Scientists have long hoped that uncovering the mechanisms of the ageing process may provide hints as to how to halt or slow it down in humans. Now, EU-funded researchers have found that bats hold important clues.
An EU-funded project aims to tackle the mountain of plastic waste clogging up our seas by licensing its biodegradable, microplastic-free material to manufacturers around the world.
Of all natural hazards, tsunamis are among those that can cause the highest number of deaths. The EU's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed the world's only automatic tsunami alerting system. It calculates wave height and travel time in one to two minutes and sends alerts automatically so that people flee the danger.
Key nutrients can improve vision both in ageing and in healthy eyes, according to EU-funded research. Doctors are now prescribing supplements of these nutrients, while the researchers are investigating other possible health benefits.
The EU-funded AF3 project has developed advanced detection and prediction software, as well as new blaze-fighting technologies aimed at saving lives and limiting destruction caused by forest fires.
An EU-funded project is using synthetic biology techniques to design broad-spectra vaccines against mycoplasmas and viral infections in farm animals. By designing a growth medium without animal components and developing a platform to engineer new vaccines, the project will give the EU livestock industry a much-needed boost.
EU-funded researchers have used geographical and spatial analysis techniques to uncover clues about the environment and society in Cyprus during the Ottoman Empire.
The rapid growth in air travel has made the task of controlling borders increasingly cumbersome. EU-funded research is developing pioneering new technology which will lighten the burden on weary travellers while simultaneously tightening security and facilitating ID control at the borders.
The EU-funded SEDNA project is developing ways to improve the design, operation, navigation and anti-icing features of ships traversing the harsh Arctic region. SEDNA's innovations could help protect lives, safeguard the region's unique natural environment, and open more competitive routes for Europe's shippers.
An EU- and industry-funded project has developed a high-efficiency fuel cell with a long lifetime suitable for integrating renewable energy sources into smart power grids in the longer term. Some of the key components are already on the market. The advance could be part of the solution to providing Europe with clean, stable electricity supplies.
