The Frontier of Medicine: Viruses as Allies

Bacterial diseases have challenged humanity since ancient times. While the discovery of penicillin in the 20th century offered hope, the widespread misuse of antibiotics has led to a global crisis: antibiotic resistance. Today, untreatable bacterial infections are among our greatest health challenges.

Could viruses – specifically bacteriophages – be the key to our survival? Explore how modern biotechnology is turning the tide by using these "bacteria-eaters" to target pathogens that antibiotics can no longer reach.

In collaboration with: Department of Genomics and Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biology (Slovak Academy of Sciences).

Extreme Isolation: Nature’s Living Laboratories

For centuries, caves were seen as mysterious realms of mythical creatures. Today, scientists view them as unique natural laboratories. In the absolute darkness and isolation of a cave, life follows a different set of rules, offering a rare window into how organisms evolve and adapt under extreme conditions.

Slovakia is home to over 6,500 documented caves, many sheltering rare species found nowhere else on Earth. Discover why protecting these fragile ecosystems is vital for our understanding of global biodiversity and evolutionary history.

In collaboration with: Institute of Biological and Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences (Pavol Jozef Šafárik University).

Global Travelers and Ecosystem Disruptors

While ecosystems naturally shift over time, human activity has accelerated these changes to an unprecedented degree. By transporting species across continents—often alongside their pathogens—we have inadvertently triggered ecological imbalances.

Some relocated species become "invasive," outcompeting native flora and fauna and permanently altering local landscapes. What biological traits make these species so successful? Investigate the science behind biological invasions and learn how we can protect our native ecosystems from being displaced.

In collaboration with: Plant Biology and Biodiversity Center (Slovak Academy of Sciences).

Decoding the Language of Life and Cancer

The dream of immortality has fascinated humans for millennia. But how do our cells "know" their age? While aging is a natural biological process, science has discovered that some human cells are effectively immortal—either passing life to the next generation or, dangerously, forming tumors.

Dive into the molecular mechanisms of DNA and RNA to understand how genetic information is regulated. Explore how cutting-edge cancer research uses this knowledge to stop uncontrolled cell growth and where the true biological limits of the human lifespan lie.

In collaboration with: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences (Comenius University in Bratislava).