How sugar manipulates
our brain

more
Sugar affects the brain’s chemistry and increases our craving for sweet things A glass filled with white sugar cubes and a striped straw stands on a light-coloured wooden table against a plain blue background.

News

Dark background, bright circular structures with labels for WISPIT2b and WISPIT2c.

Rare discovery of two protoplanets

March 27, 2026
Astronomy Astrophysics
A cosmic laboratory for planet formation in the WISPIT-2 System
A sea snail with blue, black, white and yellow stripes (running from the centre outwards) and red protrusions resembling horns.

Impressionist sea slugs

March 20, 2026
Chemistry (M&T) Materials Sciences (M&T)
Nudibranchs create their colourful patterns using structural colours, which they arrange in microscopic dots similar to Impressionist paintings
A photograph of Gerd Faltings, wearing glasses, a blue shirt and a blue jumper, sitting in profile. He is reading a newspaper.

Gerd Faltings to receive the 2026 Abel Prize

March 19, 2026
Awards Mathematics
The director emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics is the first German researcher to receive this prestigious mathematics prize
Further News

Career

Graphic with AI symbol in the centre, surrounded by digital circuits. At the top right, a graduation cap in a circle.

New Max Planck School of Biomedical Artificial Intelligence

March 12, 2026
Artificial Intelligence
The new School will develop advanced AI methods for basic life sciences research. The concept was developed under the coordination of Karsten Borgwardt, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry.
The Max Planck Postdoc Program offers a guaranteed contract of at least 3 years, targeted mentoring, and career workshops. Applications for the new call are possible until April 13, 2026

Max Planck Postdoc Program

March 01, 2026
The Max Planck Postdoc Program offers top emerging talents a range of attractive measures and opportunities. The current call for applications is open from March 1st until April 13th, 2026. 
Three people in white lab coats are standing in a modern laboratory with green doors, a clock and an emergency exit sign.

Call for Applications 2026: Lise Meitner Research Groups

The MPG offers excellent researchers again the possibility to apply for a position as a Leader of a Lise Meitner Research Group in all areas of science. Applications are possible until April 15th, 2026. 

Job Offers

Postdoctoral Fellow (m/f/d) | Political Science

Max Planck Institute for Political and Social Science, Göttingen
March 27, 2026

Postdoctoral Fellow (m/f/d) | Political Violence

Max Planck Institute for Political and Social Science, Göttingen
March 27, 2026

Team Assistant (m/f/d) 50-60% (Job Share)

Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Stuttgart
March 27, 2026
to the JobBoard
Career

Topic Specials

The muddy hands of a person cupped together under a water tap in a muddy background.

Climate and Transformation

In addition to climate forecasts, the consequences of climate change are increasingly becoming the focus of research at Max Planck Institutes
A schematic view from above of a human brain with many coloured fibres connecting the two halves and extending out in various directions.

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
Full shot of a world map, likely a graphic design or print, overlaid with numerous passport stamps of varying colors and sizes.

Migration

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

Publications


Illustration of networks and two persons
Cover of the brochure Living and Working in Germany
Research is Calling! cover
Cover Max Planck Research Magazine 4/2025
Image brochure - Max Planck Society
Cover - Highlights 2024 from the Yearbook of the Max Planck Society
Annual Report 2024 cover - Max Planck Society
Evaluation cover

From the Institutes


MPI for Chemistry, et al.
Fungi use “start button” for ice from bacteria more
MPI for Radio Astronomy
Radio Signals from the Edge of Extreme Stars more
MPI for Evolutionary Biology
Bold animals do not always live fast more
MPI of Biochemistry
Study reveals 2FA system that controls protein and microRNA destruction more
MPI for Chemical Ecology
Quinine biosynthesis solved more
MPI for Evolutionary Biology
Immunity shapes decisions more
MPI for Evolutionary Biology
The developmental hourglass has a cellular basis more
MPI for Biological Intelligence (Martinsried site), et al.
A familiar voice shapes how zebra finches hear and respond more
Max Planck Innovation
Batene secures €6 million for next development phase more
MPI of Molecular Plant Physiology
Friendly fungi hijack plant immune system more
MPI for Demographic Research
Large Gaps in Migration Research more
MPI of Molecular Plant Physiology
Paternal mitochondria rescuing plant fertility more
MPI for Biological Intelligence (Martinsried site), et al.
How birds achieve sweet success more
MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology
Kava drinking and its role in cultural evolution more
MPI for Physics
Dark matter: Detection with sugar? more
MPI for Brain Research
Ribosomes in pairs more
MPI for Astrophysics, et al.
Measuring the expansion of the universe differently than usual more
MPI for Evolutionary Biology
Big pattern, small model more

Events

March 2026
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Lise-Meitner-Lecture 2026 „Gravitational wave astronomy – quo vadis?“

Mar 18, 2026 from 07:00 PM to 08:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Upcoming Events

Dangerous Science, Anticipation and the Human Right to Science

Apr 22, 2026 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Freiburg/Germany, Fürstenbergstr. 19, Room: Seminar room (F 113) | Guests are welcome; please register

Plant-based – the future? What do researchers think about meat substitutes.

Apr 29, 2026 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Room: Seminar room 1.009

Tomorrow Labs: The Festival at the Science Port Magdeburg - 6 June 2026

Jun 6, 2026 04:00 PM - 09:59 PM (Local Time Germany)
Magdeburg
All Events

Multimedia


Screenshot of the picture gallery "My Science and Me"

My Science and Me

What fascinates scientists about their research? What drives them? Science thrives on the people who shape it. Our picture gallery depicts aspects of research from the perspective of those who carry it out
Two smiling women standing looking in the direction of the camera with a dark background.

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.
A microsopic view of a fluorescent green worm on a black background.

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.
A sombre grey cartoon image of four people sitting on a bench.

Flight and Trauma

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

Social Media

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