I write about science, technology and innovation
Stop in the name of neutrophils!
Guardians of the immune system, neutrophils play an essential role in containing infections. New research sheds light on how they start and, more importantly, stop an attack.
Cementing concrete’s place as a sustainable building material
More than just a greener concrete, EnDurCrete extends performance and enhances durability while also improving this ubiquitous building material’s carbon footprint.
Simulations help us understand how the brain works
Using imaging data, researchers can create complex simulations of our brain that could lead to personalised treatments for a range of disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
Measuring the impact of citizen science
A new platform aims to help citizen science projects better understand the impact their work is having.
Does a transplanted organ stay a different age to the person it’s in?
When it comes to organ donation, our expert Roi Paul Nathan says age is just a number – unless you’re talking about how long the organ has been in transit.
Why can’t snakes blink?
Somewhere between the dinosaur era and today, snakes lost their eyelids. But they have a brille solution, explains our expert Bruno Simões.
Big Data Advances Ability to Automatically Segment Breast Tumors
Breast tumors can be quite variable in size and appearance, so precisely outlining their extent and margins on an MRI image can be helpful in both treatment planning and monitoring treatment response or tumor progression. However, this outlining—or segmenting of images—is not an easy task, particularly for an entire volume covering many image slices.
Redefining green technology
By combining technology and plants, one EU research project aims to create electronically enhanced plants that can be used to monitor the environment or even to store energy.
Virtual reality helps stroke patients overcome hand movement impairments
A virtual reality game that uses off-the-shelf virtual reality equipment is proving to be an effective rehabilitation tool for stroke survivors.
A tribology test bed to lubricate European innovation
A new test bed offering a range of tribo-analytic services aims to reduce the time and costs involved in developing innovative new materials.
Zero-defect manufacturing of sheet metal products
The EU-funded FormPlanet offers an Open Innovation Test Bed for advanced sheet metal characterisation, helping to cut waste and increase productivity.
New technology aims to capture CO2 from the air
Acting much like an air filter, a new device designed by EU researchers can be installed at an industrial site or data centre to adsorb CO2 straight from the atmosphere.
An unmanned, remote-controlled vessel to block oil spills
Put an oil boom manufacturer, an autonomous vehicle designer and an oil spill response team together in the same room and what you get is SpillPython, a potentially new direction for responding to and containing oil spills.
Solving the virgin olive oil industry’s bottleneck problem
A new solution extracts oil from olive paste using ultrasound technology – a development that could make the virgin olive oil industry more efficient and profitable.
What sets a human lifespan as ‘three score and ten’?
Even the healthiest among us is unlikely to see 100 years of age. But why? According to expert David Vilchez, professor of Medicine at the University of Cologne, the key to longevity can be found in our cells.