New interactive exhibition at the CAS showcases materials shaped by genius ideas
10. 03. 2025
Have you ever seen a wire that “remembers” its shape? Even if you stretch it out, it returns to its original form when heated. At the Czech Academy of Sciences, you can not only see it but also try it out for yourself. This remarkable wire is just one of the exhibits featured at the Genius Material interactive exhibition that reveals the surprising properties of everyday materials and their often unexpected applications. The exhibition is open to visitors free of charge at the Science and Art Gallery at the CAS headquarters on Národní Street (Prague) until 14 June 2025.
From primitive stone tools to nanofibers, humankind has always sought to improve and refine the materials it uses. We keep pursuing better ways to control and utilize them to this day. “Without research into materials, we wouldn’t have modern technologies or medical advances. The development of quantum mechanics, 3D printing, and nanotechnology allows us to create substances with properties that would have been unimaginable not that long ago,” stated Eva Zažímalová, President of the CAS, at the exhibition’s opening on 4 March 2025.
At the interactive Genius Material exhibition, organized by the Institute of Physics of Materials of the CAS, visitors will be able to explore the latest research and discover how innovations in this field influence our everyday lives.
Eva Zažímalová, President of the CAS, opened the exhibition.
Materials at your fingertips
“Did you know that a rusty train will take you farther? Or that when a farmer is sharpening a scythe, they’re not only honing its edge, but strengthening its structure, too? These are just some of the questions we answer in our exhibition,” explained Jan Klusák from the Institute of Physics of Materials of the CAS, one of the exhibition’s creators. “In the Science and Art Gallery, we present topics we actively research – such as the use of iron oxides in cancer treatment or a virtual forge where we test materials that don’t yet exist.”
The creators of the exhibition have placed a strong emphasis on interactivity. “The exhibits invite visitors to hands-on engagement. Exhibition-goers will even touch some of them. We believe this approach can spark interest in science, especially among younger generations – and that’s something we care about deeply,” Klusák emphasized. Visitors will have the chance to examine a hip implant by touch, move a levitating cube, or use a microscope to peer into the depths of a crystal. They will also learn why certain components always crack in the same place, along with many other remarkable insights.
Jan Klusák, guiding visitors through the exhibition after the opening.
The exhibition runs until 14 June 2025 and is open on weekdays from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Science and Art Gallery at the CAS headquarters on Národní Street in Prague. Admission is free. An English-language brochure of the exhibition texts is also available for visitors to borrow.
Written and prepared by: Zuzana Dupalová, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS
Translated by: Tereza Novická, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS
Photo: Jana Plavec, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS
The text and photos are released for use under the Creative Commons license.
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The Czech Academy of Sciences (the CAS)
The mission of the CAS
The primary mission of the CAS is to conduct research in a broad spectrum of natural, technical and social sciences as well as humanities. This research aims to advance progress of scientific knowledge at the international level, considering, however, the specific needs of the Czech society and the national culture.
President of the CAS
Prof. Radomír Pánek started his first term of office in March 2025. He is a prominent Czech scientist specializing in plasma physics and nuclear fusion.