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A decades-old enigma is now answered: people domesticated modern horses about 4000 years ago in the Pontic-Caspian steppes. Scientists also discovered that these ancient horses of one genetic lineage expanded rapidly and ultimately replaced all others in Eurasia. Why? Their body was better adapted for heavy loads and their behaviour was more docile. And that was all revealed thanks to archaeogenetics.

Chemists, microbiologists and engineers from different institutions have joined forces to produce a completely new type of nanomaterial dressing with antibiotic effect. It could find its use in the treatment of burns and skin wounds with bacterial infections. The material, called NANO LPPO, has proved its worth in the first experimental phase, but clinical trials have yet to verify it. The results of the study were published in the Scientific Reports journal.

Scientists, politicians, family, and friends of Prof. Rudolf Zahradník gathered in the main building of the Czech Academy of Sciences to pay tribute and remember his great personality. The Chairman Emeritus Rudolf Zahradník deceased in October last year. He was one of the most noticeable Czech scientists, and was also well-known in the world.

It was ten years full of hard work, but now, there are two Czech laser centres belonging among the global leaders in the field of laser technology. HiLASE Centre and ELI Beamlines, both being parts of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, have many reasons to celebrate. They have successfully linked the fields of development, research, and high-tech industry, and within their first decade of existence, they achieved 5 world records.

Water made from air gurgles under the clouds of the Czech pavilion at the World Expo exhibition and irrigates a garden in the desert. Also, a glass palm shines there, growing nutritious food for humans and animals. These wonders have two things in common - they were prepared by scientists from the Academy of Sciences, and algae plays a major role here.

The new i&i Biotech Investment Fund will focus on supporting academic spin-off companies, particularly in the areas of drug development, diagnostics, and medical devices. The fund is being created as the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, thanks to the cooperation of the European Investment Fund and the i&i Prague transfer company at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS. So far, the fund has more than EUR 45 million at its disposal, but the total amount may rise further, as other investors, such as the Charles University's subsidiary Charles University Innovation Prague, are planning to join the fund.

Lasers, solar cells, and progress in medicine – for all those, the mankind owe to the science concerned with solid substances. Their research, specifically the solid-state physics, will be the focus of the new SOLID 21 Centre of Excellence. A multi-purpose pavilion with clean rooms for advanced technologies and biophysics laboratories will allow scientists to use the extremely sensitive instruments needed for their research.

How does the Earth‘s magnetic field work? Where does it reach? And what is the mysterious geomagnetic power? A new comic called When the Earth Flares Up casts light on those questions. It was prepared by scientists from the Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences to inspire pupils, students, teachers, and adults to discover physics in a new way

Not all coronavirus antibodies really protect you. Tests carried out so far usually provide information regarding the level of total binding antibodies but do not say whether these work against covid-19. Now, a new type of test emerged that can quickly determine levels of the protective antibodies, and it should soon appear on the international market.

How can physics help in a medical matter such as drug-induced liver injury? The answer is in cutting-edge imaging techniques. Czech scientists created a procedure for studying the liver cells in 3D in the real time. And thus, they generated new knowledge and approaches to dealing with drug-induced liver injury.