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old fossil beetle preserved in Burmese amber from the age of dinosaurs. The well-preserved body of this distant relative of modern fireflies has provided researchers with a unique insight into the evolution of communication systems in bioluminescent beetles and their relatives. The newly described species, Icaroramus perisi, possessed a light-producing organ on its abdomen as well as extraordinarily complex antennae that probably functioned as a kind of chemical radar. The results of the research were published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

“This fossil beetle is remarkable because it combines two forms of communication that are central to modern fireflies and their relatives: chemical signals and light. Thanks to its exceptional preservation in amber, we can study such an unusual combination of traits deep in evolutionary time,” says Yan-Da Li, lead author of the study.

The antennae revealed exceptional sensory equipment

The new species of bioluminescent beetle was found in Burmese amber, which preserves extremely fine anatomical details of insects from the mid-Cretaceous. This allowed the researchers to study not only the overall body shape, but also the complex structure of the antennae and the abdominal structures.

The antennae of the new beetle have 12 segments, most of which bear two morphologically distinct pairs of long branches. Such an antennal structure has not previously been known in any living or fossil beetle. According to the authors, these antennae probably greatly increased the sensory surface area and enabled highly sensitive detection of chemical signals, especially sex pheromones.

Pheromones for courtship, light for defence

“In modern fireflies and related groups, we often see a close link between the shape of the antennae and the way species communicate. Males of species that rely on pheromones frequently have elaborately branched antennae capable of detecting even very faint chemical signals. In Icaroramus perisi, this specialization reached an extraordinary level,” explains Robin Kundrata from the Department of Zoology at the Faculty of Science.

Interestingly, Icaroramus perisi also had a structure on its abdomen that the researchers interpret as a light-producing organ. However, this does not necessarily mean that light was used primarily in courtship, as it is in many modern fireflies. The authors suggest that mate location may have been mediated mainly by pheromones, while bioluminescence may have served instead as a warning signal to predators. A similar function of light is also known in some living bioluminescent beetles.

The fossil changes our view of the evolution of bioluminescence

“The discovery shows that the evolution of bioluminescence was not a simple story leading directly to modern fireflies. In the early evolution of this group, light may have served primarily as a warning, antipredatory signal and was only later recruited for sexual communication in some lineages. This fossil therefore reveals an evolutionary experiment that has no exact counterpart today,” says Chenyang Cai, co-author of the study.

The study was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B under the title “A firefly relative that smelled and glowed: evidence for complex signalling systems in Cretaceous lampyroids”. It is part of long-term research into fossil and living elateroid beetles carried out by the team of Robin Kundrata at Palacký University Olomouc.

How can we protect consumers from greenwashing? Do we have the right to have products repaired? Where does the convenience of digital services end, and where does consumer manipulation begin? And can the law really contribute to a more sustainable future? These were the very questions addressed by the second edition of the international summer school ‘Sustainability and Consumer Protection’, organised by the Faculty of Law at Palacký University.

The programme linked current sustainability issues to consumer protection law and offered participants the opportunity not only to attend specialist lectures, but, above all, to engage in discussion, practical work, and the sharing of experiences across different legal systems.

Around 30 students from various European universities travelled to Olomouc to discuss, alongside Czech and international experts, the challenges that are increasingly significant for consumer law. During the summer school, they addressed topics such as excessive consumption in the digital environment, greenwashing, dark patterns, the right to repair, passengers’ rights and the concept of reducing consumption.

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The emphasis was on participants' active involvement. The students did not merely attend lectures; they also worked in groups, analysed case studies and, at the end of the programme, took part in a mini moot court – a simulated court hearing on a fictitious legal case. It was precisely the practical part of the programme that enabled participants to examine individual topics from various perspectives and develop legal arguments in an international setting.

“We are delighted that the ‘Sustainability and Consumer Protection’ summer school has, in such a short space of time, become one of the most sought-after courses at our faculty. For us as lecturers, it is exceptionally inspiring to see the interest and energy with which students from various European universities discuss topics that will fundamentally shape consumer law in the coming years,” said Blanka Vítová from the Department of Private Law and Civil Procedure at the Faculty of Law, Palacký University, who organised the summer school together with her colleague from the department, Rita Simon. Experts from partner universities abroad also took part in the teaching, including from the University of Silesia in Katowice, the University of Amsterdam, the University of Debrecen and the University of Groningen, which gave the programme a distinct European and comparative dimension.

