Structure Polish Academy of Sciences

A report delivered by a team of scientists, working under the supervision of Prof. Jerzy Duszyński, president of the Academy, presents the current state of knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19 disease and its medical, psychological, economic and social impacts. In an accessible manner, this document provides forecasts of the COVID-19 epidemic for the upcoming winter season and recommendations for citizens and institutions. 

Scientists from the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences have developed an algorithm showing how a network of simple chemical reactions could have contributed to the emergence of life on Earth billions of years ago. Their discovery – “chemical tree of the origins of life” – have been recently published in the prestigious Science journal.

The Polish Academy of Sciences announces the implementation of a new program addressed to young researchers from Belarus. Thanks to this decision, scientists interested in research on climate change, including research on Earth and environment, nature conservation, biodiversity, water management as well as social transformation, will have the opportunity to take up studies at PAS doctoral schools.

Is the higher frequency of tropical cyclones, droughts and flash floods the result of changes in the circulation of water in nature? In the latest issue of Academia magazine entitled „Water” Dr. Aleksandra Kardaś, atmospheric physicist and science popularizer, writes about how water and its various physical states affect the climate.

The PAS Institute of Experimental Biology together with the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education plans to test medical students for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in early October. Scientists will use a novel method developed within the SONAR Anti-CoronaVirus project. Thanks to screening tests they will determine how widespread the virus is in a given population.

Glaciers covering approximately 60% of the Svalbard archipelago have been systematically melting since the 1980s. "If the current warming rate continues, it would be extremely difficult to avoid further mass loss of Svalbard glaciers in the future," commented the researchers in a paper recently published in Nature Communications. Among the authors of the article is Bartłomiej Luks, PhD from the PAS Institute of Geophysics.

COVID-19 vaccines must be safe, efficacious and accessible to everyone, urge members of the international organization InterAcademy Partnership (IAP). IAP, of which the Polish Academy of Sciences is a member, has published a position on the ongoing research for COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine distribution.

The International Optics Commission (ICO) has presented prestigious awards for the 36th time. The distinction is awarded annually to researchers who have made a noteworthy contribution to optics. ICO is supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Water becomes scarce resource even in regions where there seems to be an abundance of water. Scientists and policymakers have met on this year’s Economic Forum, held in Karpacz, to discuss how to prevent water shortages. Prof. Paweł Rowiński, vice-president of the Polish Academy of Sciences, was one of the invited speakers.

In recently published Scientific Reports, prestigious Nature Research journal, archaeologists prove that the remains of a Neanderthal discovered in the Stajnia Cave (Silesia) may date back as far as 116,000 years. One of members of the international researcher team was Prof. Adam Nadachowski from the PAS Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals.

Professor Paweł Gancarczyk from the PAS Institute of Art has been elected a new member of the prestigious scientific organization – Academia Europaea. This creates a good opportunity for world-wide promotion of Polish musicological research.

At least 15% of COVID-19 patients suffer from severe form of the disease. We need an efficient therapeutic response to COVID-19 pandemic to save hundreds of thousands of people affected by the novel coronavirus. According to Prof. Andrzej Górski from the PAS Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy in Wrocław, phage therapy might be an effective method of treatment.

Wild plants, commonly referred to as weeds, are the most threatened plant group. "Let’s protect native plants, thus preserving biodiversity, which is crucial for the functioning of the ecosystem, insects, animals and finally, ourselves" – appeals Prof. Arkadiusz Nowak from the PAS Botanical Garden. "However, we should remember that not all weeds deserve protection," he adds.

We know all this thanks to scientists from the PAS Institute of Human Genetics. They were the first to examine all genomes of the SARS-CoV-2 virus present in Poland. Researchers also observed a significant dominance of one type of coronavirus sequences compared to other European countries.

How science is helping us advance today? This is one of the topics discussed by the participants of a prestigious conference ESOF in Trieste (Italy). Among speakers is Dr. Jacek Kolanowski from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Scientists are working to develop a natural dietary supplement that prevents infection, limits the action of viruses and boosts immunity. The Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences takes part in the international project.

Only one test, and we examine 10 people. This is possible thanks to the procedures developed at the PAS Institute of Experimental Biology in Warsaw. The method saves time and money and it gives a chance to test all Poles for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. We asked Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, head of the project, how to implement pooled PCR testing?

Our scientist is the first Polish researcher to receive the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water. His research on the relationship between climate and water resources was appreciated. Congratulations!