* describes new advances in development of detection systems based on CdZnTe (CZT) and CdTe detectors utilizing a direct conversion of radiation to electric signals * reports a recent progress in technologies and performance of silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) used for reading the light from scintillators * explores exciting new application opportunities created by development of the cutting-edge detection technologies in X-ray spectroscopy, Computed Tomography (CT), bone dosimetry, and nuclear medicine (PET, SPECT) * considers the future use of photon counting detectors in clinical computed tomography (CT) scanners providing K-edge imaging to reduce the amount of contrast agents and ultimately offering both an anatomical and a functional information * describes, uses of radiation detection systems in security applications such as luggage scanning, dirty bomb detection, and border control