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The summer school also featured a supporting programme that enabled participants to get to know Olomouc, the university, and the surrounding area. Highlights included a joint intercultural dinner, where participants sampled dishes from various European countries, and rafting in the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area. In collaboration with Palacký University’s Sustainable University Department, a guided tour was also organised for participants, focusing on how Palacký University incorporates the principles of sustainability into its day-to-day operations. Thanks in part to these activities, the summer school became not only an academic experience but also a personally and culturally enriching one.

“For us, the summer school was not just an academic programme. It was an opportunity to create a space where students can learn, ask questions and debate, but also get to know researchers and colleagues from a different academic culture, as well as Olomouc itself. It is precisely this combination of expertise, international cooperation and an informal atmosphere that, in my view, gives the summer school its unique character,” added Rita Simon on behalf of the organisers.

The second edition of the summer school confirmed that the link between sustainability and consumer protection resonates with students and is increasingly significant in legal education. The Faculty is thus continuing to develop an international platform that brings together academic discussion, practical teaching and current societal challenges.

From developing biosensors for plant monitoring to searching for new anticancer compounds, the new Biointerface Technologies research group will cover a broad range of topics. The group has been operating at CATRIN since 1 July under the leadership of David Panáček in collaboration with Tomáš Malina. Alongside its scientific objectives, the group also has an important strategic aim: to enhance the competitiveness of young researchers applying for prestigious European grants, including ERC Starting Grants.

“The newly established group responds to the growing need to connect advanced materials research with biological and medical applications, whether by monitoring biological analytes in the human body or in plants. One research line will focus on sensors for plants, enabling the monitoring of various soil analytes, including pH and salinity, as well as the early detection of harmful viruses and bacteria. The second, led by Tomáš Malina, will concentrate on biomedical research, particularly the development of compounds with anticancer activity,” said David Panáček, Leader of the group.

The establishment of the research group is also intended to strengthen the researchers’ chances of securing European projects. Its first years will therefore be an important period in which the group will develop its research direction, build international visibility and seek external grant funding to support further growth. “Having a smaller, early-stage group with a strong publication record significantly increases our chances of succeeding in European competition. It is a model commonly used at leading institutions abroad,” added Panáček, who gained international experience during a research stay at Imperial College London. His colleague Tomáš Malina can likewise draw on his experience at Karolinska Institutet, where he previously worked.

For both researchers, establishing an independent research group represents another important step in their careers. “It is an achievement and a source of satisfaction. I have always enjoyed leading people in one way or another and motivating them to work at the highest level. Naturally, I also see it as a responsibility, but we will do everything we can to succeed,” said Panáček, adding that the group would gradually expand.

The newly approved European network BIORAG – Biostimulants for Resilient Agriculture – will focus on research into biostimulants that improve nutrient use efficiency and help plants cope better with stressful conditions such as drought, salinity, or temperature extremes. The project responds to the need for European agriculture to reduce the use of mineral fertilisers, improve soil health, strengthen crop resilience to climate change, and, at the same time, maintain high yields with lower inputs. It will link research with industrial partners, regulatory bodies, public policy-makers and other stakeholders from across Europe.

The project’s principal investigator is Shubhpriya Gupta from the Laboratory of Growth Regulators, a joint unit of the Faculty of Science at Palacký University and the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, who will chair the project for four years. The project is scheduled to commence on 29 October 2026.

Natural plant support

European agriculture currently faces several major challenges. These include, in particular, the need to reduce the use of mineral fertilisers, improve soil health, increase crop resilience to the impacts of climate change, and, at the same time, maintain high levels of agricultural production. In line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the European Union aims to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers by approximately 20 per cent by 2030. Biostimulants are among the promising tools that can help achieve these goals.

Biostimulants are neither conventional fertilisers nor pesticides. They are substances or microorganisms that support plants’ natural physiological processes. “They can improve nutrient uptake, promote root system growth, increase plants’ tolerance to stressful conditions, influence crop quality and yield, or support the activity of the soil microbiome. These include, for example, beneficial bacteria and fungi, seaweed extracts, humic substances, amino acids and protein hydrolysates,” said Shubhpriya Gupta from the Growth Regulators Laboratory.

BIORAG to harmonise biostimulant research procedures

The BIORAG network aims to address the current fragmentation of biostimulant research and to establish a common European framework for their study and evaluation. It will focus on gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of biostimulants, standardising laboratory and greenhouse bioassays, and developing uniform methods for evaluating their efficacy. Another key aspect will be the transfer of validated methods from model plants to agricultural crops and woody plants, the harmonisation of data and experimental procedures, and support for the registration of new biostimulant products.

