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Galaxy simulation | Photo: AIP/Pfrommer

Astrophysicists Lutz Wisotzki and Christoph Pfrommer Receive ERC Advanced Grants

The European Research Council ERC has awarded two jointly appointed professors of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) and the …
Professor Tim Dietrich, junior professor at the University of Potsdam | Photo: privat

Tim Dietrich appointed Max Planck Fellow – Cooperation between the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics and the University of Potsdam will be strengthened

Professor Tim Dietrich, junior professor at the University of Potsdam, will lead a new research group at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational …
Prof. Katja Poppenhäger in the large refractor of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) at the Babelsberg. | Photo: Sandra Scholz

Planets – profession and passion – Prof. Katja Poppenhäger has found her niche in astrophysics

The Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) is located in a residential area surrounded by old trees on the edge of Babelsberg Park. Those …
Artistic representation of two inspiralling neutron stars shortly before their collision. | Image credit: N. Moldenhauer

Colliding stars reveal fundamental properties of matter and space-time

Combining various observational data of neutron-star collisions with nuclear-physics calculations, Tim Dietrich, Astrophysics Professor at the …
Artists view of mass loss from a red giant star due to gravitational pull of its solar-like companion. | Image credit: Joris Vos

Double stars tell a story about the evolution of the Milky Way

The orbits of double stars are a direct consequence of how the Milky Way evolved with time. This important observation will constrain the Galactic …
Scientific satellites traverse the challenging region of near-earth space known as the Van Allen radiation belt. | Figure: Yuri Shprits; background: NASA

Giant particle accelerator in the sky – Electrons are locally heated to extremely high energies within the Van Allen Radiation Belts, new study finds

The Earth’s magnetic field is trapping high energy particles. When the first satellites were launched into space, scientists led by James Van Allen …
An artist’s impression of the two merging central stars inside the planetary nebula Henize 2-428 | Image Credit: Nicole Reindl

All-clear in space – Cuddling inside a nebula does not have to end in a catastrophe

Contrary to results published previously, a careful re-analysis of the merging stars inside the planetary nebula Henize 2-428 shows that no supernova …

When David poses as Goliath – A stripped helium star solves the massive black hole mystery

Stellar black holes form when massive stars end their life in a dramatic collapse. Observations have shown that stellar black holes typically have …
The Astrophysicist Nicole Reindl. | Photo: Tobias Hopfgarten

The Future of Suns – Astrophysicist Nicole Reindl researches in the new postdoc program at the University of Potsdam

The University of Potsdam has offered 16 positions as part of its new postdoc program – with a free choice of topic. For three years, the junior …
Sonneneruption. | Foto: Solar Dynamics Observatory, NASA.

Storm in Space - How Data Assimilation Can Contribute to Forecasting Space Weather

They help us communicate over long distances, navigate unknown terrain, and predict the weather. Hundreds of satellites orbit the Earth servicing …