Two young girls wearing safety googles are smiling and inspecting an aluminium cast in the shape of a star.

With our participation on #GirlsDay we want to get more girls excited about #science. We show them that #physics, #technology and #research offer many career opportunities. On April 23, they get the chance to step into the role of scientist, engineer and lab technician.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/de/news/arti...

The picture shows Dagmar Iber and the details of the talk.

New #talk of our Lectures on #Physics and #Medicine series #LPM! 📅 ✍️

👤 Prof. Dagmar Iber, ETH Zurich
▶️ Mechanics across scales: how physical forces shape epithelial form in development and disease
🕒 April 22, 3 pm CET
📍 MPZPM, Kussmaulallee 2, Erlangen
👉 Zoom: eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/6343713446...

The picture shows Scott A. Diddams and the details of the talk.

Save the date for the next event in our Distinguished Lecturer Series #DLS 📅 ✍️

👤 Scott A. Diddams, colorado.edu
▶️ Squeezing and #Quantum Metrology with Optical Frequency Combs
🕒 April 16, 2 pm CET
📍 MPL, Staudtstraße 2, Erlangen
👉 Zoom: eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/6190563226...

Check out our Master's and PhD programs, and our partner institutions in Erlangen, including @fau.de and @mpi-scienceoflight.bsky.social. The full video can be seen under the following link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=enBj...

Shown in this picture is the first experimental measurement of cavity-less strong coupling between light and acoustic vibrations (phonons) in an optical fiber. In the lab, one can measure several indicators of strong coupling. One of these is an avoided crossing, such as that shown in the picture.

#Research Group Birgit Stiller “ #Quantum Optoacoustics”

Light and sound can interact in optical fibers, enabling applications ranging from photonic machine learning to #QuantumTechnologies.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/research-at-...

📸 Laura Blázquez Martínez

#science #photonics

Michael Frosz (left) and Susanne Viezens (right) standing in a hallway at MPL and smiling at the camera.

Making #science visible & advancing it

Dr. Michael Frosz, head of the TDSU “Fibre Fabrication & Glass Studio”, aims to better understand the “mystery of light”.
Graphic designer Susanne Viezens translates complex content into visual language.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/research-at-...

📸 MPL
#photonics #design

Professor Florian Marquardt is holding a blue-and-white plaque from the German Physical Society, which lists the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light as a quantum research center.

To mark the #IYQ2025, the dpgphysik.bsky.social invited institutions dedicated to #quantumphysics to register as “#quantum hubs” to highlight its dynamism and diversity.

We have already proudly displayed the plaque we received with our designation as a “Quantum Hub” at our institute.

#Quantum2025

Artifical artwork: The optical transparency of ITO nanocrystals (the transparent, grey and black spheres) can be selectively modified using short laser pulses (white and orange wave lines.

At team involving scientists at MPL is investigating changes in field oscillations that occur when light interacts with indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocrystals.

This enables a better understanding of the time dependence of the interaction between light nanocrystals.

👉 bit.ly/news-light-ITO

Our research group leader Daniel Wehner was featured on FrankenFernsehen, sharing insights into his research about spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish (in German only).

A crowd of people sitting in a room, following a talk. A man in the front, who is a member of the SAB, is asking a question.

A research group is showing an experiment with colored balls swinging to one of the SAB members.

A crowd of people sitting in a big auditorium and standing in front of it in the staircase of MPL, is following a talk.

Last week, we had the honor of welcoming members of our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). They reviewed our #research activities, discussed ongoing projects, and provided feedback on future research directions.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/news/article...

#Science #Evaluation

On International Womens Day #IWD2026, we honor the women who shape MPL&MPZPM. Numerous management positions, both in our research groups and in the infrastructure departments, are held by women.

The maxplanck.de promotes female scientists in their careers with several programs.

📸 MPL, S. Viezens

The picture shows Keren Bergman and the details of the talk.

Save the date for the next event in our Distinguished Lecturer Series #DLS! 📅 ✍️

👤 Keren Bergman, Columbia University
▶️ Scaling Energy-Efficient AI Systems Performance with Photonic Connectivity
🕒 March 6, at 11 am CET
📍 MPL, Staudtstraße 2, Erlangen
👉 Zoom: eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/6177506059...

