A / Magazine: Bugs, the rusting human body, and beauties from the kingdom of ice

Insects hold the title of the most diverse group of animals on Earth. At the same time, they rank among the most endangered. One third of insect species are estimated to be at risk of extinction. Nearly half are experiencing significant population decline. Despite this fact, research on insects is ever-advancing: thanks to genome analysis, scientists are now gaining deeper insight into the evolutionary success of termites, ants, and bees, along with their communication abilities and collective intelligence. Find out more in the second-ever English issue of A / Magazine – the official quarterly magazine published by the Czech Academy of Sciences.

2025 (version for browsing)
2025 (version for download)

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The feature of the 2025 English issue of A / Magazine covers the topic of bugs (four articles):

Long Live the King and Queen! The Story of Immortal Termites (pp. 18–25)

Not all bugs live fleeting lives. Royal termite pairs can survive for several decades, setting records for longevity in evolutionary terms as well – their advanced colonies have been around since the dinosaur era. As explored by Robert Hanus from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS and Aleš Buček from the Institute of Entomology at the Biology Centre of the CAS.

Unwelcome Visitor from Asia (pp. 26–27)

It’s slightly smaller than the native European hornet – but strikes fear into beekeepers across the continent. Meet the Asian hornet, a dangerous invasive species originally from Southeast Asia.

The Flutter of Butterfly Wings (pp. 28–33)

Some species of butterflies have vanished altogether, others are teetering on the edge of extinction. Can they adapt to changing conditions and survive?

Bugs Up Close (pp. 34–37)

We come across them every day, yet we’ve never truly seen them – at least not like this. These strikingly detailed images of insect heads were captured using cutting-edge microscopes by scientists at the Biology Centre of the CAS in České Budějovice.

Selected additional articles from the issue:

Scent: The Intoxicating Power of Cleopatra (pp. 50–59) – The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans alike used fragrant balms, oils, and perfumes in rituals, medicine, and cosmetics. Now, more than 2,000 years later, researchers from the Institute of Philosophy of the CAS and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS are working on “reviving” these ancient scents as part of the Alchemies of Scent project.

Petosiris. Alchemies of Scent project. Photo credit: Institute of Philosophy of the CAS.

The Rusting Human Body (pp. 72–77) – In orthopedics, bones sometimes have to be stabilized using metal screws, plates, or wires, which are later surgically removed. But what if these materials simply dissolved in the body instead? Learn about biodegradable metal alloy implants being advanced by Jan Pinc from the Institute of Physics of the CAS.

INTERVIEW: Tinkering with Jewelry (pp. 38–45) – Using gold and diamonds, Vladimíra Petráková is working to refine optical microscopy and reveal hidden patterns in the nanoworld – while breaking Czech science stereotypes, such as women having to choose between children and a career. Check out the interview with Vladimíra Petráková from the J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the CAS.

Beauties from the Kingdom of Ice (pp. 66–71) – You can find them in Czech ponds just as in the Nile or the Amazon, and in seas and oceans, too. Diatoms (microalgae) are highly adaptable and thrive almost everywhere – including in the extreme environment of Antarctica. Discover more in an article on the research of polar ecologist Kateřina Kopalová from the Institute of Botany of the CAS.

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You can also check out the English issue of A / Magazine from last year here:

2024 (version for browsing)
2024 (version for download)

An overview of the articles found in the Light issue can be found here.

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All Czech and English issues of A / Magazine – the official quarterly of the Czech Academy of Sciences, including its predecessor A / Science and Research – are available online.

We offer free print copies (of the Czech version and the two English issues from 2024 and 2025) to anyone interested – please contact us at predplatne@ssc.cas.cz.

Written and prepared by: Tereza Novická, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS
Photo: Institute of Philosophy of the CAS; Petr Jan Jurečka; Shutterstock

 The text is released for use under the Creative Commons license.

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