EU-funded researchers are transforming former coal-mining sites across Europe into thriving areas that provide lasting environmental and social benefits. By Kaja Šeruga When Professor Alicja Krzemień set out to turn one of Poland’s largest coal-mining waste heaps into a thriving meadow, she faced an uphill battle. Together with fellow researchers in an EU-funded collaboration called … Read more
Researchers are exploring how short-term accommodation projects can bring new life to empty buildings while inspiring more inclusive and sustainable city living. By Gareth Willmer Italian architect and researcher Dr Chiara Mazzarella has long been captivated by the idea of finding better ways to use empty buildings. Across Europe, millions of homes and commercial buildings … Read more
Researchers across Europe are deploying advanced automation in rail transport and making it smarter, cleaner and more reliable for passengers and freight. By Michaela Nesvarova Close to the beautiful coastline of Oslo, Norway, a bright blue tram rolls smoothly along the tracks of a local depot. At first glance, it looks like any other tram, … Read more
Researchers are developing reusable and environmentally friendly electronics for the healthcare, consumer and manufacturing sectors, replacing scarce materials with circular alternatives to build a sustainable future. By Michael Allen Europe’s appetite for electronics keeps growing, but so does the waste. From smartphones and laptops to medical sensors, more devices mean mounting piles of discarded hardware. … Read more
From sewer to furnace: how wastewater sludge is greening steel production By turning wastewater sludge into biocoal and green hydrogen, EU-funded researchers are helping reduce the steel industry’s environmental impact. By Tom Cassauwers What comes out of our wastewater treatment plants may not be very appealing, but the real problem is what is left behind … Read more
EU-funded researchers are exploring how undersea communication cables can double-up as environmental and seismic sensors – a potential game-changer for early warning systems. By Michael Allen Beneath the world’s oceans, a silent revolution is underway. More than 1.48 million kilometres of underwater fibre-optic cables carry almost all global internet and telephone traffic. Now researchers are … Read more