Popular sciences

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Description

The „Academia” magazine was founded on the initiative of Professor Andrzej B. Legocki, a President of the Polish Academy of Sciences in 2003 – 2006. In the beginning it was published only in English as a reply to the growing demand for a current information on the Polish Academy of Sciences` activities, expressed by foreign scientists and Poles living abroad and interested in Polish science.

Since 2005 the magazine is published both in Polish and English.

The „Academia” is an exceptional - on the Polish market - scientific magazine for the general public, propagating achievements of Polish scientists here and abroad. Authors of articles in „Academia” explain their subject in a way that is accessible not only for all sorts of academics but also for students, pupils and all other readers interested in scientific topics for the general public.

ISSN

1731-7401

Publishers

Polish Academy of Sciences

Editorial Staff

Jolanta Iwańczuk (Editor-in-Chief, Earth Sciences)

Daniel Sax (Editor, English-Language Version)

Marcin Pietras (Biological & Agricultural Sciences)

Justyna Orłowska (Journalist)

Andrzej Figatowski (Graphic Designer)

Anna Bielec (Project Coordinator)

Scientific Council

Marek Konarzewski, President of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Chairman)

Dariusz Jemielniak (Deputy Chairman)

Andrzej Buko

Katarzyna Czarnecka

Patrycja Dołowy

Paweł Golik

Janusz Jurczak

Tomasz Kapitaniak

Marek Krawczyk

Krzysztof Nowak

Anna Zawadzka

Publisher:

Polish Academy of Sciences

Communication and Science Information Department

Defilad sq. 1,

00-901 Warsaw, Poland

e-mail: academia@pan.pl

Volumes

Select number

Content

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness

1 Contents

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness

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2 Editorial

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 3

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3 Bats Come Home to Roost

Wiesław Bogdanowicz , Ireneusz Ruczyński

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 4-9

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Abstract

Because bats live clandestine lives, many of their customs remain understudied. Yet research has uncovered that their criteria in choosing homes are very similar to those of humans: they prefer dry, sturdily built, warm and safe places to live.

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Authors and Affiliations

Wiesław Bogdanowicz

Ireneusz Ruczyński

4 The Dark Side of Galaxies

Ewa. L. Łokas

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 9-11

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Abstract

Dark matter is the primary building material of galaxies and clusters. It is most prevalent in the biggest cosmic objects, like galaxy clusters, as well as in some of the smallest ones, like dwarf galaxies. Both may help us to unlock some of dark matter's secrets.

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Authors and Affiliations

Ewa. L. Łokas

5 Using Your Head

Edward Nęcka

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 12-15

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Abstract

Intelligence theory encompasses at least two fonns of consciousness. The problem is: how does intelligence in its variety relate to human consciousness?

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Authors and Affiliations

Edward Nęcka

6 Black Holes on the Swing

Włodek Kluźniak

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 16-19

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Abstract

Just as Isaac Newton weighed the Earth by thinking of the Moon as a falling apple (or so the story goes), so we can weigh certain unseen monsters that are devouring their companion stars. What are these objects that have masses several times larger than that of our Sun, and yet are only a few miles across? In fact, everyone knows their name: black holes.

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Authors and Affiliations

Włodek Kluźniak

7 Far-From-Ordinary Crystals

Wojciech Kuczyński

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 20-22

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Abstract

Liquid crystals have recently found their way into many everyday applications. Indeed, they are now employed in numerous devices without which contemporary life seems difficult to imagine.

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Authors and Affiliations

Wojciech Kuczyński

8 Striking Lightning

Piotr Barański

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 23-25

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Abstract

Will we ever harness the power of lightning? Probably yes, but first we need to answer some fundamental questions, because we've really just begun to tap into the secrets of atmospheric electricity.

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Authors and Affiliations

Piotr Barański

9 Polish Poverty

Elżbieta Tarkowska

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 26-27

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Abstract

Poverty in modern Poland differs in many regards both from its forms in earlier times, as well as from the types of poverty that are now seen in other, both post-Communist and Western countries. Polish poverty most frequently affects rural residents, children, women, the unemployed, and the "working poor".

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Authors and Affiliations

Elżbieta Tarkowska

10 In the Shadows

Paweł Kozłowski

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 28-29

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Abstract

The gray economy, the shadowy world of infonnal economic ties, is generally considered a factor that exerts a negative impact on the economic system. Yet viewed from the perspective of a researcher dealing with the economy's social aspects, the gray economy's existence does give rise to important benefits.

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Authors and Affiliations

Paweł Kozłowski

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ORCID:

11 Challenges of Cogeneration

Jacek Marecki

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 30-32

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Abstract

The benefits for consumers of network-supplied heat generated in combination with electńc power include not only a lower price, but also more convenient use, a reliable supply, and no pollutant emissions.

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Authors and Affiliations

Jacek Marecki

12 Light After Darkness

Jan Pilarski

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 33-35

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Abstract

All plants need light to stay alive, although various species harness light in different ways. Moreover, light serves as more than just a source of energy - in alternation with darkness, it also provides plants with valuable information.

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Authors and Affiliations

Jan Pilarski

13 Underground Fuel-Tanks

Kazimierz Ślizowski

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness | 36-37

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Abstract

For those unversed in the arcana of hydrocarbon economics, it might seem like utter nonsense to pump oil or natural gas back underground. Even so, doing so can help solve the problem of storing key energy commodities, especially in countries that do not have sufficient reserves.

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Authors and Affiliations

Kazimierz Ślizowski

14 Surveying Corruption

Antoni Z. Kamiński

ACADEMIA. The magazine of the Polish Academy of Sciences | 2005 | Nr 4 (8) 2005 Darkness

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Abstract

Polish research on corruption began only as late as in the 1990s, following the publication of international reports on this issue. Two main approaches have dominated Polish academic studies: one focusing on individuals' attitudes towards corruption, the other on social norms.

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