The Czech Republic is developing a quantum communication network. It can now rely on a complete backbone quantum network connecting Prague, Brno, and Ostrava, enabling the transmission of cryptographic keys based on the principles of quantum cryptography. This will allow secure communications for government institutions, banks, and private entities despite the growing risks associated with the increasing capabilities of quantum computers.

Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays rank among the rarest phenomena in astrophysics: particles with energies exceeding 100 EeV (10²⁰ eV) reach Earth at a rate of roughly one particle per square kilometer per century. These extraordinary objects are of great scientific interest, as a single subatomic particle can carry energy comparable to that of familiar macroscopic objects—for instance, a tennis ball struck by a professional player.

To increase the likelihood of detecting these rare events, the FAST experiment has been developed. Using easily deployable fluorescence telescopes, FAST has the potential to cover vast areas and continuously collect data on these extremely energetic particles. FAST telescopes are already operating in both hemispheres in close collaboration with the world’s leading astroparticle observatories, Telescope Array and Pierre Auger. Telescopes located in the Southern Hemisphere are now transitioning to fully autonomous operation.

Measuring extremely small signals, such as tiny forces, magnetic fields, or temperature changes , is at the heart of modern technology, from medical diagnostics to navigation and fundamental physics experiments. Scientists are increasingly turning to quantum systems to push measurement precision beyond classical limits. However, real devices are never perfectly isolated, they are open: they interact with their environment, constantly exchanging energy. Understanding how to exploit this openness rather than fight it has become one of the central challenges in quantum sensing.

The ALICE, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb collaborations at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have been awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. The award was presented on 5 April 2025 in Los Angeles and recognises scientific results based on LHC Run-2 data collected up to July 2024. It honours the collective work of thousands of scientists from more than 70 countries, represented at the ceremony by the spokespersons who led the collaborations during this period.