Science in Poland

Health education, reproductive rights, abortion and vaccinations were the main targets of online health disinformation in Poland in 2025, according to a new report published by the National Research Institute NASK.

Abortion, vaccines and health education top list of Polish health disinformation targets in 2025

The remains of two unrelated women buried together in a medieval grave have been found in Poland, in what archaeologists say is the first genetically confirmed same-sex medieval burial in the country.

Joint grave of two women marks first confirmed same-sex medieval burial in Poland

Central and Eastern Europe was not a peripheral region of the Neanderthal world but an important centre of migration, population exchange and social contacts, according to an international study of fossil remains discovered in southern Poland.

Researchers analysing teeth recovered from Stajnia Cave in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland reconstructed, for the first time, the genetic profile of a group of Neanderthals living north of the Carpathian Mountains between approximately 120,000 and 92,000 years ago.

The findings, published in the journal Current Biology, are based on the analysis of nine teeth belonging to at least seven and possibly as many as nine individuals. The researchers say the remains represent the oldest genetically and anthropologically well-defined collection of Homo neanderthalensis fossils identified in Central Europe.

Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Piastów Śląskich we Wrocławiu

Ancient DNA from Polish cave reveals Central Europe was key Neanderthal migration corridor Central and Eastern Europe was not a peripheral region of the Neanderthal world but an important centre of migration, population exchange and social contacts, according to an international study of fossil remains discovered in southern Poland.

Researchers in Poland are testing an experimental treatment that uses calcium and electrical pulses to kill pancreatic cancer cells, a disease for which patients often have few effective treatment options.

The technique, known as calcium electroporation, has already been used in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer by a team from the Medical University of Wrocław and the University Clinical Hospital in Wrocław. According to the university, it is the first time the method has been applied to such patients in Poland.

Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Piastów Śląskich we Wrocławiu
Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny im. Jana Mikulicza-Radeckiego we Wrocławiu

Electric pulses and calcium tested as new weapon against pancreatic cancer Researchers in Poland are testing an experimental treatment that uses calcium and electrical pulses to kill pancreatic cancer cells, a disease for which patients often have few effective treatment options.

After a stroke, the brain activates its own repair system that helps stabilize damaged blood vessels, according to a new study co-authored by Marcin Tabaka, PhD, from the International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER) at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
ICTER International Centre for Translational Eye Research

Dormant brain cells help repair blood vessels after stroke, study finds After a stroke, the brain activates its own repair system that helps stabilize damaged blood vessels, according to a new study co-authored by Marcin Tabaka, PhD, from the International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER) at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Scien...

Instances of restrictions on academic freedom are being observed across several European countries, researchers and representatives of young academies said during a meeting in Warsaw in May, where participants warned that scientific independence is being shaped not only by political decisions but also by funding systems, institutional policies and public pressure.

European scientists warn of growing pressure on academic freedom Instances of restrictions on academic freedom are being observed across several European countries, researchers and representatives of young academies said during a meeting in Warsaw in May, where participants warned that scientific independence is being shaped not only by political decisions but al...

The remains of two unrelated women buried together in a medieval grave have been found in Poland, in what archaeologists say is the first genetically confirmed same-sex medieval burial in the country.

The grave was uncovered during excavations near the walls of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Opole.

Researchers found the remains buried in close proximity, with one body placed according to established burial rites, while the other was positioned atypically in a way that visually resembles an embrace.

Archaeologists found no evidence of violence, a hurried burial or disorderly filling of the grave.
Uniwersytet Opolski
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

Joint grave of two women marks first confirmed same-sex medieval burial in Poland The remains of two unrelated women buried together in a medieval grave have been found in Poland, in what archaeologists say is the first genetically confirmed same-sex medieval burial in the country.

As many as 260 monumental tomb structures, associated with former pastoral communities, have been discovered in the desert area of Atbai in Africa, thanks to the analysis of satellite images. "We are not dealing with individual monuments, but with a vast cultural tradition," describes Dr. Maria C. Gatto from the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
Maria Carmela Gatto

Hundreds of monumental tomb structures have been discovered in Africa thanks to the analysis of satellite images As many as 260 monumental tomb structures, associated with former pastoral communities, have been discovered in the desert area of Atbai in Africa, thanks to the analysis of satellite images. "We are not dealing with individual monuments, but with a vast cultural tradition," describes Dr. Maria C. G...

Polish researchers have demonstrated a method for recovering nearly all available lithium from solid salt mixtures that mimic waste deposits left after lithium-rich brines are processed, offering a potential way to reduce losses of the critical battery metal.

Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego
Politechnika Warszawska

New method developed by Polish chemists allows to recover 95% of lithium from salt waste Polish researchers have demonstrated a method for recovering nearly all available lithium from solid salt mixtures that mimic waste deposits left after lithium-rich brines are processed, offering a potential way to reduce losses of the critical battery metal.

Scientists have directly observed the alpha decay of tellurium-104 for the first time, providing new evidence about how alpha particles form inside atomic nuclei before they are emitted.
UTK Department of Physics and Astronomy
Narodowe Centrum Badań Jądrowych
Wydział Fizyki Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego

Scientists observe rapid alpha decay from ground state Scientists have directly observed the alpha decay of tellurium-104 for the first time, providing new evidence about how alpha particles form inside atomic nuclei before they are emitted.