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Journal: No Limits

Said reptile to reptile: Don't be silly, can't you see how big I am?

Weronika Rupik , Paweł Kaczmarek , Maria Sztuka

Language: EN | Published: 20-04-2026 | Abstract | pp. 12-15

For hundreds of millions of years, reptiles have inhabited diverse environments – from arid deserts to forests and rivers to the open oceans. Biologists from the University of Silesia in Katowice are studying the development, structure and biology of the organs of invertebrates and vertebrates, including the sensory systems of reptiles, which enable them to effectively perceive and interpret a variety of stimuli from the environment. Chemoperception plays a particular role here, enabling the detection and differentiation of chemical substances. It is one of the oldest sensory mechanisms in the animal world and forms the basis of communication not only in reptiles but also in many vertebrates.

2026-04-20



Journal: No Limits

Communication perfected over several million years of evolution

Jolanta Brożek , Małgorzata Kłoskowicz

Language: EN | Published: 20-04-2026 | Abstract | pp. 8-11

Commonly, the word communication may be associated with everyday conversation, news services, lectures, and email exchanges. Meanwhile, in our close proximity, in the grass, on tree leaves, and sometimes even in our homes, there exists a constant exchange of data that has nothing to do with human conversation. It is a world where ‘words’ take the form of chemical molecules and touch is replaced by the precise systems of microscopic levers. We are thus entering the territory of insects, specifically the fascinating and little-known sensory reality of hemiptera, or true bugs.

2026-04-20



Journal: No Limits

A journey in service of biodiversity

Marcin Walczak , Małgorzata Kłoskowicz

Language: EN | Published: 21-11-2025 | Abstract | pp. 12-15

The island of Borneo is one of the richest places on Earth in terms of natural resources. Today, however, it faces a catastrophic loss of biodiversity resulting from human activity – mass deforestation and the development of oil palm plantations. The expedition of entomologist Marcin Walczak, PhD Eng., is a starting point for reflection on the global ecological crisis and human responsibility for the future of the planet. Deforestation leads to the degradation of ecosystems, the extinction of species and the loss of natural ecological corridors. The scientist points to possible ways of saving nature – from reducing palm oil consumption to protecting forests outside reserve areas. Restoring lost diversity is an extremely difficult and lengthy process, and every form of nature conservation begins with human awareness and choices.

2025-11-21



Journal: No Limits

Climate recorded in shrubs

Magdalena Opała-Owczarek , Maria Sztuka

Language: EN | Published: 21-11-2025 | Abstract | pp. 4-7

Arctic shrubs record the history of the region – from volcanic cooling to traces of ancient Viking settlements. Prof. Magdalena Opała-Owczarek’s team from the University of Silesia uses microscopic rings of long-lived junipers and polar willows to reconstruct the climatic conditions of several centuries ago. Using not only contemporary samples but also forgotten botanical collections from museums in Copenhagen, London, and Washington, researchers are reconstructing the history of Arctic weather dating back to the 16th century. Their growth rings reveal the effects of eruptions of volcanoes such as Laki and Tambora, which were capable of lowering temperatures by several degrees. Arctic dendrochronology, previously marginalised, is now becoming the key to understanding past and future climate change.

2025-11-21



Journal: No Limits

Utilising nature’s potential

Agnieszka Kompała-Bąba , Agnieszka Sikora

Language: EN | Published: 30-12-2024 | Abstract | pp. 4-7

Contemporary cities are mostly seen through the lens of organised greenery, while the potential of unorganised greenery growing on wasteland and post-industrial sites remains underappreciated despite being equally valuable. In such places, nature itself shapes plant communities that are best adapted to difficult environmental conditions, contributing to soil remediation, water retention, and biodiversity. Examples from Silesia, such as the Silesian Park, Żabie Doły, and Uroczysko Zielona show that nature can be an effective partner in the process of revitalising urban spaces. The concept of a ‘novel ecosystem’ created by plant succession in degraded areas points the way towards sustainable urban development in the face of climate change. Therefore, we should learn to trust nature and consider it an ally in urban planning.

2024-12-30



Journal: No Limits

Information physics, or why do we need entropy?

Jerzy Dajka , Agnieszka Sikora

Language: EN | Published: 20-04-2026 | Abstract | pp. 28-31

Entropy is a concept used in physics to describe the degree of disorder in thermodynamic processes. In classical thermodynamics, it is a state function whose change allows us to distinguish between possible and impossible processes. The entropy of an isolated system – that is, one which exchanges neither energy nor matter with its surroundings – never decreases. It may remain constant (in ideally reversible processes), but in real processes it has to increase. The existence of entropy has its consequences. It determines the arrow of time in macroscopic physics, explaining why certain processes occur spontaneously in only one direction. Although the concept of entropy was born in relation to heat engines and energy processes, over time it turned out to have a much broader meaning – extending to information theory, computer science, biology, and even cosmology.

2026-04-20