Author: Tom Cassauwers

A human brain-on-a-chip sounds like something from a science fiction film, a gadget powering its cyborg villain.  But chemical and biological engineer Dr Raquel Rodrigues at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Braga, Portugal, believes that such a device will be key to developing more effective treatments for serious neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s. […]

When brothers Svilen and Konstantin Rangelov first set up a small start-up called Dronamics in their native Bulgaria in 2014, their ambition was to democratise cargo deliveries in Europe and make affordable next-day delivery of packages a reality for even the remotest regions.  Remote access They had spotted a major sticking point in the global trade system: the […]

For Piotr Olbryś, a 19-year-old from Poland, it was his brother’s hearing aid that motivated him to look into how to make lithium-ion batteries more environmentally friendly.  His work earned him one of the four first prizes, each worth € 7 000, at the 2024 edition of the EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS).  “My […]

In August 2023, a five-year old cargo ship, Pyxis Ocean, made history when it set sail from Shanghai, China, heading towards the southern Brazilian port of Paranaguá. A journey of nearly 25 000 km.  What was historic about the journey was that, instead of running solely on heavily polluting bunker fuel, the Pyxis Ocean would be […]