When nature not only restores, but fortifies

Previous research may have underestimated the capacity of natural environments to promote concentration and well-being, even in the absence of prior stressors, a review by the Center for Environmental Neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development shows. 

Social media algorithms shape the beliefs people form 

The content people see on social media is typically determined by an algorithm. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, and TU Dresden have now demonstrated in a controlled experiment involving approximately 1,500 participants that simple changes to how posts are sampled and ranked can affect the beliefs people form. The study suggests that alternative approaches to algorithmic content curation along with prosocial platform design may promote consensus and belief accuracy.  

Social inequality is linked to faster biological aging

Large meta-analysis with findings from 140 studies and nearly 66,000 individuals, finds consistent evidence across epigenetic measures worldwide. The study, conducted by the Biosocial team in collaboration with Columbia University in New York, demonstrates that social inequality, such as poverty and racism, are related to biological aging measured in the epigenome, also known as “epigenetic clocks”.
 

Cast off! Starting May 7, the MS Wissenschaft will once again tour Germany.

On board the floating science center is our Elderbot. The AI chatbot designed to combat loneliness is a joint project of the Research Center for Environmental Neuroscience and for Human & Machine, together with the Department of Psychiatry at the University Medical Center Hamburg‑Eppendorf. © Retusche: Gabriel_Kienast / Wissenschaft im Dialog, CC BY-SA 4.0

New Lise Meitner Research Group at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development

Since early May, the new Lise Meitner Research Group Neuroplasticity in Development and Learning has joined our institute and is dedicated to the biological foundations of neuroplasticity and how it supports learning across the lifespan.

Our Institute in the media

Here you can find links to selected articles, radio- and TV reports about the activities of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in 2025.

Join our research – become part of our studies

The Max Planck Institute for Human Development is always looking for adults and children of all ages, who would like to take part in studies.

About our Institute

Get to know us – our Research Center and Groups, our service structure, and what drives us in our scientific work.