The picture shows Joachim Spatz and the details of the talk.

Don’t miss this #talk of our Lectures on #Physics and #Medicine series #LPM! 📅 ✍️

👤 Prof. Joachim Spatz, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
▶️ Matter to Life: Bottom-Up Assembly of Synthetic Cells
🕒 March 5 , 3 pm CET
📍 MPZPM, Kussmaulallee 2, Erlangen
👉 Zoom: eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/6422836409...

The picture shows 15 different colored circles. They are cross sections of hollow core fibres. Different color maps illustrate various properties of the electric field of the light wave, such as its strength, and the phase of the wave as it moves through the fiber.

TDSU “Fibre Fabrication and Glass Studio”

Hollow glass fibers can guide light faster than conventional ones, because most of the light travels through air rather than glass. Computer simulations here show how light is distributed across the fiber’s cross section.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/research-at-...

Gerd Leuchs on the left, together with Michele Dougherty (president of the Institute of Physics), Heike Riel (president-elect of the German Physical Society), and John Doyle (past president of the American Physical Society). All four of them smiling at the camera. In the background is the official banner of the ceremony and a screen with thanks to the partners.

Gerd Leuchs on the left together with Ahmadou Wagué, president of the African Physical Society, both smiling at the camera. In the background is the stage with the official banner of the ceremony as well as the lectern.

The International Year of #QuantumScience and Technology #IYQ2025 concluded with a ceremony, which MPL Emeritus Director Gerd Leuchs attended.

The global initiative marked 100 years since the foundations of #quantum mechanics were established.

👉
mpl.mpg.de/news/article...

Dr. Flore Kunst holding the certificate for the prize and smiling at the camera.

Congratulations to Dr. Flore Kunst, who has been awarded the 2026 Bernhard Heß Prize 🏆

It honors her contributions to the field of topological #physics – advancing our theoretical understanding of complex quantum matter.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/news/article...

#Topology #Science #Award #Research

Dr. Stephanie Möllmert in her lab, smiling and looking trough a microscope.

Dr. Stephanie Möllmert looking at the camera.

Meet Dr. stephmoellmert.bsky.social – Curiosity as common thread

She aims to connect #biophysics with questions that matter for women’s health. With her passion for STEM biophysics was logical: physical concepts & precise measurement methods applied to living systems.
👉 mpzpm.mpg.de/research/ste...

Dr. Viola Introini wearing a lab coat, sitting in her lab and smiling at the camera.

Congratulations to Dr. Viola Introini (@vascularinfection.bsky.social)👏

She receives the Hector #Research Career Development Award. It honors young researchers on their way to becoming professors. Her group at MPZPM investigates how #malaria affects the human body.

👉 mpzpm.mpg.de/news/news-de...

A girl smiling at the camera. There are details of this years' Girls'Day, like the logo, the date and the link to the website. There is also the slogan "Dein Tag, dein Weg! Klischeefreie Berufs- und Studienwahl für alle" (Your day, your way! Cliché-free career and study choices for everyone)

#Physics is exciting and full of future opportunities! We want to encourage girls to explore #science – whether in the lab, IT, or mechanics.

On April 3rd, girls from 5th grade onwards can discover #research at #MPL and #MPZPM during #GirlsDay.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/events/event...

Dr. Clara Wanjura, smiling at the camera.

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 #𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

33% of MPLs scientists are women, like #research group leader Clara Wanjura. She encourages young people: “Don't be afraid to take a chance. If you ask ‘Should I really do this?’, my answer is ‘Yes, just give it a try.’”
👉 mpl.mpg.de/events/event...

The picture shows Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla and the details of the talk.

