Inside Europe’s virtual ocean platform: a game-changer for marine protection

Imagine predicting how an oil spill will spread, or which cleanup strategy will work best, without ever touching the water. What if we could test solutions for protecting the world’s oceans before putting them into action? That vision is already becoming reality through the European Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) – an initiative where EU-funded researchers are […]

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From offshore to onshore: Europe expands carbon storage with nature-inspired tech

For the first time, Europe will bury its carbon not beneath the sea, but under its own soil, heralding a new chapter in the continent’s fight against climate change. On 30 April 2025, the EU issued its first permit for onshore geological storage of CO2. Until now, all EU permits under the 2009 Directive for […]

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Robots to the rescue: miniature robots offer new hope for search and rescue operations

In the critical 72 hours after an earthquake or explosion, a race against the clock begins to find survivors. After that window, the chances of survival drop sharply. When a powerful earthquake hit central Italy on 24 August 2016, killing 299 people, over 5 000 emergency workers were mobilised in search and rescue efforts that saved […]

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From fava beans to future foods: researchers turn to plant-based proteins for a healthier planet

On Marianne Mulhall’s organic dairy farm in southeast Ireland, the winter wheat crop is looking better than usual. By spring, it is often a bit yellow and withered, a sign that it is nitrogen deficient. This year’s wheat ­– sown on a field where fava beans and peas were grown last summer ­– is still […]

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From sunlight to stored power: how hot air could solve solar energy’s biggest challenge

As the world shifts toward renewable energy, one major challenge remains: efficient energy storage. An EU-funded research team is exploring the use of compressed air to store excess energy collected from solar panels.  A pilot plant at Plataforma Solar de Almería, a solar technology research centre in southern Spain, will demonstrate a concept they call solar thermal […]

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Nothing fishy about fish: consumer demand drives push for more sustainable seafood

While consumers are often encouraged to eat more seafood for its nutritional benefits, such as omega-3 fatty acids, sustainability and ethical concerns are also a growing factor in their purchasing decisions.  Consumers are increasingly prioritising seafood that is sustainably sourced, often preferring certified products such as those carrying the MSC and ASC labels (Marine Stewardship […]

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The science of sourdough – how citizens are helping shape the future of fermented foods

Many will remember the sourdough bread-baking craze that emerged at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when people were stuck at home and looking for something creative to do. With social media feeds full of images of sourdough “starters” with quirky names and crisp, freshly baked loaves, home bakers discovered the joys – and the […]

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EU enlists researchers’ support to tackle smuggling and security threats at sea

A container ship sailing at night through the Baltic Sea, travelling along the Polish coast, pulls alongside a fishing boat. This behaviour immediately triggers the Polish authorities and raises questions. “You need to ask why are two vessels meeting in the middle of the sea in the middle of the night? Are they involved in […]

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Storm-proofing: Europe steps up marine monitoring efforts

When oceanographer Toste Tanhua and his research team set up a trial system to monitor aquaculture conditions near Barcelona in 2023, they were keenly aware of the havoc a powerful storm had wreaked on the region three years earlier.  Storm Gloria ravaged southeast Spain in January 2020, killing 13 people and causing millions of euros […]

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EU research alliance fights back against resistant super-bacteria

Bacterial infections are a major health challenge, killing around 100 Europeans a day as they become increasingly resistant to common antibiotics. To address this, researchers like Dr Rienk Pypstra are working together to create more effective treatments. The problem with bacteria – one of the simplest life forms – is that they evolve very quickly.  […]

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