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, […]
Is a cow’s stomach the answer to breaking down hard-to-recycle plastic?
There’s no questioning whether plastic is an important material in our daily lives. However, European citizens generate about 25 million tonnes of plastic waste, but under 30 % is collected for recycling. Plastic waste is mostly burned, so more eco-friendly processes are being sought. The waste is having serious negative effects on our health and […]
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 […]
Why are morning people happier?
Scientists claim one sleep habit can lead to more happiness. Feeling the blues? It’s time to reset your alarm clock. According to a study published in the journal ‘JAMA Psychiatry’, adjusting your sleep schedule could be good for your mental health. The research concluded that waking up just an hour earlier than usual could lower […]
Accelerated rates of change in Earth’s vegetation go back thousands of years
According to a new study, the world’s plant communities are changing at least as fast today as they did when the planet was coming out of the last ice age about 11 000 years ago. Climate changes and human activities have transformed our planet’s ecosystems over the last 18 000 years. While scientists know a […]
Protein-rich legumes and quinoa in the plant-based food alternatives spotlight
EU-funded researchers say chickpeas, fava beans, lentils and quinoa are ideal crops for cultivation in Europe and could help the shift towards a more nutritional, environmentally friendly and sustainable food system. Not all crops are traded across the globe. Some are only important at a regional level and are typically eaten as part of local […]
World’s glaciers melting faster this century
Scientists used 20 years’ worth of satellite data to estimate the rate at which glaciers across the globe are shrinking. The result is the most accurate and comprehensive assessment of the world’s glaciers to date. The Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets may be the largest bodies of ice in the world, but they aren’t the […]
Building urban resilience to climate change
Cities are expected to bear the brunt of climate change and face increases in the intensity and occurrence of heatwaves, heavy rain, floods and other extreme weather events. EU researchers have developed groundbreaking solutions to deal with these disaster scenarios. It is estimated that around 66 % of the world population will be living in […]
Advances in leukemia treatment
EU-backed researchers have identified a protein encoded by the MSI2 gene that could lead to new therapies for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). A new discovery made by researchers from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna could help in the treatment of AML. With support from the EU-funded ONCOMECHAML and ARCH projects, the research team […]