Damage and loss from flash floods, landslides and avalanches have increased in recent decades, and experts predict a further increase in intensity, frequency and impact. The EU-funded CHANGES project has developed modelling tools that can help governments to at least ensure such events are less catastrophic. Some of the tools are already being used.
Consumer science, policy and law usually assume that consumers are purely rational decision-makers. An EU-funded project has challenged that assumption. It has trained early-career researchers to study the impact of emotional factors on human decision-making, to help consumers make choices that are better for their well-being.
An EU-funded researcher has helped define the core set of genes a cell needs to survive, advancing novel bioengineering approaches for bacteria and other microorganisms with applications in healthcare, food and nutrition.
Shellfish are a significant source of food, yet we know very little about how they make their shells and how environmental factors affect them. The EU-funded CACHE project is finding out how shellfish produce their shells, how this production varies according to their environment, and what this means for the future of shellfish farming.
Novel computing tools and advanced algorithms developed by EU-funded researchers are leading to next-generation electroencephalography technologies to help doctors map brain activity and diagnose disorders faster and more accurately.
Demand for natural pigments in the cosmetic and food industry is high, but most blue pigments used in cosmetics and food are still artificial. THE EU-funded BIOVADIA project increased understanding of marennine, the blue pigment in blue diatoms. Research continues and could eventually feed into diverse applications, including use of the pigment and diatoms in cosmetics, medicine and agriculture.
EU-funded scientists delved into a special class of proteins to solve the mystery of how creatures such as winter flounder and ocean pout don't freeze along with the waters they live in. The results could lead to new bio-based anti-freeze alternatives for industry, medicine and food-production.
As global competition for fresh and processed fruit increases, breeders and producers also have to deal with the effects of climate change and more pathogens, especially sharka disease, appearing in their orchards. EU-funded research traced the origins of stone fruits to discover genetic clues for better disease resistance.
Organic aquaculture production is much in demand, but some traditional fish farmers may need guidance on how to make the switch. The ECOFISH project is developing a model and guide that provide just that, helping to set producers on the path to sustainability and added value.
Bauxite residue - the by-product from the extraction of aluminium from bauxite ore - has the consistency of thick, red mud. Disposing of this waste poses a serious problem for industry, as does the risk of spills. But red mud can also be a source of critical metals. The REDMUD project intends to turn residues into low-carbon building materials - and to train researchers along the way.
