Research News

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

Using light pulses as a model for electrical defibrillation, Göttingen scientists developed a method to assess and modulate the heart function. The research team from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) and the University Göttingen Medical Center thus paved the way for an efficient and direct treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. This may be an alternative for the strong and painful electrical shocks currently used. more

During this year's spring conference of the German Physical Society (DPG), Viola Priesemann received the Young Scientist Award for Socio- and Econophysics. The physicist conducts research at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) and the University of Göttingen. The prize is endowed with 7,500 euros and honors her work on propagation processes in complex systems. more

The curvature of a surface determines the migration behavior of biological cells. They preferentially move along valleys or grooves while avoiding ridges. These findings with contribution from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) and the Weizmann Institute of Science gave rise to a model predicting cellular behavior. Such universal principles now allow a better understanding of the migration of immune and cancer cells, paving the way for new treatment options. more

New product called Human Plugins by Mixed In Key is based on Max Planck and Harvard research more

Tiny particles such as ice crystals or ash particles tend to oscillate as they settle through the atmosphere. In their experiments, the scientists were able to track non-spherical particles of size smaller than 1 millimeter with unprecedented accuracy. Their observations gave rise to a model which can help to refine prediction on air pollutants or weather forecasts. more