Brewing resilience: researchers safeguard coffee and chocolate from climate threats

In the hills above Matagalpa, Nicaragua, farmer Juan Pablo Castro has been growing coffee for 25 years. His two-hectare farm, dotted with citrus trees, is typical of the smallholdings that supply much of the world’s beans. But in 2023, he began to see the first direct effects of climate change on his crop. “Because of drought, […]

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From turtle robots to frontline physics: prize-winning young scientists shape the future

For Evan Budz, a 15-year-old science student from Canada, learning that his turtle-like undersea robot had earned him one of the four first prizes at this year’s EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS 2025) was overwhelming. “It all still feels surreal,” said Budz, still disoriented in the middle of the award ceremony reception in Riga, […]

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Silent speed: the fast, fuel-efficient European helicopter setting the pace for clean aviation

Brice Makinadjian and Stephane Deport, both engineers at Airbus Helicopters, looked on proudly as a sleek blue-and-white helicopter zipped over the crowds at the Paris Airshow in June 2025. Slicing through the air was the Airbus RACER (Rapid and Cost-Effective Rotorcraft), an advanced prototype designed to be faster, quieter and more fuel-efficient than conventional helicopters. […]

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New methanol-powered vessels signal a sea change for green shipping

In the busy Port of Oxelösund, south of Stockholm, a small orange pilot boat braves the waves and the weather to help incoming vessels manoeuvre into port.  Beneath its unassuming deck, the future of shipping is being put to the test. The boat’s claim to fame is its new engine, powered not by the usual […]

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From protecting patients to predicting disasters: AI supercharges nuclear tech

Whenever you have a scan at a hospital, both you and the operators are exposed to a small amount of radiation. For hospital staff, this means a slow trickle of exposure every day, slightly increasing their risk of serious diseases like cancer. “We are talking about thousands of people exposed every day in most hospitals,” […]

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Brain-like chips are boosting computers and battling cybercrime

To prevent smart household devices from being hacked, researchers are developing ultra-fast, energy-efficient brain-like chips that can detect threats in real time, right on our devices. From smart fridges and TVs to internet-connected toothbrushes, more and more household gadgets are now part of the Internet of Things. That makes it easier to analyse usage data […]

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Navigating growth: researchers use blockchain and AI to reclaim Europe’s inland waterways

The Douro River is one of Portugal’s best-known waterways. It flows through the region that produces the famous port wines, and attracts a growing number of tourists each year. That brings economic benefits, but also problems. “Passenger ships are becoming more popular as tourists discover the area,” said Filipe Martins from APDL, the organisation that […]

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Metrology matters: the hidden science driving the green and digital transition

As Europe ramps up efforts to transition to a greener economy, hydrogen is taking centre stage as a clean energy solution, particularly for decarbonising sectors like transport and heavy industry. But turning hydrogen into a reliable, large-scale energy source depends on something deceptively simple: the ability to measure it accurately as it moves through the […]

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From trade fair to advanced surgery: the research project that pioneered 3D printing in medicine

In 1990, Fried Vancraen visited a German trade show and was captivated by a 3D printer displayed there – so much so that he bought one for his new company, Materialise. Two years later, with the help of EU funding, he took his small Belgian start-up on a journey that would change the world of […]

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