Complex Systems (Materials and Technology)

A room with dark metal walls and intricate reflections that catch the light, with scientist Eberhard Bodenschatz, a man in his early 60s in a red shirt, working at a table.

A hundred years ago, the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Flow Research began its work. From it emerged today’s Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organisation, which continues to explore fundamental questions in the physics of complex dynamic systems – remaining true to its commitment to uncovering the deep interconnections of the physical world. more

Graphical abstract. Multiple connected ghost attractors (blue) attract trajectories from multiple directions while at the same time transiently slowing down the system dynamics at each ghost, before the trajectory can move to the next ghost attractor in the sequence. Underlying this behavior is a shallow plateau in the systems quasi-energy potential (inset)

Ghost channels explain transient behaviors of complex systems like climate processes or neuronal networks more

What do neurons, fireflies and dancing the Nutbush have in common?

Scientists have developed new tools to understand how networks fsynchronize more

EcoBus van with "Der Bus, der zu Ihnen kommt!" slogan parked on cobblestone street amidst historic half-timbered houses, with trees nearby.

The newly founded company EcoBus GmbH is developing software infrastructure that combines shuttle services and regular bus services to provide a sustainable public transport solution more

The order of life

A new model that describes the organization of organisms could lead to a better understanding of biological processes more

Synchro swimmers under the microscope

Bacteria are less able to use chemical signals for orientation, if they realign themselves in the collective more

Machine learning methods which calculate movements are susceptible to interference more

Machines in dialogue

Rupak Majumdar, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems in Kaiserslautern, develops mathematical methods for ensuring the reliability of networked systems. more

The smallest ice crystals in the world

An ingenious experiment reveals the minimum number of molecules needed before water forms a crystalline structure more

Behaviour of 15-alanine polypeptide.

Successful multi-scale modelling of materials and processes is now predictive and not just descriptive. more

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A room with dark metal walls and intricate reflections that catch the light, with scientist Eberhard Bodenschatz, a man in his early 60s in a red shirt, working at a table.

A hundred years ago, the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Flow Research began its work. From it emerged today’s Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organisation, which continues to explore fundamental questions in the physics of complex dynamic systems – remaining true to its commitment to uncovering the deep interconnections of the physical world. more

EcoBus van with "Der Bus, der zu Ihnen kommt!" slogan parked on cobblestone street amidst historic half-timbered houses, with trees nearby.

The newly founded company EcoBus GmbH is developing software infrastructure that combines shuttle services and regular bus services to provide a sustainable public transport solution more

The order of life

A new model that describes the organization of organisms could lead to a better understanding of biological processes more

Synchro swimmers under the microscope

Bacteria are less able to use chemical signals for orientation, if they realign themselves in the collective more

Machine learning methods which calculate movements are susceptible to interference more

Machines in dialogue

Rupak Majumdar, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems in Kaiserslautern, develops mathematical methods for ensuring the reliability of networked systems. more

The smallest ice crystals in the world

An ingenious experiment reveals the minimum number of molecules needed before water forms a crystalline structure more

Behaviour of 15-alanine polypeptide.

Successful multi-scale modelling of materials and processes is now predictive and not just descriptive. more

Thinking too complicated?

Neuronal activity is far more predictable than has until now been assumed more

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