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In possible cases of bio-terrorist attacks or leaks of dangerous substances into the environment, efficient detection and early-warning systems could save many lives. Czech scientists have developed a special optical sensor, a device which can detect dangerous biological substances in the environment.

As we reported last week, Czech Radio has launched another of its digital projects, a station specialising in science and nature, called Leonardo. In this week's Czech Science we look at what Leonardo's all about.

The European Commission's public opinion service, also known as Eurobarometer, recently published a report called "Europeans, Science and Technology". The survey included a short quiz testing the general scientific knowledge of different European nations - and the Czechs passed the test with flying colours.

Didn't manage to go on a seaside holiday this summer? But still think that humid salty air would do you a world of good? Well, now people in Prague have a chance to enjoy the benefits of a seaside climate right in the middle of the city - in an artificial salt cave.

Czech Republic to support research in nanotechnology. Czech high-school students succeed in international science competitions. "St Wenceslas" mushroom kills fir trees. Bat populations increasing in Sumava Mountains.

Computer users who work with text editors know how helpful but sometimes also annoying the spell and grammar checkers can be. Czech-speaking computer users could so far only have their spelling mistakes checked by the programme. But now new software developed by specialists from the Czech branch of Microsoft with the substantial help of academics from the Institute of the Czech Language will make sure all your commas are in the right place and your nouns agree with your verbs.

With a bit of exaggeration we can say that since the fall of communism Prague has become one big building site. The centre of Prague has a 1000-year old history. So every time before the heavy machinery arrives at a building site, every square metre has to be sieved for remnants of past settlements. In today's Czech Science we take you to an excavation site which in a year's time will become one of the largest shopping centres in the city.

Mustard gas or Yperite was first used as a chemical weapon by the German Army in World War I in September 1917 near the Belgian town of Ypres and took a heavy toll of casualties. In pure form, it is a colourless, oily liquid which causes blistering of the skin and severe, often fatal respiratory damage. Czech scientists have now developed a fast and environment-friendly method of neutralising the deadly chemical.

A state-funded International Clinical Research Centre is to be opened in the Czech Republic - the first and only institution of its kind in the world. The centre will be part of St. Anne's Hospital in the Moravian capital of Brno and will have three main goals: to engage the Czech Republic in important projects of applied research, carry out advanced diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and offer high-quality education programmes to doctors and the public. Cardiologist Dr Tomas Kara is the man behind the project:

According to statistics, 30 percent of Czech households have computers and 19 percent have an internet connection. Computers are mostly used by people between the age of 15 and 24 and there is also a marked difference between the use of computers by men and women. Women and information and communication technologies (or ICTs) is the topic of today's Czech Science.