Czech Science | All stories

Would you believe that flies can actually help heal wounds? Although it sounds like a paradox, soldiers injured in battles recovered more quickly if their wounds became infested with maggots. The beneficial properties of larvae have been known for centuries in many civilisations. With the introduction of antibiotics and new surgical methods, this age-old treatment was abandoned in the last century.

Welcome to Czech Science where we have been following the history of astronomy in the Czech lands since the 17th century. Today astronomy is being studied at universities in Prague, Brno and Opava. But since the 1950s the main centre of research in astronomy in Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic has been the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences. Professor Jan Palous is the head of the institute.

Welcome to Czech Science. Last week Professor Jan Palous from the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences talked about Czech-born astronomers who left Czechoslovakia during the communist era and made their careers at foreign universities and research centres. Today Professor Palous will be talking about Czech participation in one important part of space research - manned missions to outer space.

Welcome to Czech Science. Last week we started a short series about astronomy in the Czech lands. Our guest, the director of the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Professor Jan Palous, took us back to 17th century Rudolphine Prague - a time when the city hosted such famous astronomers as Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler. Only three centuries later it was Albert Einstein who spent two years in Prague and very likely formulated his general principle of relativity here. While in last week's episode, Professor Palous talked about

Welcome to Czech Science. In the next few weeks we'll be looking at one particular scientific discipline - astronomy - and its past and present in the Czech lands.

In today's Czech Science we take a look at the latest news in research and development in the Czech Republic - Brno Technical University developing new space satellit, cave divers prove connection between Macocha Abyss and Punkva River, Widow of hydrogel inventor demands justice for late husband.

Today, we go as far south as we possibly can, to a place where the sun never sets and a place that attracts thousands of scientists, despite boasting an average annual temperature of -50 degrees Celsius. Czech scientists have been participating in research work at the South Pole for decades but they hope to make headlines with a new project that is being launched at the end of the year. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Education Ministry and the Czech Academy of Science, a new permanent polar station is to be built in the winter of 2004/2005,

The history of Ancient Egypt has been studied in the Czech lands for more than 100 years and Czechs have been actively involved in excavations in Egypt for over four decades. In today's programme we'll be looking at the most significant achievements of Czech Egyptologists. Jaromir Krejci of the Czech Institute of Egyptology.

Last week we started a short series on Czech Egyptology, probably the best-known branch of Czech archaeology. Jaromir Krejci of the Czech Institute of Egyptology took us to Abusir, one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt, where the Czech expedition has been working since 1960. To be able to excavate at the site, the Czech Egyptologists need their concession renewed every year. But also vital for the Czech experts is good cooperation with locals who assist in the excavations.

In the last four weeks, we discussed the history and achievements of Czech archaeology. Perhaps the best-known branch of Czech archaeology on an international scale is Czech Egyptology. This week we talk to Egyptologist Jaromir Krejci from Prague's Charles University who first takes us back to the 19th century when Jan Kminek-Szedlo, as the first Czech ever, started his Egyptology studies in Italy.