Max Planck Institute News - SciTechDaily

How a Simple Enzyme Might Revolutionize Clean Energy

Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Nitrogenases, crucial for life, can also reduce CO2 to valuable chemicals. New research reveals that Fe-nitrogenase is more effective at this process, presenting opportunities for sustainable biotechnologies. Nitrogenases are among the most geochemically important enzymes on Earth, providing all forms of life with bioavailable nitrogen in the form of ammonia (NH3). Some nitrogenases can also [...]

Mast Cells Trap Living Neutrophils During Allergic Reactions – “We Could Hardly Believe Our Eyes”

Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 15:00:35 +0000

Researchers have discovered a surprising interaction between mast cells and neutrophils in allergic reactions, using specialized microscopy. Mast cells can trap and engulf neutrophils, creating a cell-in-cell structure known as “mast cell intracellular trap” (MIT). This interaction boosts mast cell function and could lead to new approaches for treating allergies and inflammatory diseases. The findings [...]

Webb’s Super-Jupiter Breakthrough: Oldest and Coldest Exoplanet Ever Imaged

Max Planck Institute for Astronomy — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 15:00:32 +0000

Researchers using the JWST have captured a new image of Eps Ind Ab, a super-Jupiter with an orbital distance significantly greater than previously estimated. This discovery, highlighting a colder exoplanet than typically observed, prompts a reevaluation of its mass and orbit while also offering a new method for studying distant cold gas giants through direct [...]

Light-Induced Superconductivity: A New Frontier in Quantum Physics

Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 14:41:45 +0000

Researchers have developed methods to explore and utilize superconductivity in non-equilibrium states, such as those induced by laser pulses, at temperatures much higher than traditional superconductors operate. This light-induced superconductivity has been shown to replicate crucial features like zero electrical resistance and expulsion of magnetic fields, suggesting potential applications in high-speed devices and extending superconductivity [...]

Revolutionary Opioid Research Could Transform Addiction Treatment

Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 11:15:32 +0000

Scientists have developed new biosensors that enable real-time tracking of opioid signaling in the brain, offering profound insights into the effects of opioids and enhancing the development of targeted therapeutics. New findings from a researcher at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience could revolutionize our understanding of how opioids impact the brain. Despite the [...]

Omega Centauri: A Galaxy Core Frozen in Time Reveals Its Black Hole

Max Planck Institute for Astronomy — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 11:11:40 +0000

Researchers confirmed an intermediate-mass black hole in Omega Centauri’s center, supporting theories of its origin as a distinct galaxy core merged with the Milky Way. Newly identified fast-moving stars in the star cluster Omega Centauri provide solid evidence for a central black hole in the cluster. With at least 8200 solar masses, it is the [...]

Neural Networks Made of Light: Photon Power Drives the Next AI Revolution

Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 19:52:37 +0000

A new optical system for neural networks has been developed by the Max Planck Institute, offering a simpler and more energy-efficient alternative to current methods. This system uses light transmission to perform computations, reducing the complexity and energy demands associated with traditional neural networks. Optical Neural Networks Scientists propose a new way of implementing a [...]

Unlocking Secrets to Extend Fertility With Long-Lived Proteins

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 20:21:35 +0000

Max Planck researchers have discovered that extremely long-lived proteins in the ovary may keep mammalian egg cells healthy and preserve fertility for a long time. Female mammals – including humans – are born with all of their egg cells. Of a woman’s one to two million egg cells, about 400 mature before menopause and can [...]

Billion-Mass Behemoths: Surprisingly Massive Early Universe Black Holes Challenge Cosmic Theories

Max Planck Institute for Astronomy — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:39:50 +0000

Surprisingly unspectacular: Black hole already weighed over a billion solar masses in the early universe despite average appetite. Peering into the early stages of the 13.8 billion-year-old universe, the James Webb Space Telescope has spotted a galaxy as it existed just 700 million years after the Big Bang. It is puzzling how the black hole [...]

Unraveling Malaria’s Ancient Mysteries: DNA Reveals 5,500-Year-Old Infections

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 17:56:14 +0000

Research into malaria’s history through ancient DNA reveals its profound impact on human evolution and its global spread due to colonialism, military activity, and travel, highlighting challenges in controlling its resurgence. Malaria, one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, is caused by several species of single-celled parasites that are transmitted through the bites of infected [...]

Quantum Breakthrough: First-Ever SPDC in Liquid Crystals Unveiled

Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 22:56:39 +0000

A groundbreaking study has demonstrated the use of liquid crystals for efficient and tunable spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC), expanding the potential of quantum light sources beyond traditional solid materials. Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC), a key method for generating entangled photons used in quantum physics and technology, has traditionally been restricted to solid materials. However, researchers [...]

Ancient DNA Uncovers the Secrets of Human Sacrifice at Chichén Itzá

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 17:42:01 +0000

Genetic research at Chichén Itzá has revealed the ritual sacrifice of related male children and local genetic adaptations to historical epidemics. The ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá, located in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, is one of North America’s most iconic and enigmatic archaeological sites. It rose to power in the aftermath of the Classic Maya [...]

