News
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Direct Insight into the Life of RootsThe team led by Matyáš Fendrych from the Faculty of Science, Charles University has recently published a study in Nature Plants. With support from a prestigious grant provided by the European Research Council (ERC), the team focused on a precise analysis of the rapid reaction of plant root cells to the phytohormone auxin. The study also involved colleagues from Prague’s University of Chemistry and Technology as well as from the University of Tasmania. Published Jul 20, 2021 |
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Popular Science: When volcanic ash flew over the Bohemian MassifCzechs know huge volcano eruptions primarily from disaster movies, but definitely not from their own country. Yet, even here, history was quite explosive. One of the geological mysteries of the Bohemian Massif is a widespread layer of ash fall tuff, called the “bělka” in Czech, preserved in the carboniferous basins of Central and Western Bohemia. But, how did it get there, when exactly, and what kind of volcano could have caused this? A team of Czech specialists from Charles University, the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Czech Geological Survey decided to finally unravel this mystery, led by Filip Tomek from the Institute of Geology and Paleontology. Published Jul 19, 2021 |
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Popular Science: Focus on litter decompositionSulfur and nitrogen deposition has significantly affected the ecosystems of the entire northern hemisphere. The impact of acid rain has had a significant effect in terms of lowering water pH and leaching of important ions from the soil into surface waters, as well as in terms of the decomposition rate of plant litter and thus on the global carbon cycle. The decomposition rate is influenced by several factors. How does the type of substrate and nitrogen addition contribute to the decomposition process? This is the question that Michal Růžek from the Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University asked, and together with his team he made an experiment that yielded interesting results. Published Jul 12, 2021 |
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Popular Science: Vampire squid tales, or how they came to their deep-water habitatAn international scientific team led by Associate Professor Košťák from the Department of Geology and Paleontology, Faculty of Science, Charles University has published a study in the Communications Biology journal describing an interesting fossil from the Hungarian Museum of Natural History. The work brings expands our knowledge of today’s deep-water vampire squids. Prof. Holcová and Dr. Mazuch from the same institute and Dr. Culka from the Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University collaborated on this article. Published Jul 06, 2021 |
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New calls for postdoc applicants openWe are looking for prospective international, non czech citizens, post-docs for research within a specific field of biology, chemistry and geography. Deadline for applications is July 20th, 2022. Published Jun 17, 2021 |
Popular Science: What are the latest findings on water in the Hranice Abyss?The Hranice Abyss has been confirmed the deepest flooded abyss in the world with the last directly measured depth of its underwater part at 404 m. However, the Hranice Abyss is a remarkable karst phenomenon not only for its depth. As part of the Neuron Expedition project, a numerous research team of scientists and speleologists focused on the origin of water in the abyss and the causes of some of its specific properties. Published Jun 16, 2021 |
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Prevention of sexual harassmentCharles University attaches the utmost importance to prevention and a safe environment for everyone. It does not accept any form of sexual and gender-based harassment or violence and expects all individuals in the university community, its visitors, and contracting partners to treat each other with mutual respect, consideration, and dignity. Published Jun 14, 2021 |
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Vegetation change study in ScienceWe expected the biggest changes in vegetation to be at the end of the Ice Age. Instead, we were surprised they were in the last four thousand years," says paleoecologist Petr Kuneš of the Faculty of Science at Charles University. Kuneš was one of a group of experts including fellow Czech Ondřej Mottl whose findings were published recently in the prestigious scientific journal Science. Published Jun 07, 2021 |
Popular Science: Is the gloomy atmosphere of Transylvania disappearing?Fog is a phenomenon that influences many areas, yet is often neglected. Fog occurrence significantly affects water balance, decreases visibility and affects atmospheric deposition of pollutants. Therefore, it has a significant impact on the landscape and ecosystem. At the same time, it is not entirely easy to estimate its occurrence in advance, as there are many influencing factors. An international scientific team led by Iva Hůnová from the Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University has focused on the terrain and its effects on fog occurrence as a very important, yet largely unexplored factor. Published Jun 07, 2021 |
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New Post-doc positions from the JUNIOR Fund projectThe goal of the JUNIOR Fund is to attract prospective international post-doc researchers, who will carry out research within a specific field. The main initiative is always on the relevant establishment or a faculty or other unit of CU that is interested in researching a particular research project. Click for list of the positions. Deadline for application is July 23, 2021. Published Jun 07, 2021 |
