Scientific highlights 2022

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

Anatomical barriers shield the brain from SARS-CoV-2 invasion at vulnerable interfaces

December 07, 2022

Corona Medicine

Absence of evidence for neurotropism and neuroinvasion of several SARS-CoV-2 variants including Omicron more

How dangerous is digital media for democracy?

November 07, 2022

Digitalisation Social Sciences

Systematic review shows significant impact on factors such as trust, participation, populism, and polarization more

A traveler from the edge of the Solar System

October 20, 2022

Astronomy Astrophysics Solar System

Iron isotopes in samples from asteroid Ryugu suggest its origin to lie beyond the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn more

Scientists unearth another brain-shrinking mammal

September 19, 2022

Brain Ecology (B&M)

A study of moles reveals that cold weather – not lack of food – drives the rare phenomenon of reversible brain shrinkage in mammals more

Modern humans generate more brain neurons than Neanderthals

September 08, 2022

Brain Genetics Neanderthals

Due to the change of a single amino acid, brain evolution has proceeded differently more

How does nature nurture the brain?

September 05, 2022

Brain Cognitive Research Psychology

Study shows that a one-hour walk in nature reduces stress-related brain activity more

The universe in a new dimension

July 12, 2022

Astronomy Astrophysics Cosmology Galaxies

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

The future of encryption

July 06, 2022

Computer Science

Cryptographic systems that even quantum computers cannot crack will soon be standard in the USA more

Origins of the Black Death identified

June 15, 2022

Human History Infection Biology Medicine Social Sciences

Multidisciplinary team studied ancient plague genomes more

Fingertip sensitivity for robots

A thumb-shaped sensor with a camera hidden inside is trained to infer haptic contact information. more

JET fusion facility sets a new world energy record

February 10, 2022

Energy Plasma Physics

European joint experiment prepares transition to large-scale ITER project more

Beating the odds in mutation’s game of chance

January 12, 2022

Genetics Plant Research (E&C) Evolution

Discovery that plants protect their most essential genes transforms our view of evolution more