Don’t miss out on this #talk part of our Lectures on #Physics and #Medicine series (#LPM)! 📅 ✍️

👤 Professor Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla, @helmholtzmunich.bsky.social
▶️ Molecular mechanisms of cellular plasticity and epigenetic reprogramming
🕒 February 5 at 3 pm CET
📍 MPZPM, Kussmaulallee 2, Erlangen

The confocal fluorescence image shows the transition zone from the fallopian tube to the uterus of a mouse in a cross section. The image presents a cross-section of the fallopian tube, revealing its internal architecture with cell nuclei (blue), actin-rich structures which trace the epithelium and musculature (red), and nucleic acids in secretory and epithelial cells (green).

#𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 @stephmoellmert.bsky.social “𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 #𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲”

In the fallopian tube, coordinated contractions & fluid flow guide the embryo into the uterus. The image shows the transition zone from the fallopian tube to the uterus.
👉 mpzpm.mpg.de/research/ste...

#science #reproduction

Optical ring resonator with a diameter of 200 μm on a SiC substrate.

To make #QuantumTechnology applicable scientists from MPL & Fraunhofer IISB conduct #research in the field of #siliconCarbide with the project #ALP4SiC. Due to its unique physical properties, #SiC is an ideal platform for #photonics, electronics & #quantum applications.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/news/article...

Dr. Viola Introini in her laboratory at MPZPM, smiling at the camera.

Early Career Scientist Prize by the International Union of Pure and Applied #Physics (IUPAP) for Viola Introini (@vascularinfection.bsky.social)!
🏆 Application of physical methods to unravel the mechanisms of #malaria parasite–host interactions.

👉 mpzpm.mpg.de/news/news-de...

#science #research

Five people of UTN visiting a laboratory at MPL.

MPL managing director Prof. Florian Marquardt greeting the guests and giving an overview about MPL and the research conducted here.

MPL director Prof. Vahid Sandoghdar talking to three guests from UTN.

The founding president of the UTN, Prof. Michael Huth, showing something on his phone to MPL's managing director Prof. Marquardt and MPL's head of Administration and Infrastructure, Dr. Dorothe Burggraf.

The Technische Universität Nürnberg (UTN) visits MPL to increase the international visibility of the regional #science hub.

The guests gained insights into the basic #research conducted at MPL, particularly in the field of #AI in #quantum #physics & #nanooptics.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/news/article...

📸 MPL

Tumor cell in the maze of the lung vasculature in a mouse.

A #research team investigated how the mechanical properties of tumor cells influence their metastatic pathway.
🔑 🔍: Viscosity – rather than elasticity – determines how tumor cells invade surrounding tissue.

👉 mpzpm.mpg.de/news/news-de...
📸 V. Gensbittel, J. Goetz

#science #biophysics #metastasis

The black Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light surrounded by a snowy road and landscape.

Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (and white 😉)

The black MPL building has put on its winter coat as all colors merge into white. ❄️

📸 Benjamin Klier

Seowon and Jonathan are working together on an optical table.

Seowon is holding a glass sample up in the air and looking at it.

Jonathan is writing at the white board while smiling at the camera.

Meet Seowon Choi & Jonathan Will who worked together on non-Hermitian edge modes.

Seowons previous work as embedded programmer for optical systems sparked her interest in #optics.
Jonathan is driven by curiosity to understand the unknown.

👉 mpl.mpg.de/research-at-...

#photonics #science #research

In frog brains (orange-blue), developing axons from the eye (yellow-white) follow a specific path to reach their final destination. Along the way, they make a characteristic turn. This turning is mediated by both chemical and mechanical signals. The exact nature of this chemo-mechanical coupling is what the researchers in this study aimed to understand.

During #brain development, axons grow along precise pathways. Scientists have now discovered that tissue stiffness & chemical signalling interact with each other.

👉 mpzpm.mpg.de/news/news-de...

@fau.de @embl.org @franzelab.bsky.social

#research #neuroscience

The picture shows Professor Tomohisa Toda who is a research group leader at the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin.

The picture shows a group of 23 people including Professor Tomohisa Toda (third person from the right) who are part of a research collaboration project of the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin and the Universitätsklinikum Erlangen.

The German Research Foundation @dfg.de funds brain development #research at MPZPM & Uniklinikum Erlangen that aims to investigate how nerve cells preserve a specific set of gene expressions via epigenetic regulation.

👉 mpzpm.mpg.de/news/news-de...