Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

When one thinks of the kind of materials typically used to make heavy machinery, ceramics is not the first thing that comes to mind. But due to their qualities of being exceptional durable and heat resistant, ceramics are now being developed which could eventually replace metals as the material of choice for industrial machinery. Jonathan speaks with structural ceramics researcher Tamás Csanádi, winner of the 2020 ESET Exceptional Young Scientist award, about the promising future of these materials and the challenges they present to researchers. Could wearing face masks in public be weakening our immune systems? According to mathematical modeller Richard Kollar, who has done in-depth analyses on the spread of coronavirus in Slovakia and spearheaded a new advisory group aiming to promote a more holistic approach to the crisis, this is a very real possibility and something that could pose a threat to our health as we head into winter.