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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

How much energy is information worth? Researchers @mpipks.bsky.social show how systems can learn to balance the information they gain and the energy they spend, in real time and with only partial access to the processes they sense. On the cover @physrevlett.aps.org: doi.org/10.1103/8gx2-rbns

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Ricard Alert Zenón @ricardalert.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

New paper! Inspired by gliding bacteria, we introduce active screws: Particles that self-propel by spinning around their propulsion axis. We show that active screws form active chiral nematics. With Debu Banerjee and @lauritzh.bsky.social @mpipks.bsky.social journals.aps.org/prresearch/a...

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The Autumn call for PhD positions in the International Max Planck Research School for Quantum Dynamics and Control is now open! We offer a large variety of projects in Physics & Chemistry. The deadline is the 31th of October. All the information can be found in: www.imprs-pks.mpg.de/application/...

imprs-pks.mpg.de

Application procedure - IMPRS-QDC

2. Merge the following documents into a single application PDF (maximum size: 25 MB):

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Exploring exotic superconductivity with many-body computations and cold-atom experiments: research by Chunhan Feng @mpipks.bsky.social and collaborators @flatironinstitute.org and @mit.edu now #published at @pnas.org. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2600303123

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

How to describe nonreciprocal interactions using a Hamiltonian? Researchers @mpipks.bsky.social, @ub.edu, @icreacommunity.bsky.social have done so using a Hamiltonian embedding. Work now #published @natphys.nature.com: doi.org/10.1038/s41567-026-03317-0

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Pierre Haas @lepuslapis.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

New #preprint: "Nonlinear isotropic odd elasticity" arxiv.org/abs/2605.02476 More from the #PhD work of @zhaoshh.bsky.social: revealing some of the surprising nonlinear mechanical behaviour of active, "odd" solids. @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de @csbdresden.bsky.social

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Pierre Haas @lepuslapis.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Many thanks @prelights.bsky.social for highlighting our recent #preprint, a great collaboration with @paveltomancak.bsky.social! doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.25.714261 Experiments, theory, a mechanical instability, what more could one ask for? @mpi-cbg.de @mpipks.bsky.social @csbdresden.bsky.social

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Pierre Haas @lepuslapis.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

New #preprint: "Stretching and bending of (really) thick elastic plates" arxiv.org/abs/2606.01889 Yet another paper from the #PhD work of @zhaoshh.bsky.social and yet another expansion of three-dimensional elasticity for some ε≪1. @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de @csbdresden.bsky.social

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Looking for a #postdoc in biophysics, molecular/cell biology, biomedicine or bioengineering? The GSS program offers candidates with PhD degrees from German institutions the chance to join one of the @biohub.org partner universities for a 3 year fellowship. Applications are welcome until the 20/05!

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Pierre Haas @lepuslapis.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

A fantastic #postdoc opportunity to join us in Dresden @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de @csbdresden.bsky.social or to join @biohub.org. Apply by the 20th of May!

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Our call for Postdoc Positions in Biological Physics is open! Join our exciting and stimulating environment, with a rich variety of groups to collaborate. Deadline for applications is 15th of May! Apply here: www.pks.mpg.de/biological-p...

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

A new call for PhD positions in the International Max Planck Research School for Quantum Dynamics and Control is open! We offer a large variety of projects in Physics & Chemistry. The deadline is the 30th of April. All the information can be found in the website: www.imprs-pks.mpg.de/application/...

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Inspired by the Mpemba effect, Nicolò Beato and Gianluca Teza @mpipks.bsky.social have introduced a way to accelerate or prolong relaxation in open quantum systems using "spectral filtering" via unitary transformations. Now #published @physrevlett.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1103/4frd-ck2z

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

The Division of Biological Physics @mpipks.bsky.social seeks a Research Group Leader in #biophysics, #softmatter physics, or related areas. (Further particulars in the ad.) Apply by the 3rd of April 2026 at pks.mpg.de/bprgl to join us in Dresden!

