The aroma of our societies evolves with changing trends, technologies – and hygiene. What would a time traveller from 2024 notice first about cities from previous centuries? Our expert Inger Leemans sniffs out the answers. “The first thing you probably would notice is that you can smell better,” says Leemans, a researcher based at the […]
Promoting radiation research that benefits science and society
RadoNorm is engaging citizens in research related to testing and mitigating carcinogenic radon in high-risk areas. Its aim is to enhance protection against risks stemming from exposure to the radioactive gas. The EU-funded RadoNorm project was launched with the goal of achieving effective radiation protection based on better scientific evidence and social considerations. The project […]
PhD Position: Investigating Effects of Lifestyle Interventions on Carbohydrate Metabolism
The Department of Human Biology at Maastricht University invites applications for a fully funded PhD position. This project focuses on developing and applying advanced MRI-based metabolic imaging techniques to study how lifestyle interventions, such as exercise and nutrition, affect carbohydrate metabolism in both health and disease, with a focus on cancer patients. The PhD candidate […]
Commission receives seven proposals for AI factories to boost AI innovation in the EU
The first seven proposals for artificial intelligence (AI) factories have been submitted to the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, which manages the call announced in September 2024. These AI factories will create a thriving European ecosystem for training advanced AI models and developing AI solutions. They will be built around the EU’s network of world-class European high-performance […]
Mapping global fungi from air samples
A global study supported by the EU-funded LIFEPLAN and INTERACT projects used DNA sequencing to identify fungi from air samples collected worldwide. The study reveals groundbreaking information about how climatic and evolutionary factors affect the occurrence and seasonal variation of known and unknown fungi. “This knowledge is essential not only to understand where and when […]
European Research Council awards Synergy Grants worth 571 million euros
Fifty-seven research groups will receive a total of €571 million to address some of the most complex scientific problems, covering a wide range of disciplines. The ERC Synergy Grants foster collaboration between outstanding researchers, enabling them to combine their expertise, knowledge and resources to push the boundaries of scientific discovery. This funding is part of […]
A holistic approach to understanding radicalisation
With an evidence-based approach, researchers examine how social exclusion impacts radicalisation and extremism among far-right and Muslim populations. Most studies that explore the root causes of extremism are theoretical and lack an empirical basis. While it is understood that radicalisation is fostered by a combination of social, structural and individual conditions, the interplay of these […]
Independent experts call for increased investment to strengthen Europe’s research and innovation leadership
More excellent research, impactful innovation and technology scale-ups are needed to make Europe more globally competitive, secure and sustainable. These are among the twelve expert recommendations presented today to the Commission to strengthen Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme, and its successor. The recommendations have been drafted by an independent group of 15 […]
From industrial side stream to clean source for biofuels
A new process looks to turn black liquor, a by-product of the pulp and paper industry, into a low-emission biofuel. Cited by the International Energy Agency as the fifth most important fuel on Earth, black liquor has the potential to become the new black gold. “Black liquor is a common by-product of the pulp mills […]