13 May 2021

Parasitic plants. Helpers in the fight against plant invasions and expansions?

The word parasite usually evokes negative associations and emotions in humans. It is a kind of bandit that hurts everyone living around. The word half-parasite can then raise doubts and suspicions that it is something “undead”, somehow halfway there. But not everything has to be black and white. Even bandits can become heroes. You can read an article on the subject by Kateřina Knotková and Jakub Těšitel from our Department of Botany and Zoology, recently published in the journal Vesmír (in Czech only).

7 May 2021

Join the Open Science Roadshow at our faculty on May 18, 2021

Do you publish? Do you produce research data? Then, come and get acquainted with the upcoming MUNI Open Science Strategy for the years 2022–2028 and discuss its possible form.

6 May 2021

Biotechnological discovery of Brno scientists patented in Singapore

Fibroblast growth factor FGF2-STAB, which was developed at MUNI, has now been patented, not just in Europe but also in Singapore, with patent proceedings also ongoing in a number of other countries. The patent is shared between Masaryk University and the university spin-off ‘Enantis’, which is in charge of the commercial use of the growth factor molecule. The discovery will have applications in cell biology, regenerative medicine and cosmetics.

29 Apr 2021

Conversations about the Universe - part 6

In the sixth edition of ‘Conversations about the universe’, Norbert Werner and Samuel Kováčik from the Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, discuss a novelty about the unique discovery of medium-mass black hole detected by a gamma-ray burst. (In Czech only.)

28 Apr 2021

Anthropologists from the Faculty of Science at MU have begun a unique project focused on the body shape and composition of the Czech population

Earlier this year, experts from our Institute of Anthropology began a new project entitled A.D.A.P.T. (Anthropological Database of Body Proportions). Its main aim is to examine the body shape and composition of the Czech population and to design tools that will help record, evaluate and subsequently archive and share this data.

28 Apr 2021

New coronavirus mutations? Czechs are gaining immunity, but scientists say that further development is poorly predicted

The number of vaccinated people and those with natural immunity is rapidly increasing. But the coronavirus SARS-CoV2, according to virologists, has not yet said its last word. It is still spreading, mutating and may surprise with new, more dangerous variants that scientists are trying to follow. Now, scientists are warning, among other things, of those they have recognized in Brazil or South Africa, because they may escape acquired immunity. (Article in Czech only.)

27 Apr 2021

Jiří Grygar: I also used popularization in my own research

Astronomer, astrophysicist, alumnus of the Faculty of Science MU and MFF UK and popularizer of science Jiří Grygar influenced several generations. How has popularization changed, will he be surprised by something else after so many years and what advice does he follow? These and other questions were raised by Forum magazine on the occasion of his recent 80th birthday, which he celebrated on March 17. (Article is available only in Czech.)

23 Apr 2021

Eighteen kilos of clay from Antarctica. Polar scinetist Jana Smolíková describes what can be read from the ice

She returned from Antarctica a month ago. And even though Jana Smolíková has been there three times, she would like to return again. "It's easy to catch an Antarctic virus and fall in love with it. And I caught it too," says one of two women of this year's polar expedition of Masaryk University to Mendel's polar station on James Ross Island. Read more on lidovky.cz (in Czech only).