The COST Action BIORAG project will be divided into four main working groups. “The first will focus on biostimulants and microorganisms, their identification, characterisation and functional analysis. The second working group will address mechanisms of action, for example, using molecular biology, genetics, biomarkers, microscopy and omics technologies. The third group will concentrate on the application, registration and commercialisation of biostimulants – that is, on translating research findings into agricultural practice, addressing legislative issues and collaborating with industry. The fourth working group will be responsible for communication and the dissemination of results, training, networking, public outreach and collaboration between European institutions,” added Shubhpriya Gupta.

New opportunities for researchers and more resilient agriculture

An important part of the COST Action will also be the support of early-career researchers and the sharing of experience between European research institutions. The project envisages training sessions, workshops, summer schools, short-term research visits and the exchange of experience between laboratories. BIORAG is thus set to contribute not only to advancing research into biostimulants but also to the development of a European community of experts in this rapidly evolving field.

The project’s results are expected to help improve the reliability of biostimulant products, accelerate the development of new products, enhance the reproducibility of experiments and facilitate the registration of biostimulants. In a broader context, the network may help make agriculture more resilient to climate change, reduce the use of mineral fertilisers, and promote sustainable land management.

The BIORAG project (reference number CA25180) was approved under the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) programme. The four-year international network is scheduled to run from 29 October 2026 to 28 October 2030. This is not a traditional research grant, but a European platform that connects researchers, universities, companies, and regulatory bodies. The project’s annual budget for supporting network activities amounts to approximately 140,000–180,000 euros. Funding will be used to support scientific meetings, workshops, training courses, short-term scientific missions (STSMs), conference grants and activities aimed at disseminating the project’s results. The aim is to harmonise research approaches and methodologies and to support the transfer of proven knowledge into agricultural practice.

Projekt COST Action BIORAG bude rozdělen do čtyř hlavních pracovních skupin. „První se zaměří na biostimulační látky a mikroorganismy, jejich identifikaci, charakterizaci a funkční analýzy. Druhá pracovní skupina se bude věnovat mechanismům účinku, například s využitím molekulární biologie, genetiky, biomarkerů, mikroskopie a omických technologií. Třetí skupina se soustředí na aplikaci, registraci a komercializaci biostimulantů, tedy na převod výsledků výzkumu do zemědělské praxe, legislativní otázky a spolupráci s průmyslem. Čtvrtá pracovní skupina bude zajišťovat komunikaci a šíření výsledků, vzdělávání, networking, popularizaci a spolupráci mezi evropskými institucemi,“ doplnila Shubhpriya Gupta.

Nové příležitosti pro vědce i odolnější zemědělství

Významnou součástí COST Action bude také podpora mladých vědců a sdílení zkušeností mezi evropskými pracovišti. Projekt počítá se školeními, workshopy, letními školami, krátkodobými vědeckými pobyty i výměnou zkušeností mezi laboratořemi. BIORAG tak má přispět nejen k rozvoji výzkumu biostimulantů, ale také k budování evropské odborné komunity v této rychle se rozvíjející oblasti.

Očekává se, že výsledky projektu pomohou zvýšit spolehlivost biostimulačních přípravků, urychlit vývoj nových produktů, zlepšit reprodukovatelnost experimentů a usnadnit registraci biostimulantů. V širším kontextu může síť přispět k vyšší odolnosti zemědělství vůči klimatické změně, omezení používání minerálních hnojiv a podpoře udržitelného hospodaření s půdou.

Projekt BIORAG s číslem CA25180 byl schválen v rámci programu COST – European Cooperation in Science and Technology. Realizace čtyřleté mezinárodní sítě je plánována od 29. října 2026 do 28. října 2030. Nejde o klasický výzkumný grant, ale o evropskou platformu propojující výzkumníky, univerzity, firmy i regulační instituce. Roční rozpočet projektu na podporu síťových aktivit činí přibližně 140–180 tisíc eur. Financovány z něj budou vědecká setkání, workshopy, vzdělávací školy, krátkodobé vědecké pobyty (Short-Term Scientific Missions, STSM), konferenční granty i aktivity zaměřené na šíření výsledků projektu. Jejím cílem je sjednotit výzkumné přístupy, metodiky a podpořit přenos ověřených poznatků do zemědělské praxe.