Max Planck Society Yearbook Highlights
Each year, the Max Planck Society submits a scientific research report in the form of a yearbook to render account of the scientific research performed at its Institutes to the public and its funding providers. The central questions addressed are: where do we stand, and where do we want to go? The Max Planck Institutes are asked to select a work or project from their scientific activities that is suitable for presentation in the yearbook, as far as these have reached a certain degree of completion. The yearbook contributions of all Max Planck Institutes are published on the website.
For this printed collection, 15 articles were selected and edited in a journalistic manner, which seemed particularly suited for publication from a science communication perspective and especially interesting also for non-experts. The highlights of the 2024 Yearbook showcase the wide range of scientific endeavours pursued by the Max Planck Society, covering fields such as materials science, biochemistry, and automated decision-making.
At the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, scientists have identified the hormone adrenomedullin as a key player in blood vessel function. This discovery could pave the way for more targeted treatments for type 2 diabetes – a disease that affects over six million people in Germany and more than 400 million worldwide, largely driven by severe obesity.
In the push for sustainability, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems are developing computer-assisted “zero waste” biorefinery processes. These aim to reduce reliance on fossil resources by using biomass more efficiently in the production of plastics, dyes and pharmaceuticals.
The Yearbook also addresses pressing societal issues. One project at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law explores the consequences of states outsourcing military power to private contractors – highlighting short-term gains but also long-term risks that are often overlooked.
Happy reading!
