Astrophysics

How iron in meteorites could have contributed to the origin of life more

New observations reveal how a powerful jet forms around a black hole more

A star’s chemical composition strongly influences the chances for life on planets in its neighbourhood more

James Webb Space Telescope unveils star formation in gas and dust networks of other galaxies more

Large-scale observational campaign provides new insights into an assumed black hole binary at the centre of the active galaxy OJ 287 more

Astronomers find rare Earth-mass rocky planet suitable for the search for signs of life more

In future it will be possible to incorporate data from deep space telescopes into the underlying atomic models with a high degree of reliability more

International team observes innermost structure of quasar 3C 273 more

Researchers discover an important clue as to what mechanism drives the solar wind more

The finding promises numerous similar discoveries more

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2022 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 12 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year more

Reinhard Genzel of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics on the first image of the galactic centre more

The active galaxy Centaurus A has made history in radio astronomy more

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2020 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 13 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year more

Peter Predehl from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics on the eRosita mission more

Observations of the cosmic shadow dance on 29 May 1919 substantiated a new scientific view of the world more

Like a huge spiral, the Milky Way floats in space more

Interview with Reinhard Genzel on his observation of an effect of the general theory of relativity more

Oscillations from the Milky Way disk seem to relocate stars to large vertical distances from their place of birth more

Five instruments from the Rosetta spacecraft recorded the eruption of jets of dust on 67P/Chruyumov-Gerasimenko more

Interview with Reinhard Genzel, director at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) and architect of the 30-year programme that led to the discovery of the Schwarzschild precession around the black hole at the heart of our Milky Way. Genzel describes the general relativity effect observed by his team and how it can be used to study the galactic gravity trap. more