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Researchers use data and models to predict how turbine blades may erode over time, helping wind farms remain efficient. © Wirestock Creators, Shutterstock.com

At the mercy of the weather: researchers help wind turbines last longer

EU-funded researchers have developed tools and models to predict how rain and sand wear down wind turbine blades and affect their performance, helping wind farms limit damage and power losses.

Special series
Science4 EU Campaign
Science4EU

The Science4EU campaign shows how the EU stands for science. It shines a spotlight on the scientists, researchers, and innovators working with EU support to improve our lives and shape a better future for everyone.

Do you also stand for science?

Podcast

Media AV Portal Audio

This monthly podcast features panel discussions with leading researchers across various scientific fields, exploring how EU-funded researchers are addressing major societal challenges—from biodiversity and climate change to health, technology, and democracy.

Hosted by journalist Abigail Acton, CORDIScovery offers engaging conversations that delve into the latest innovations and ideas shaping our world. Since its launch in 2021, the podcast has produced over 40 episodes, making it an accessible way to stay informed about cutting-edge research in the EU.

 You can listen to CORDIScovery on major platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, which also offer closed captions, or visit the CORDIS website for more information. 

More stories

Inspired by nature, researchers are exploring new ways to use sunlight and water to produce clean hydrogen. © icemanphotos, Shutterstock.com
Sunlight, water and a new, cleaner way to make green hydrogen

Inspired by nature, EU-funded researchers have developed a system that uses sunlight and water to produce green hydrogen, potentially opening a new route to producing and storing renewable energy locally.

Mapping the supply chain for critical raw materials could help anticipate and prevent shortages. © Mundofoto, Shutterstock.com
Building an early warning system for Europe’s critical raw materials

From batteries to wind turbines, European industry depends on materials sourced from around the world. EU-funded researchers are mapping these complex supply chains to spot potential disruptions before they become shortages.

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Top videos

Old magnets, new tricks: Europe’s push to cut reliance on rare earths
4 November 2026
Dung beetles’ inner compass could inspire cutting-edge miniature robotics
30 October 2026

Past articles

EU-funded researchers are developing tiny devices that could turn infrared sunlight and stray radio waves into extra energy for satellites.

At this year’s EU Contest for Young Scientists, teenagers unveiled inventions that could save lives, deepen our understanding of a decades-old maths puzzle and even listen to plants.

Researchers across Europe are pooling data and expertise while working with schools, hospitals and families to find better ways to tackle childhood obesity.

We spend most of our time indoors, but how much do we know about the air we breathe? EU-funded researchers are looking for answers and practical ways to improve it.

Researchers are combining AI, cameras and DNA traces in seawater to build a transparent picture of what is being caught, and support more sustainable fisheries.

Researchers, farmers and tech companies are developing open-source tools to tackle crop disease, irrigation and patchy internet, making digital farming cheaper, more practical and easier for farmers to trust.

More detailed climate models are helping researchers explore how climate change may affect particular regions and how human actions shape the risks ahead.

New AI-based diagnostics could help identify people at risk of dementia earlier, opening up more opportunities for monitoring, intervention and support.

EU-funded researchers have pored over centuries-old sailing manuals and ship logbooks to trace how sailors’ hard-won knowledge slowly built our modern view of a connected planet.

Researchers are designing AI-powered virtual cities to help authorities predict street-level pollution and act where it is needed most.

Energy  |  Environment  |  Industry  |  Transport

Electric motors power everything from cars to household appliances. EU-funded researchers are developing advanced materials that could make them more efficient, saving both energy and resources.

Scientists are turning to AI to analyse millions of images and sensor readings, spotting changes in oceans and rivers faster than ever before.

Sleeping sickness once killed tens of thousands of people every year. Now, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, EU-backed researchers are testing a simpler way to find and treat the last remaining cases and eliminate the disease for good.

Researchers are studying dogs’ ability to control and change their voices in the hope of shedding light on one of evolution’s biggest mysteries: the origins of human speech.

Frontier research  |  Health  |  Policy

Scientists across Europe are combining AI, human cells and mini-organs to predict chemical harm, reducing the need for testing on animals.

Energy  |  Environment  |  Policy  |  Science in society  |  Social Sciences

With housing costs surging across Europe, EU-funded researchers are showing how tackling energy poverty and inequality together could fix fragmented housing policy.

Heatwaves, floods and other climate extremes are exposing the limits of Europe’s ageing buildings and infrastructure. Researchers across the continent are exploring how cities can adapt to a changing climate.

Centuries of drainage have turned many of Europe’s wetlands from carbon stores into sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Now EU-funded researchers are exploring how restoring wetlands could benefit both climate and local economies.

Inspired by the microbes that make kombucha tea, EU-funded researchers are developing a living patch that could detect and treat eczema flare-ups while opening the door to a new generation of smart materials containing living cells.

European researchers are developing new ways to preserve microscopic communities from soils, oceans and bodies, paving the way for sustainable farming, healthier ecosystems and personalised medicine.