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

You have a background in math/physics/computer science/ML and are looking for an interdisciplinary postdoc fellowship in life sciences with free choice of host groups? Then join us at the CSBD as an ELBE postdoc! The application deadline is the 13 of March

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Ricard Alert Zenón @ricardalert.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

New preprint! Do you like ocean waves? We found similar waves on bacterial colonies! We found that this collective behavior, known as rippling, is nothing but surface waves on an active nematic. @princeton.edu @mpipks.bsky.social @ub.edu @icreacommunity.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

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Chiu Fan Lee @leebiophysics.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Delighted to announce “Hydrodynamic Approaches to Active Matter: Successes and Future Challenges”, will now take place on 6–10 October 2025 at @mpipks.bsky.social, on the occasion of John Toner’s 71st birthday. We hope you will join us. www.pks.mpg.de/haam26

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Pierre Haas @lepuslapis.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Now #published @physrevlett.bsky.social: the answer to the question that Euler did not solve three hundred years ago*. @zhaoshh.bsky.social doi.org/10.1103/63py-ph5s * Possible reasons include not having access to Mathematica and predating Riemann (in the non-ecological sense).

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Congratulations! Prof. Igor Herbut (Simon Fraser University) awarded the "Physik-Preis Dresden 2025“

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Research by N. Beato, P. Patil, @marinbukov.bsky.social now #published @physrevlett.bsky.social @physrevx.bsky.social: numerical and analytical tools adapted from statistical physics reveal phase transitions in quantum control landscapes. doi.org/10.1103/dqvj-p6fq doi.org/10.1103/27nn-cb3t

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

The call for our 2026 Distinguished PKS Postdoctoral Fellow is now open! Distinguished PKS postdoctoral fellows appear personally along with the departments and groups on the main research page of the institute. You can apply here: www.pks.mpg.de/PKSFellow26 Deadline is the 21st of November

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Fully funded summer #internships in #biophysics @mpipks.bsky.social for Bachelor's and Master's students! Apply by the 30th of November 2025: www.pks.mpg.de/biophys-inte...

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Pierre Haas @lepuslapis.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Now #published as a Letter @physreve.bsky.social: "Geometry of T1 transitions in epithelia" doi.org/10.1103/kdnb-bxdx My first single-author paper deploys a silly amount of Olympiad geometry on a fundamental biophysics problem, summarised in the attached thread! @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de

doi.org

Geometry of T1 transitions in epithelia

The flows of tissues of epithelial cells often involve T1 transitions. These neighbor exchanges are irreversible rearrangements crossing an energy barrier. Here, by an exact geometric construction, I ...

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

A new call for the ELBE Visiting faculty program is now open! No matter if you are junior or senior faculty, if you work on math/physics/computer science/ML applied to life sciences, you are welcome to submit an application to come and collaborate with the groups at CSBD! Deadline is November 30th.

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Max-Planck-Gesellschaft @maxplanck.de · 19/09/2025

Truly chuffed for our fearless food physicists @mpipks.bsky.social + collabs from AT @istaresearch.bsky.social, IT & ES who won this year’s Ig Nobel - the #NobelPrize of hearts❤️for cracking the science of perfect pasta !🍝Kudos to all for intrepidly consuming lots of cheese in the name of science!😋

the-scientist.com

The Secret to a Smooth Pasta Sauce Wins Ig Nobel Prize

Italian researchers studied how the ingredients of the traditional Roman dish cacio e pepe emulsify into a creamy sauce, winning the 2025 Physics Ig Nobel Prize.

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

IG Nobel Prize in #Physics 2025 to @mpipks.bsky.social researchers for elucidating the phase behaviour of cacio e pepe sauce. The work highlights how physics can also be applied to solve daily-life problems! nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03045-0

nature.com

Tipsy bats and perfect pasta: Ig Nobels celebrate ‘improbable’ research

The annual awards are a celebration of weird but thought-provoking science.

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Ricard Alert Zenón @ricardalert.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Very honored to receive this prize from the Spanish Physical Society! Thanks a lot to all my collaborators, who make this possible!