The Science of Procrastination: A Neuroscientist’s Guide to Getting Things Done

Max Planck Society — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 11:55:32 +0000

Understanding the reasons behind our procrastination can help us regain productivity. Procrastination, the intentional yet harmful delay of tasks, manifests in various forms. Sahiti Chebolu from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics employs a precise mathematical framework to analyze its different patterns and underlying causes. Her insights could assist in creating personalized strategies to [...]

Ancient DNA Reveals Royal Family Ties in German Prehistory

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 12:13:14 +0000

Genetic studies of Celtic burial mounds dating back to 500 BCE uncover close kinships and offer fresh perspectives on the social hierarchies of ancient Celtic nobility. The Fürstengräber burial mounds at Eberdingen-Hochdorf and Asperg-Grafenbühl, which are among the most opulent burials in German prehistory featuring gold artifacts and intricate bronze vessels, have been the subject [...]

James Webb Unmasks the Carbon-Rich Secrets of Protoplanetary Disks

Max Planck Institute for Astronomy — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 18:00:11 +0000

James Webb Space Telescope discovers a large variety of carbon-rich gases that serve as ingredients for future planets around a very low-mass star. MINDS research using JWST’s MIRI instrument has uncovered carbon-rich and oxygen-poor chemical environments in disks around very low-mass stars, indicating these disks could support the formation of terrestrial planets significantly different from [...]

Does Fruit Really Fuel Brain Growth? New Study Challenges Old Ideas

Max Planck Society — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 04:20:14 +0000

Why do primates possess large brains? To investigate this, researchers in the Panamanian rainforest conducted experiments comparing the foraging intelligence of primates with larger brains to mammals with smaller brains. Primates, such as humans, possess larger brains than most other mammals. For years, researchers have explored the possibility that diet, particularly fruit consumption, might explain [...]

Trailblazers in Genetics: Researchers Chase the Cure for Rare Hereditary Diseases

Max Planck Society — Fri, 31 May 2024 00:54:19 +0000

The dynamic structure of FLVCR proteins and their role in nutrient transport within our cells have been revealed. It is known that malfunctions of the proteins FLVCR1 and FLVCR2 lead to rare hereditary diseases in humans that cause motor, sensory and neurological disorders. However, the biochemical mechanisms behind this and the physiological functions of the [...]

Orangutan Heals Own Wound With Medicinal Plant: First Ever Evidence of Self-Treatment

Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior — Mon, 06 May 2024 16:09:04 +0000

A wild orangutan was seen treating a wound with a plant known for its medicinal qualities, marking the first such observation in a wild animal. Although there are documented cases of animals self-medicating, until now, there had been no known instances of animals using medicinal plants to treat their wounds. However, recent observations by biologists [...]

At the Edge of Explosion: How New Science Is Making Old Reactions Safer

Max Planck Institute for Coal Research — Sun, 05 May 2024 21:33:27 +0000

The chemical industry has been using a reaction with explosive chemicals for over 100 years — now Mülheim scientists have discovered a safer alternative. Explosions and poisoning. Serious injuries and even deaths. In the history of the chemical industry, there have been repeated accidents, sometimes fatal, often caused by dangerous and explosive chemicals that are [...]

Scientists Identify New Brain Circuit That Inhibits Appetite

Max Planck Society — Sat, 04 May 2024 21:46:30 +0000

A neural pathway suppresses appetite when experiencing nausea. Feeling full, nauseous, or anxious can all contribute to a decrease in appetite. Postponing meals may be the body’s natural way to avoid additional harm and allow for recovery. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence have discovered a specific brain pathway that stops mice [...]

Ancient Teeth Reveal Surprising Dietary Choices in Early Humans

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:00:12 +0000

Isotopic evidence reveals surprising dietary practices of pre-agricultural human groups in Morocco. A new study examines the diet of individuals associated with the Iberomaurusian culture discovered in the cave of Taforalt, Morocco. It was conducted by an international team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (Leipzig, Germany), Géoscience et Environnement Toulouse [...]

New Research Offers a Totally New Viewpoint on the Ancient Avar Society That Dominated Eastern Central Europe

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 02:59:12 +0000

Exploring the kinship, social customs, and transformations of early medieval steppe communities in Europe through ancient DNA and archaeological evidence. The Avars, originating from Eastern Central Asia, dominated large parts of Eastern Central Europe for over two and a half centuries, from the 6th to the 9th century CE. They are perhaps not as well-known [...]

AI Efficiency Breakthrough: How Sound Waves Are Revolutionizing Optical Neural Networks

Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:34:02 +0000

Researchers have developed a way to use sound waves in optical neural networks, enhancing their ability to process data with high speed and energy efficiency. Optical neural networks may provide the high-speed and large-capacity solution necessary to tackle challenging computing tasks. However, tapping their full potential will require further advances. One challenge is the reconfigurability [...]

Ghost Particles: Neutrinos Challenge Everything We Know About Physics

Roland Wengenmayr, Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:00:02 +0000

The discovery and ongoing research into neutrinos have significantly altered the foundational concepts of particle physics, highlighting the particles’ mass and challenging the accuracy of the standard model. In the 1930s, it turned out that neither the energy nor the momentum balance is correct in the radioactive beta decay of an atomic nucleus. This led [...]