Cosmology

Section of a circle with a band of gray and white streaks at the equator and a multitude of red and blue circles above and below it

Results from the first X-ray sky survey resolve the previous inconsistency between competing measurements of the structure of the Universe
  more

Research highlights 2023

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2023 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

Collage of three sections of the simulation. Each section shows three sub-aspects of the simulation on three segments arranged like pieces of cake. Each part shows net-like structures with different colours: yellow to magenta (top right), grey to yellow (top left) and white on a black background (bottom).

New computer simulation of the universe as a promising multitool more

A coloured network that resembles a vortex with a central tightening. The outer areas of the vortex appear blue-greyish with magenta-white islands, while the circular core area appears in deep blue.

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

A radio telescope opens up new horizons

The European observatory NOEMA reaches full capacity with twelve antennas more

Galaxies behind a gravitational magnifier

The James Webb Telescope reveals extremely distant objects more

Preparing for the world’s biggest radio telescope

Astronomers simulate physical processes in the interstellar medium of galaxies at “Cosmic Noon” for future SKAO observations more

The universe in a new dimension

Astronomical objects appear in unprecedented detail in the first images from the James Webb Telescope more

The illustration contains several components of the Universe. From bottom left to top right follow an open telescope dome, a band of stars and luminous gas, a zone with black background and many images of galaxies from the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, an area with young galaxies with jets and surrounding transparent spheres labeled "Reionization Era / Cosmic Dawn", a zone without light sources labeled "Dark Ages" and finally a sector of a sphere of small blue, yellow and red zones, a representation of the cosmic background radiation.

Astronomers determine the time when all the neutral hydrogen gas between galaxies produced by the Big Bang became fully ionised more

Show more
Collage of three sections of the simulation. Each section shows three sub-aspects of the simulation on three segments arranged like pieces of cake. Each part shows net-like structures with different colours: yellow to magenta (top right), grey to yellow (top left) and white on a black background (bottom).

New computer simulation of the universe as a promising multitool more

A coloured network that resembles a vortex with a central tightening. The outer areas of the vortex appear blue-greyish with magenta-white islands, while the circular core area appears in deep blue.

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

A radio telescope opens up new horizons

The European observatory NOEMA reaches full capacity with twelve antennas more

Galaxies behind a gravitational magnifier

The James Webb Telescope reveals extremely distant objects more

Preparing for the world’s biggest radio telescope

Astronomers simulate physical processes in the interstellar medium of galaxies at “Cosmic Noon” for future SKAO observations more

The universe in a new dimension

Astronomical objects appear in unprecedented detail in the first images from the James Webb Telescope more

Gruber Cosmology Prize for Frank Eisenhauer

The scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics is honoured for developing pioneering instruments more

The early cooling of the universe

The shadow of a cosmic water cloud reveals the temperature of the young universe more

Cosmic beacon in the early Universe

Astronomers discover the most distant radio-loud quasar currently known more

<p>A glance into the cosmic star factory</p>

Astronomers observe how the fuel for star formation has evolved over the course of the history of the universe more

Show more
Research highlights 2023

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2023 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

Moon dust is not to be sneezed at

50 years ago, Max Planck Scientists were among the first to analyze lunar rock samples more

“The galactic centre offers fantastic opportunities”

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

The far side of the Milky Way

Astronomers achieve record measurement for an improved picture of our home galaxy more

Ring around a dwarf planet detected

Ten observatories put their sight on the dwarf planet more

Three-detector observation of gravitational waves

The cosmic ripples were not only observed by the two Ligo observatories in the USA, but also the Italian detector Virgo more

The double asteroid

An object with the name 288P is the only known active asteroid comprising two components more

<p>4.6 billion-year-old galaxy shines light on our universe</p>

A distant galaxy's effects on radio waves provide clues about the formation of cosmic magnetic fields more

Neutrinos as drivers of supernovae

Radioactive elements in gaseous supernova remnant Cassiopeia A provide glimpses into the explosion of massive stars more

Show more
Go to Editor View