A new partnership formed by three EU-funded projects is tackling European cities’ traffic congestion problems by shaping their urban airspaces. As cities grow bigger, traffic problems increase and transport systems are pushed to their limits. So what’s the logical solution to this problem? Why, taking urban mobility to the airspace above cities, of course. However, […]
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Sharp decrease in CO2 emissions of new cars in 2020
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published its provisional data about the emissions of newly registered passenger cars and vans in Europe in 2020. For cars, the data show a 12 % decrease in average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, compared with 2019. Average van emissions also decreased slightly, by about 1.5 %. According to the […]
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Smart materials help heal wounds
EU-backed scientists show us how smart materials called magnetoactive polymers (MAPs) could someday be used to stimulate healing in epithelial wounds. MAPs change their mechanical properties in response to their surroundings. A revolutionary development in the fields of solid mechanics and materials science, these materials consist of a polymeric matrix (an elastomer) with miniscule magnetic […]
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Temporary rules to detect child sexual abuse online
MEPs endorsed a temporary regulation that allows web-based service providers to continue fighting child sexual abuse material online on a voluntary basis. In the context of a worrying increase in the volume of child abuse material on the internet exacerbated by the pandemic, the House backed with 537 votes in favour, 133 against and 24 abstentions a […]
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EU must tackle inequality
David Sassoli called on EU leaders to deliver on promises on the travel certificate and tackle inequality in the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The President of the European Parliament made the plea at the start of the European Council on 24 June. He told the heads of state and government there was the prospect […]
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Unique exoplanet photobombs Cheops study of nearby star system
While exploring two exoplanets in a bright nearby star system, ESA’s exoplanet-hunting Cheops satellite has unexpectedly spotted the system’s third known planet crossing the face of the star. This transit reveals exciting details about a rare planet “with no known equivalent”, say the researchers. The discovery is one of the first results from ESA’s Cheops (CHaracterising […]
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New R&D project to focus on interoperability standards for unmanned systems
The implementation of INTERACT (‘Interoperability Standards for Unmanned Armed Forces Systems’), a project selected under the 2019 call for proposals for the EU Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR) managed by EDA, was officially launched at an online kick-off meeting on 21 June 2021. The aim of this 1.5 M€ project, financed by the European Commission, is […]
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Why are squid and very tiny animals being sent into Earth’s orbit?
NASA launches baby squid and water bears to the International Space Station (ISS). From worms to quail, the ISS has housed all kinds of creatures great and small over the years. Animal research in space is about to welcome some new members to the club. Aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, 128 baby glow-in-the-dark bobtail squid […]
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Emerging propulsion technologies for air and space
Last week, experts from 18 EDA Member States participated in an online workshop organised by the Agency to identify and discuss emerging propulsion technologies for the air and space defence domain. The Technology Foresight Workshop on Propulsion for Air and Space, conducted from 1 to 3 June, is part of a wider ongoing series of […]
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