Polish satellite launches, surprising discoveries of animals from hundreds of millions of years ago and archaeological finds that may change scientists' previous findings – these are some of the most important events in Polish science in 2024.
Fear of spiders, open spaces, heights? Research shows that virtual reality can actually be an effective tool to treat with phobias, argue researchers from SWPS University, Gdańsk University of Technology and Jagiellonian University.
2024 was a record-breakingly warm year, but everything indicates that this record will be broken soon, says Bogdan Chojnicki, PhD, a professor and climate scientist from the Poznań University of Life Sciences. In his opinion, the increase in average temperatures will cause a serious drought in Poland within a few years.
Werewolves, devils, dragons, house spirits, giants, elves - ethnographic sources allow to identify the places associated with these beings. Scientists and artists have created a map of Pomerania and Mecklenburg illustrated with linocuts inspired by Renaissance cartography, presenting 19th-century folk imaginations.
Polish archaeologists have been making discoveries in the ancient city of Nea Paphos in Cyprus for 60 years. During this time, the the Paphos archaeological complex has become a showcase of Cyprus, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the jubilee year of 2025, an international conference on Nea Paphos and an exhibition on Polish research are planned.
Flood in southern Poland, numerous local floods with simultaneous hydrological drought and record low levels of rivers including the Vistula. The phenomena we encountered in 2024 are a new reality that we must prepare for also in Poland, says ecohydrologist Sebastian Szklarek, PhD.
"A photo of Orion over Babia Góra, taken by Włodzimierz Bubak, was selected as NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD). The photograph was captured on the night of the winter solstice."
Percutaneous procedures, without opening the chest, can bring better results than conventional treatment in patients suffering from coronary artery disease and aortic valve stenosis. The results of research conducted by an international team with the participation of Polish researchers have been published in the prestigious journal The Lancet.
Millions of patients around the world are waiting for organs for transplantation, but only a fraction have a chance to receive them. Bioprinting paves the way to the production of personalised organs for patients. Michał Wszoła MD, PhD, used it to develop a bionic pancreas. He wants to implant it in the first patient in 2026.
If someone suffers damage as a result of a space debris impact, the state should apply for compensation on their behalf, says Bartosz Malinowski, PhD, a space law expert from the Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences. He adds that space debris, e.g. fragments of rockets, will fall to Earth in the future.
Polish satellite launches, surprising discoveries of animals from hundreds of millions of years ago and archaeological finds that may change scientists' previous findings – these are some of the most important events in Polish science in 2024.
