At the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, he studies black holes in X-ray binaries and active galaxies, among the most dramatic objects known to science. He is fascinated by the way these cosmic giants influence their surroundings and help shape the evolution of the Universe.
He also leads two Czech teams involved in major upcoming European Space Agency missions: the LISA space observatory for gravitational-wave detection and the NewAthena X-ray observatory. In addition, he heads the Czech Academy of Sciences programme Space for Humanity, which connects cutting-edge research with topics relevant to everyday life. The programme’s scientific teams explore space from the immediate vicinity of Earth, through the Sun and planets of the Solar System, to the most distant regions of the Universe. They also study the risks of the space environment and develop technologies that will enable humanity to use space more safely and effectively.
