He helps date historical artifacts, monitors air emissions, and collaborates on a major international nuclear experiment. Mgr. Ivan Kontuľ, PhD., a scientist at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics at Comenius University in Bratislava, has dedicated his research to radiocarbon analysis and its applications.
Although he originally wanted to become an archaeologist, he eventually chose to study physics, initially aiming to pursue astronomy. During his studies, however, he became increasingly drawn to nuclear physics, especially its applied aspects. This led him to radiocarbon analysis – a method that connects several of his interests.
“It came full circle, because radiocarbon analysis is used in archaeology and also allows us to study variations in solar activity in the past, which ties back to astronomy and astrophysics,” explains the assistant professor at the Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics.
Radiocarbon, one of the isotopes of carbon, forms naturally in the atmosphere and is present in all organisms. When an organism dies, its radiocarbon content begins to decrease, allowing scientists to determine the age of samples. This principle underlies the radiocarbon dating that Ivan Kontuľ specializes in.
Among his most significant achievements is the dating of the Rotunda of St. George in Nitrianska Blatnica and the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch in Kopčany. During restoration work, samples of wood, charcoal, and mortar were collected and analysed.
“The results showed that both churches are among the oldest standing sacred buildings not only in Slovakia but also in Central Europe. And with high probability, they date back to the Great Moravian period, the 9th century AD. Confirming such an age was a big surprise, as both buildings were originally thought to be somewhat younger,” he explains.
Radiocarbon analysis is a versatile tool – it’s also used in environmental research. Ivan Kontuľ studies how human activity affects carbon isotopes in the environment. One particularly interesting result is his radiocarbon analysis of aerosols—solid particles in Bratislava’s air—and identifying their sources. “These particles, especially those of carbon origin, are crucial not only from a climatological perspective but especially for human health. That’s why it’s important to know their sources—whether they’re soot from burning fossil fuels or emissions of natural origin, such as from the biosphere. Radiocarbon allows us to distinguish these sources precisely,” says Kontuľ.
The results showed that despite Bratislava’s industrialization and urbanization, a significant portion of aerosols are of non-fossil carbon origin. “If we want to effectively improve air quality in cities, we must look not only at fossil fuel combustion but also at sources like biomass burning, which also produces harmful particles. From an air quality perspective, these sources definitely need further research,” he emphasizes.
Kontuľ also played a key role in developing accelerator mass spectrometry at Comenius University – one of his fulfilled scientific dreams. This method can measure extremely low concentrations of radionuclides with much greater sensitivity than older techniques, significantly expanding the possibilities of radiocarbon analysis and other long-lived radionuclides. In environmental studies, it enables the examination of very small samples, and in archaeology, it opens the door to researching valuable artifacts where only a few milligrams of material can be taken, rather than whole grams as required by older methods.
Beyond domestic research, Ivan Kontuľ is involved in the international collaboration LEGEND (Large Enriched Germanium Experiment for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay). The goal of the experiment is to detect an extremely rare nuclear process – neutrinoless double beta decay. Observing it would bring groundbreaking insights into the fundamental properties of neutrinos and the nature of matter in the universe.
Ivan Kontuľ believes that top-level research can be done in Slovakia, especially if scientists bring back experience and know-how from abroad. “If everyone just said they’d rather leave, things would never move forward here. I’ve done internships abroad, gained experience, learned how things work, and then returned with new ideas and insights. So especially in science, collaboration with foreign universities or research institutes is very important, but it’s equally important to bring that knowledge back to Slovakia and continue developing it here,” he says.
He sees science as essential because it continuously advances society and humanity. “Without it, we wouldn’t be where we are today. It helps us understand the world around us, which is important because we are an inseparable part of it and always will be,” he says. Its importance is most evident in medicine, but every scientific field matters. Even if some research may seem theoretical or without immediate application, it always brings new knowledge, technologies, and tools that push the boundaries of our understanding.
When not doing research, Ivan enjoys books, music, and walks in nature. He says science has taught him meticulousness and precision – qualities he uses not only in the lab but also in everyday life.
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