiding principles, practical tips, and a utopia of science communication more

By applying an electric field, the movement of microswimmers can be manipulated. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS), the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad and the University of Twente, Netherlands, describe the underlying physical principles by comparing experiments and theoretical modeling predictions. They are able to tune the direction and mode of motion through a microchannel between oscillation, wall adherence and centerline orientation, enabling different interactions with the environment. more

Acht aktuelle Themen aus Natur-, Geistes- und Gesellschaftswissenschaften präsentiert die Reihe „Wissenschaft beim Göttinger Literaturherbst“ more

How molecular interactions make it possible to overcome the energy barrier more

Filamentous cyanobacteria buckle at a certain length when they encounter an obstacle. This was discovered by the research group of Stefan Karpitschka, group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization and professor at the University of Konstanz. The results provide an important basis for the use of cyanobacteria in modern biotechnology. more

Nuremberg/Göttingen: In the “SMARTIES” (SMART Integrated Electronic Sensors for quantifying atmospheric transport and mixing) research project, the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS are developing and testing a system of intelligent mini-balloons with atmospheric tracers – called SMARTIES. These are equipped with the wireless transmission technology mioty® and can collect atmospheric data from up to several thousand sensors via a single flying base station, which can then be used in predictive models for transport of particles. This should make it possible to react more quickly and warn people in the event of extreme weather events or environmental disasters. more

The mathematician Irmgard Flügge-Lotz died 50 years ago. She was one of the first female researchers in aeronautical engineering and worked at a predecessor organization of today's German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) in Göttingen. In the 1930s, she succeeded in making the design of airplanes easier to calculate. more

A new theory of elastic phase separation can help to control pattern formation on small scales more