Linking diet and health: Europe’s drive to curb cardiovascular diseases and obesity

One of the biggest challenges in studying how diet impacts disease is understanding what people really eat. Food diaries and surveys are still the standard tools, but they often fall short as people forget, misjudge portions, or play down less healthy choices. To tackle this, EU-funded researchers are testing something new: a discreet wearable camera paired […]

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Smarter agriculture: farmers work with nature to cut pesticides

In sunny Tourinha, a small town north of Lisbon, farmer Bruno Neves proudly walks through his fields and greenhouses full of lettuce and cucumbers. Come Christmastime, there will also be the traditional Portuguese Christmas cabbage. Ladybirds, hoverflies and other insects buzz through the air, tiny allies in his mission to grow healthy crops. “I create […]

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From medieval stronghold to cyber fortress: shielding Europe’s digital future

The unmistakable silhouette of Špilberk Castle towers over Brno, the largest city in Czechia’s South Moravia region. From this medieval stronghold, you can spot the buildings of Masaryk University nestled below. It was here, at the foot of this centuries-old fortress, that local computer scientists first had the idea to strengthen the defences of Europe’s […]

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Behind the screens: global teams unite against child abuse and trafficking

As online platforms play a bigger role in children’s daily lives, so do the risks – from grooming and coercion to the spread of exploitative content. Child sexual abuse and trafficking are on the rise globally, with law enforcement and support organisations often struggling to keep up.  In response, the EU is backing cross-border initiatives […]

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Under the influence: how digital media affects teens

In today’s world, the line between online and offline is increasingly being blurred, especially for children and teens. Navigating this space safely can be a challenge. Klavdija Berginc, a maths and computer science teacher at a primary school in Kobarid, Slovenia, has witnessed this struggle up close over more than a decade in the classroom. […]

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From masterpieces to makeup: eco-friendly art conservation gentle enough for human skin

Professor Piero Baglioni vividly recalls the moment that set him on a lifelong path of art conservation. It was 1966, and the young Italian chemistry student witnessed firsthand an event that would change the course of his career. On 4 November, his home city, Florence, experienced a devastating flood, possibly the worst in the Renaissance […]

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Sea of possibilities: the underwater gardeners restoring marine forests

Beneath the deep blue waters of Tenerife lies a dramatic seascape shaped by ancient volcanic eruptions. Submerged lava tubes and jagged basalt formations create an underwater world unlike any other. This unique marine environment, just off Spain’s Canary Islands, teems with life. Divers may encounter endangered sea turtles, graceful eagle rays, elusive sharks, and even […]

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In the right circles: Europe’s cities and regions lead the green transition

In a landscape full of clear blue lakes and deep green forests, it is the old redbrick buildings that tell the story of Tampere’s industrial heritage. Former factories, which once housed machine and linen production, still dominate the architecture of this Finnish region. Although the roar of industrial machinery has long died out, the “Tampere […]

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Guardians of the glades: protecting Europe’s forests against climate change

The Făgăraș Mountains in southern Romania are home to one of Europe’s few remaining primary old-growth forests.  These forests are still untouched by human activity and boast a rich variety of trees, from the heat-tolerant oaks of the lowlands to the coniferous forests in the high mountains.  Forest benefits In this still pristine protected area, […]

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Frosty business – digging deep to uncover snow’s hidden secrets

An average temperature of -30°C and up to 24 hours of darkness a day. Those were the working conditions for a team of EU-funded scientists who spent nine months researching snow in the Arctic. “Very white, vast and cold,” is how snow expert Dr Marie Dumont describes the field campaign in Cambridge Bay, also known […]

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