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Congratulations to @ricardalert.bsky.social on being awarded the "Young Investigator Prize in Theoretical Physics” by the Spanish Royal Academy of Physics and the BBVA Foundation! The award is in recognition of his contributions to biological physics. www.fbbva.es/noticias/fal...

fbbva.es

Fallados los Premios de Física RSEF-Fundación BBVA 2025

Conoce a las personas galardonadas en los ámbitos de investigación, las enseñanzas secundaria y universitaria, la innovación, la tecnología y la divulgación

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Bacteria are surrounded by water! New work @natphys.nature.com by @ricardalert.bsky.social @mpipks.bsky.social & collaborators @ Princeton University shows that water capillary forces organise bacterial colonies into gas, nematic streams, and droplet states. nature.com/articles/s41567-025-02965-y

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Pierre Haas @lepuslapis.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

New #preprint: "Control of lumen morphology by lateral and basal cell surfaces", a great #biophysics collaboration with Chandraniva Guha Ray, @markusmukenhirn.bsky.social, Alf Honigmann @biotec-tud.bsky.social @poldresden.bsky.social. arxiv.org/abs/2509.04316 @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de

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Pierre Haas @lepuslapis.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Another #preprint: "Elasticity and plasticity of epithelial gap closure", from the #PhD work of Maryam Setoudeh: arxiv.org/abs/2509.05110 This one required a lot of (I think) beautiful #mechanics! @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de @csbdresden.bsky.social

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Mechanobiology Institute @mbisg.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Another look at the drosophila wing! Frank Julicher @mpipks.bsky.social looks at how the wing forms within the pupal phase of morphogenesis. He discussed the physics underlying a hexatic crystalline order found in the wing epithelium that is controlled by cell size heterogeneity. #MBIMPG2025

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Lars Hubatsch @larshubatsch.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Paper alert!🧪 We derive a theory that underpins interface resistance with a physical foundation and look at how it changes droplet growth and recovery kinetics! Awesome collab with @bosste.bsky.social Tyler Harmon @hymanlab.bsky.social @m-pol.bsky.social and Frank Jülicher @mpipks.bsky.social 1/4

elifesciences.org

Transport kinetics across interfaces between coexisting liquid phases

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Multiple PhD positions available! A new call of our International Max Planck Research School for Quantum Dynamics and Control is now open. We offer a large variety of projects in Physics and Chemistry. Application deadline is October 31st www.imprs-pks.mpg.de/application/...

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

#ERCStG @erc.europa.eu for Alexander Wietek @mpipks.bsky.social and his project "MoNiKa: Strong correlation physics in Moiré, Nickelate and Kagome superconductors" - many congratulations!

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

#Quantum geometry + Floquet theory = unlocking time crystals, topology, and exotic phases in #physics: work by Paul Schindler and @marinbukov.bsky.social @mpipks.bsky.social now #published @physrevx.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1103/7l91-gw77

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Activity-enhanced elasticity in entangled polymer solutions: research by Christina Kurzthaler @mpipks.bsky.social and collaborators @hhu.de @tuda.bsky.social now published @natcomms.nature.com! doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60210-9

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

New random walk model elucidates hidden spatiotemporal patterns governing the evolution of complex systems: work by Samudrajit Thapa, Holger Kantz @mpipks.bsky.social and collaborators now published @physrevlett.bsky.social! doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.197101

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Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics @mpi-cbg.de · 18/06/2025

Numerical study by researchers @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de and @csbdresden.bsky.social of small ecological communities reveals the importance of the full network structure of ecological interactions for ecosystem stability. News article: www.mpi-cbg.de/news-outreac...

mpi-cbg.de

Stable coexistence in ecosystems

Numerical study of small ecological communities reveals the importance of the full network structure of ecological interactions for ecosystem stability.

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

🐠🦠Why can’t bacteria swim like fish? At microscopic scales, physics changes — viscosity rules! Researchers at our institute study how microbes like E. coli overcome this challenge with clever strategies like run-and-tumble. Watch our new video: youtu.be/drwCRRD7CGY?...

youtu.be

Tiny swimmers

YouTube video by MPIPKS

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

What does the force required to poke a cyst of cells reveal about cyst mechanics? Research by Shiheng Zhao, Pierre Haas @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de @csbdresden.bsky.social now highlighted as an Editors' Suggestion in Phys. Rev. Lett.! doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.228402

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Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems @mpipks.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

How do cells rotate together on a sphere? In our new video abstract, we describe our recent work on how cells move on the surface of a sphere—as they do in development, wound healing, or regeneration. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Rn...

youtube.com

How do cells rotate together on a sphere?

YouTube video by MPIPKS

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