Popular Science: Czech imprint in modern paleontologyUnderstanding history promotes better understanding of the present and predicts the future. Findings from the past are thus more than desired. However, discovering them is often complicated and requires a lot of experience and sometimes even coincidence. Professor Zlatko Kvaček from the Department of Geology and Paleontology, Faculty of Science, Charles University described a new discovery in the Czech Republic, which went down in history of world paleontology. Published May 31, 2021 |
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Popular Science: Male fertility endangered by parasites?As much as one-third of the world’s population is infected by Toxoplasma gondii nowadays. It is known that toxoplasmosis could be harmful especially for immunocompromised patients and for an unborn fetus if the mother becomes infected during pregnancy. But does the Toxoplasma gondii parasite affect human fertility? A group of experts focused on this question. The research was carried out under the guidance of our student Jana Hlaváčová together with scientists Jaroslav Flegr and Šárka Kaňková from the Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University and other specialists in this field. Published May 24, 2021 |
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BIOCEV zoologists have mapped the spread of rodents from Asia to Europe. Genetic traces from the Ice Age helped them.An international team led by Pavel Stopka from the Faculty of Science, Charles University at the BIOCEV Center discovered and described the spread of small mammals from Asia to its adjacent islands, as well as to Europe. Gene sequencing of hundreds of samples from striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius) helped reveal this animal’s evolutionary history. A study now published in the prestigious scientific journal Genes can help predict the migration of other rodents in the context of deforestation in Europe. Published May 05, 2021 |
Popular Science: Unstable east of the Czech RepublicIn extreme or prolonged rainfall events, the soil is saturated with water and the cohesion of the material decreasing, consequently these processes can cause very dangerous material movements on a slope, sometimes also called "debris flows". We hear about these phenomena mainly from foreign countries, but is occurrence of debris flows possible in our region? Experts in geomorphology led by Jana Smolíková and together with Vít Vilímek from the Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University and other colleagues answered this question. Published Apr 19, 2021 |
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BIOCEV: The course on Micro-/NanofluidicsWe cordially invite you on the course on Micro-/Nanofluidics that will be held on-line on April 20th and April 27th, 2021 by prof. Jeroen Lammertyn, a top researcher in nanobiotechnology and full professor of Catholic University of Leuven. Published Apr 12, 2021 |
Popular Science: Forest, tell me how high will the spring flood be?Snow cover has a major impact on groundwater recharge and on the overall water balance in the river basin. However, the rapid melting of snow cover also causes spring floods. Ondřej Hotový together with Michal Jeníček from the Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, found out the influence of the condition of the forest in the river basin on the distribution and melting of snow cover. Published Apr 12, 2021 |
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Popular Science: Easy, quick and affordable – a new method of (not only) cancer diagnosisEarly diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment of virtually any disease. This is especially true with cancer. Cancer indicators in urine are usually detected one by one, which is very time consuming and expensive. How can diagnosis be made more efficient? One way is to detect several indicators at once by using methods that are less costly and faster. This has become the subject of interest for a research group led by Professor Jiří Barek from the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the Faculty of Science, Charles University. Published Apr 05, 2021 |
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Population Census 2021During upcoming weeks there will be Population Census which is mandatory for expats and foreigners who stay in the Czech Republic for longer than 90 days. Between 27th March and 9th April questionnaires will be available online or via app in various language mutations and it is a recommended option. Those who will not fill the questionnaire online will have to fill in the paper version of the questionnaire between 17th April and 11th May. Published Apr 02, 2021 |
Popular Science: Drought comes earlierHydrological fluctuations have been occurring in recent decades and they currently manifest primarily in significant and prolonged droughts. Changes in the hydrological cycle have a major impact on both water supply and the entire ecosystem. Vojtěch Vlach and Milada Matoušková from the Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University together with Ondřej Ledvinka from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute know well about the severity of the hydrological situation. Therefore, they explored in detail what has happened in terms of hydrological change in the areas of Czech mountains in recent decades. Published Mar 29, 2021 |
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Warning against fraudulent e-mails misusing the name of CUCharles University urgently warns against fraudulent e-mails that were sent on the night of 25 March 2021. These e-mails contain a false request for a price quote and misuse the name of CU and its e-mail addresses, both fictional and real. This is a scam. These e-mails have nothing to do with Charles University. Published Mar 26, 2021 |