Open access, open data, open source – science is changing and the possibilities could be endless.

Scientists in Italy have, for the first time, been able to watch how white blood cells use tiny tentacles to identify and kill liver cells in living animals infected with hepatitis B, leading to the hope of new therapies for fighting infection and possibly cancer.

Scientists in Italy have, for the first time, been able to watch how white blood cells use tiny tentacles to identify and kill liver cells in living animals infected with hepatitis B, leading to the hope of new therapies for fighting infection and possibly cancer.

Scientists in Italy have, for the first time, been able to watch how white blood cells use tiny tentacles to identify and kill liver cells in living animals infected with hepatitis B, leading to the hope of new therapies for fighting infection and possibly cancer.

Driverless cars may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but according to Dr Jean-Luc Di Paola-Galloni, co-chairman of the European Road Transport Advisory Council (ERTRAC), they could be on our roads in just four years’ time, and so the EU needs to regulate that.

Shortly after his appointment as European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas had the opportunity to meet with his compatriot, the former long-serving Portuguese Minister for Science and Technology José Mariano Gago. During this meeting, which was very cordial, and at the occasion of a series of further contacts which took place until his death on 17 April 2015, José Gago strove to expose to the new Commissioner his views and concerns about the situation and the future of science in Europe, drawing, for instance, his attention onto a project which he judged worthy to be encouraged and supported by the EU for scientific and political reasons, the SESAME particle accelerator in Jordan.

High‐level talks between the EU and the US are critical if we are to have self‐driving cars any time soon, carmakers, lawyers, and researchers agree.

Investing in cultural heritage will help strengthen Europe’s economy, with the benefits extending far beyond tourism, according to Professor Simon Thurley, former chief executive of English Heritage and senior research fellow at the Institute of Historical Research, London, UK.

A strong bioeconomy, which uses technology to maximise the use of renewable resources, is the best way to ensure the sustainable production of food, materials, chemicals, and energy, according to Professor Erik Mathijs, chair of the foresight expert group for the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research, which presented its fourth foresight report at Expo Milano on 19 June.

Antioxidant-making bacteria and ultraviolet-resistant algae – natural products are being harnessed to create a new breed of health-giving ‘cosmeceuticals’.

Researchers say they have made the first device that can give artificial hands sensory feedback without needing to be implanted into the skin.

Bacteria that survive in the world’s harshest conditions produce enzymes that could be perfect for use in industrial processes, thanks to their ability to withstand high temperatures, high pressure and high salt environments.

It isn’t easy to spot planets far away in our galaxy – normally we can only infer their presence, from the effect they have on their host stars. But now a group of astronomers has demonstrated an easier way to study distant worlds, by detecting the first visible light reflected off an exoplanet.

Bumper to bumper again. But imagine instead of staring at the car ahead, you ask your car to take over, turning your attention to a game, a book, or even a nap.

European scientists are creating new virtual reality systems that are so good they can fool people into believing they’re real, and the results are offering new ways to interact with the physical world. 

The internet is a double-edged sword – it gives us access to vast amounts of information, but at the same time people can pry into our personal lives with just a few keystrokes.

People in cities will shift from using private transport to using self-driving public taxis, as fleets of shared, low-speed electric cars are introduced over the next decade, according to European researchers working on the future of automated transport.

Could self-driving cars ever really replace human drivers? How will they interact with other traffic? Who would be liable in the event of an accident? 

The first robot capable of selecting and picking ripe sweet peppers is helping clear the way for a new era of agricultural robots that would change how farming in Europe is done.

Scientists are using lasers to create a new type of hearing aid, inspired by the curious fact that if you shine the right kind of light down someone's ear they will hear a sound.