News

Methane-producing archaea are more adaptable to nutrient-poor habitats than previously thought. more

Removing a single component from the large nuclear pore complex has surprising effects during cell differentiation more

A new study reveals the dual role of MLKL in necroptosis, paving the way for new treatments for inflammatory diseases. more

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics and the University of Cologne developed a new optical tool to study ferroptosis, a form of iron-driven cell death. Better understanding of how it spreads could open doors to new therapies. more

A new structural study reveals the mechanism used by anaerobic microbes to grow on waste gases more

New evidence points towards a forceful entry of HIV-1 capsid into the nucleus of human cells more

A research team from Frankfurt and Freiburg has discovered how cells recognise and internally break down waste.
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Our researchers take a deep dive into Polytomella mitochondria to study the structure of ATP synthase in its native environment more

Innovative technology incorporated in Nanoscope’s gene therapy offers hope for restoring vision in genetically caused visual impairments more

Dynamic structure of FLVCR proteins and their function in nutrient transport in our cells revealed more

Researchers develop novel method to predict the morphology of sugar coats on clinically relevant proteins within minutes more

On February 5, 2024, we participated in the “Frankfurt Stands Up for Democracy” demonstration, standing alongside nearly 20,000 participants representing over 100 institutions, organizations, and companies across the Frankfurt region. more

The Max Planck Institute of Biophysics is part of the new science network Frankfurt Alliance together with 15 other research institutions in the Rhine-Main metropolitan area more

The fellow program promotes cooperation between Max Planck Institutes and outstanding professors at universities. From March 2024, Müller-McNicoll will lead a small research group at the MPI in Frankfurt for five years to investigate RNA, the carrier of genetic information in the cell, and its regulation. more

In 1988, our Director Emeritus Hartmut Michel was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, together with Robert Huber and Johann Deisenhofer. On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, the Max Planck Society honors all its Nobel Laureates and their work in the Digital Story “Pioneers of Science”. more

The close ties of the Max Planck Society with Israel date back to the period shortly after the Holocaust when reconciliation between Germans and Israelis appeared unimaginable. more

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund and the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt have joined forces to precisely identify a region in actin that functions as a “molecular backdoor” for phosphate to exit through. more

Her research on the molecular mechanisms of cell death complements the biophysical scope of her fellow Directors’ work more

Illustration on the cover of the journal Nature Chemical Biology underlines importance of the discovery more

Researchers observe structural dynamics of ribosomes and their interactions with an anticancer drug while they translate the genetic code into proteins
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Her dissertation on the structure of mitochondrial proteins has earnt her one of the Max Planck Society’s top distinctions for young researchers. more

The SCALE cluster initiative: Subcellular Architecture of Life, has been selected as a Cluster of Excellence by the German Research Foundation. more

Congratulations to our Max Planck Research Group Leader Florian Wilfling on being selected for the prestigious EMBO Young Investigators Programme! more

German Research Foundation honors Kims research on genome packaging more

In 1988, our Director Emeritus Hartmut Michel was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, together with Robert Huber and Johann Deisenhofer. On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, the Max Planck Society honors all its Nobel Laureates and their work in the Digital Story “Pioneers of Science”. more

The German Society for Cell Biology (DGZ, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zellbiologie) and the company ibidi honor Florian Wilfling for his excellent research in cell biology more

For her scientific track record of proven excellence, our Max Planck Research Group Leader Eugene Kim has been awarded a FEBS Excellence Award 2023 more

According to Clarivate's current citation ranking, Gerhard Hummer is one of the highly cited researchers in the life sciences. These renowned scientists make significant contributions to expanding the frontiers of our knowledge and to driving technological developments and innovation in our society. more

German Research Foundation honors Murphy's research on structural elucidation of proteins involved in cellular energy metabolism more

With the prestigious award, the Feldberg Foundation promotes the scientific exchange between Germany and Great Britain more

Why he chose the academic career path and what motivates him more

As one of 24 excellent young group leaders, she prevailed among 177 applicants and will be supported by the EMBO community of leading life scientists in Europe and beyond. more

Leopoldina honors Werner Kühlbrandt and Rudolf K. Thauer with Cothenius Medals for their scientific life's work more

Ernst Bamberg receives the Rumford Prize of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences more

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1988 for Hartmut Michel together with Johann Deisenhofer and Robert Huber more

The interdisciplinary Research Training Group Interfacing Image Analysis and Molecular Life Science (iMOL) at Goethe University Frankfurt has received approval from the German Research Foundation (DFG) to continue its work. more

The grant will support groundbreaking research on the dynamic architecture of mitochondrial membranes more

The fellow program promotes cooperation between Max Planck Institutes and outstanding professors at universities. From March 2024, Müller-McNicoll will lead a small research group at the MPI in Frankfurt for five years to investigate RNA, the carrier of genetic information in the cell, and its regulation. more

Pradhan studies cellular repair service for DNA damage more

Murphy is developing a new method to study elemental composition of biological macromolecules with electron microscopy more

Yang investigates the journey of membrane proteins during their assembly in the cell more

In a collaboration with scientists from Mainz and Stuttgart, Kim investigates the physico-chemical properties of biopolymers such as DNA
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The European Research Council (ERC) funds Kim‘s research on the organization of the genetic material in living organisms more

The European Research Council (ERC) funds Wilfling's research on the cell's waste disposal system more

Five scientists at the Institute strengthen successful cooperations to university partners and other research institutes through their cutting-edge projects more

Our Postdoctoral Fellow Mateusz Sikora has been awarded funding to establish a new Dioscuri Center for Modelling of Posttranslational Modifications in Krakow, Poland, from May 2023. more

12 Max Planck researchers win coveted ERC Advanced Grants more

The funded project involves the investigation of huge pores in the nuclear membranes of eukaryotic cells. more

Nitrogen ice cream, DNA challenge, tours and lectures – and much more! more

A Biophysical Perspective at the Städel Museum. Join us as we explore the intersection of art and biophysics with emeritus director Prof. Werner Kühlbrandt at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt more

Meet Anja, the Heart of Our Library! more

On the occasion of the annual program start for new PhD students, our graduate program – the IMPRS on Cellular Biophysics – organizes a versatile symposium on research topics from the field of cellular biophysics. Check out the program and join us to get to know the Faculty, and learn about the different research projects within the IMPRS on Cellular Biophysics. more

What is autophagy? How do our cells remove their waste? How can we combine art and science? How can research be represented artistically? Visit us, learn, explore and be creative on November 29! more

Julia Krause-Harder from Atelier Goldstein crafts a dinosaur sculpture from materials from the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics exhibited in its Café Max more

On the occasion of the jubilee, the Foundation awarded the Frankfurt Biophysics Prize for the first time to Dr. Julia Mahamid and Prof. Dr. Sabine Petry more