Digital media – a threat to democracy? 

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Digital media are increasingly shaping the political landscape worldwide. A new replication study takes a closer look at earlier research on the influence of digital media on democracy and confirms worrying developments. Although digital media offer opportunities for political participation and access to information, they also contribute to polarization, declining trust in institutions, and the spread of misinformation.   An AI-generated image of a cell phone on fire.

News

The secret love lives of mice

The secret love lives of mice

April 24, 2025
Behavioral Biology
Male mice fall into two camps when it comes to love: some fiercely guard the females within their territory, while others roam in search of quick flings
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Detailed view of intertwined hands of two female bonobos against a blurred jungle backdrop.

Female bonobos keep males in check with solidarity

April 24, 2025
Behavioral Biology
Females team up to maintain power in their societies
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Open letter to the President of Harvard University

Open letter to the President of Harvard University

April 22, 2025
Open letter of support for Harvard in response to demands by the Trump administration that the University change its hiring, admissions, and other policies — including those related to protesting and diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes — in order to retain federal funding [PDF]
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Further News

Career

Full indoor shot of a large, dark-red robotic arm and a dark-red, dome-shaped object suspended from it, along with two people standing in the foreground. The arm is large and complex, with many dark-colored, flexible components and a dark-grey base. Steps and caution tape are visible on the floor around the base of the robotic arm. A dark-red, rounded object resembles a large head or helmet, suspended from the robotic arm, hanging over the scene. The material is smooth and appears to be some kind of composite. Two individuals are centrally positioned in front of the robotic apparatus. A man and a woman stand side-by-side, smiling, looking at the camera. Both wear casual clothing: the man wears a maroon-colored t-shirt and dark-colored pants, while the woman is wearing a teal-green sweater and dark-wash jeans. The background is mostly dark grey walls and a dark-grey floor surface. The walls appear to be made of brick-like or panelled material. The overall impression is of a technological or manufacturing environment, potentially a research lab or design studio. The image highlights a sophisticated piece of industrial machinery alongside human operators.

Innovative training programmes for Phd students

Talented German and foreign junior scientists are offered the opportunity to earn a doctorate under excellent research conditions
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Max Planck Postdoc Program

Max Planck Postdoc Program

The new Max Planck Postdoc Program offers top emerging talents a range of attractive measures and opportunities
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Job Offers

State-certified technical assistant (m/f/d) specializing in chemistry

Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena
April 25, 2025

Team Assistant (f/m/d) (50%, parental leave cover until 31.10.2026)

Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Tübingen site, Tübingen
April 24, 2025

PhD Student (f/m/d) | Computational Genomics

Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin
April 23, 2025
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Career

Topic Specials

Climate and transformation

Climate and transformation

In addition to climate forecasts, the consequences of climate change are increasingly becoming the focus of research at Max Planck Institutes
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The brain

The brain

The human brain is the most complex organ that nature has ever produced: 100 billion nerve cells and many times more contact points give it capabilities that no supercomputer can match
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Migration

Migration

The causes and consequences of human mobility and its history are central topics for research at Max Planck Institutes
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Further Topic Specials

Events

April 2025
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
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14 15 16 17 18 19 20
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28 29 30
Cluster cosmology and mass calibration in KiDS-1000: methods for current and upcoming surveys

Apr 1, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Towards more sustainable uses of rare earth elements - from an inorganic and biological perspective

Apr 1, 2025 from 04:00 PM to 05:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

ESG Intermediaries and Corporate Sustainability Convergence

Apr 8, 2025 from 05:00 PM to 06:15 PM (Local Time Germany)

Corals as a dumping ground? What research says about the threat of microplastics?

Apr 10, 2025 from 05:00 PM to 08:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Consuming Modernism: Erich Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, and the Museum of Modern Art

Apr 14, 2025 from 06:00 PM to 07:30 PM (Local Time Germany)

Public event, registration open until April 13

National Security Law, Authoritarian Legacy, and Constitutional Courts

Apr 23, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM (Local Time Germany)

Political economy

Apr 25, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Upcoming Events

Potsdam Science Day 2025

May 10, 2025 01:00 PM - 07:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Potsdam Science Park

Science Day – family day on the Polymer Path

May 18, 2025 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Mainz, Room: Außengelände

18th Science Night in Magdeburg - 14th June 2025

Jun 14, 2025 06:00 PM - 11:59 PM (Local Time Germany)
Magdeburg
All Events

Publications


Evaluation - The procedures of the Max Planck Society
Living and working in Germany
MaxPlanckResearch 4/2024: Focus: Do I have a choice?
Yearbook Highlights 2023
Image brochure - Max Planck Society
Annual Report 2023 of the Max Planck Society
Research is calling - We promote pioneers in science
Talent Companion

From the Institutes


MPI of Molecular Plant Physiology
New method for predicting plant traits for higher yields more
MPI of Psychiatry
Early Life Stress Can Build Resilience in Females more
MPI of Biophysics
Necroptosis Regulation: Balancing Life and Death more
MPI for Human Development
Verbal fluency in old age is an indicator of higher life expectancy more
MPI of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
Metabolism shapes life more
MPI for Evolutionary Biology
Players Can Succeed with Less Memory in Game Settings more
MPI for Evolutionary Biology
New Study Calls for a Rethink of Cooperation in Biology more
MPI for Plant Breeding Research
A New Tool for Parsing the ‘Metabolic Dialogue’ Between Microorganisms more
MPI of Immunobiology and Epigenetics
From one to the right more
MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology
Animal behavioral diversity at risk in the face of declining biodiversity more
MPI of Immunobiology and Epigenetics
Healing a broken heart more
MPI for Multidisciplinary Sciences
Starting signal for cell division more
MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology
Modelling the demography of agricultural transitions more
MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology
Chimpanzees understand material properties more
MPI of Biochemistry
Cracking the Code of Protein Degradation more
MPI for Physics
Turbo for cosmic jets more
MPI of Molecular Plant Physiology
Structure of the glycocalyx more
MPI for Plant Breeding Research
The Role of the Casparian Strip in Nitrogen Fixation more

Multimedia


Unraveling Behavior

Unraveling Behavior

Podcast
A science podcast about the patterns driving human judgment and decision making. In each episode,  Ana Sofia Morais sits down with a researcher to explore how people make decisions, how they handle risk, and how our surroundings and the online world shape our behavior.
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Cell droplet research

Cell droplet research

Video
A new hope for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. A film about the research of Anthony Hyman, who was awared the Koerber Prize 2022 and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences 2023.
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Flight and Trauma

Flight and Trauma

Video
Traumatic experiences from fleeing war zones can lead to distressing symptoms, which impair everyday life. Now with Ukranian sub-titles.
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Optogenetics | briefly explained

Optogenetics | briefly explained

Video
Turning nerve cells on and off using pulses of light. Optogenetics is a relatively new field that uses light to control genetically modified cells. It is based on light-activated membrane proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin or channelrhodopsin, that are built into nerve cells.
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