Born in (b. 1953) Dirk Maxeiner began his career as an editor at the weekly Stern. In the 1980s, he founded and ran Chancen, an environmental magazine, going on to become editor-in-chief of the magazine Natur.

He collaborates with Michael Miersch for a weekly column to the Berlin daily Die Welt. They have also co-authored highly controversial books on the environment, sciences, and German society. In particular, environmental activists have accused them of lobbying in favour of the nuclear industry and biotechnologies.