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What can science do for you today?

    We would like to inform you that the data controllers of your personal data provided in the application form are universities belonging to the Academic Consortium Katowice City of Science participating in the organisation of the EUROPEAN CITY OF SCIENCE KATOWICE 2024. The legal basis for the processing of your personal data is Article 6(1)(e) of GDPR, i.e. performance of tasks implemented in the public interest, in particular, promoting and developing scientific and cultural achievements, acting for the benefit of local and regional communities in order to use expert knowledge and answer your question as part of the ‘Ask a Scientist’ initiative. If you want to learn more about the processing of your personal data, go to the full text of the GDPR information clause available >here

    Check how we remove barriers between life and science:

    • Life question:

      What are the stains that remain after doing the laundry?

      Adam Nowak

      prof. Robert Musioł

      Director of the Institute of Chemistry
      University of Silesia in Katowice

      Stains of this kind are rarely a sign of a bacterial presence. They may have been caused by bacteria, but washing even at low temperature should destroy most of them (either mechanically, chemically or thermally)…

    • Life question:

      What are the stains that remain after doing the laundry?

      Adam Nowak

      prof. Robert Musioł

      Director of the Institute of Chemistry
      University of Silesia in Katowice

      Stains of this kind are rarely a sign of a bacterial presence. They may have been caused by bacteria, but washing even at low temperature should destroy most of them (either mechanically, chemically or thermally)…
      Life question

      What are the stains that remain after doing the laundry?

      Adam Nowak

      Scenario: I wiped a food or wine stain with a kitchen cloth. After washing at 60 degrees, the stain is still there. Is it a remnant of the same biological material, which could be food for bacteria, or just a harmless discolouration? What is this discolouration? I understand that bacteria are killed through washing, but I believe that the colour is coming from somewhere…
      Scientist answer

      prof. Robert Musioł

      Director of the Institute of Chemistry
      University of Silesia in Katowice

      Stains of this kind are rarely a sign of a bacterial presence. They may have been caused by bacteria, but washing even at low temperature should destroy most of them (either mechanically, chemically or thermally). Stains from coloured food (such as juices, colourful fruit, or wine) are pigmented substances of various compositions.
      Life question

      What are the stains that remain after doing the laundry?

      Adam Nowak

      Scenario: I wiped a food or wine stain with a kitchen cloth. After washing at 60 degrees, the stain is still there. Is it a remnant of the same biological material, which could be food for bacteria, or just a harmless discolouration? What is this discolouration? I understand that bacteria are killed through washing, but I believe that the colour is coming from somewhere…
      Scientist answer

      prof. Robert Musioł

      Director of the Institute of Chemistry
      University of Silesia in Katowice

      Stains of this kind are rarely a sign of a bacterial presence. They may have been caused by bacteria, but washing even at low temperature should destroy most of them (either mechanically, chemically or thermally). Stains from coloured food (such as juices, colourful fruit, or wine) are pigmented substances of various compositions.

      Meet our experts

      • Aleksandra Osika, MSc

        A PhD student of the International Environmental Doctoral School, associated with the Centre for Polar Studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice. She studies the history of the Svalbard glaciers.

      • Iwona Jelonek, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor

        An expert in petrology and organic geochemistry. She works at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Silesia in Katowice and is the director of the Centre for Biomass Energy Research and Education.

      • prof. Robert Musioł

        A professor of Medical and Health Sciences, and director of the Institute of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Silesia in Katowice.

      • Agnieszka Janiak, PhD, DSc

        Agnieszka Janiak, PhD, DSc – geneticist, Associate Professor of the University of Silesia. She works at the Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Silesia in Katowice.

        Our specialist

        Aleksandra Osika, MSc

        University of Silesia in Katowice

        A PhD student of the International Environmental Doctoral School, associated with the Centre for Polar Studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice. She studies the history of the Svalbard glaciers.

        Our specialist

        Iwona Jelonek, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor

        University of Silesia in Katowice

        An expert in petrology and organic geochemistry. She works at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Silesia in Katowice and is the director of the Centre for Biomass Energy Research and Education. She is researching the quality assessment of solid fuels and the process of coal carbonisation, as well as the production and combustion of biomass. She specialises in the search for new renewable energy sources, particularly natural sources of heat. She combines her scientific and technical expertise to develop cutting-edge technologies which improve air quality and protect the environment.

        Our specialist

        prof. Robert Musioł

        University of Silesia in Katowice

        A professor of Medical and Health Sciences, and director of the Institute of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Silesia in Katowice. The leader of the research team in Drug Design and Nano-pharmacology. He is involved in the design and research of chemical compounds, especially those which may find application in the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, he is a co-author of patents.

        Our specialist

        Agnieszka Janiak, PhD, DSc

        University of Silesia in Katowice

        Agnieszka Janiak, PhD, DSc – geneticist, Associate Professor of the University of Silesia. She works at the Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Silesia in Katowice. She studies the genetic mechanisms of plant responses to stress.

        50 Outstanding Achievements of Silesia Science

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        We are the Academic Consortium

        The consortium of institutions responsible for the efforts towards the awarding of the European City of Science 2024 title to Katowice is formed by:

        Katowice for a change ↳
        The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice ↳
        Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Katowice ↳
        Academy of Physical Education in Katowice ↳
        Silesian University of Technology ↳
        Medical University of Silesia in Katowice ↳
        University of Economics in Katowice ↳
        University of Silesia in Katowice ↳
        Learn more about the Academic Consortium ↳

        50 Outstanding Achievements of Silesian Science

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        What can science do for you today?

          We would like to inform you that the data controllers of your personal data provided in the application form are universities belonging to the Academic Consortium Katowice City of Science participating in the organisation of the EUROPEAN CITY OF SCIENCE KATOWICE 2024. The legal basis for the processing of your personal data is Article 6(1)(e) of GDPR, i.e. performance of tasks implemented in the public interest, in particular, promoting and developing scientific and cultural achievements, acting for the benefit of local and regional communities in order to use expert knowledge and answer your question as part of the ‘Ask a Scientist’ initiative. If you want to learn more about the processing of your personal data, go to the full text of the GDPR information clause available >here