Cracking the code of supersolid light – and what it means for future quantum tech

EU-funded researchers are working out how to harness the power of light in solid structures. © Nikki Zalewski, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers have brought supersolid light to life in the lab and are now exploring how this strange new state of matter could power real-world technologies. By Jonathan O’Callaghan Can light ever be a solid? It turns out that, in the microscopic world of the quantum realm, maybe it can. In a recent groundbreaking EU-funded … Read more

Mindful molecules – science is decoding the health benefits of meditation

Researchers are studying the impact of meditation on health and the biochemical mechanisms underlying this mind-body connection. © Evgenia Kostiaeva, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are investigating the link between mindfulness and health, offering potential new options for the treatment and early detection of cancer. By Jessica Berthereau Meditation and mindfulness are not just a pastime for Maria Goreti Sales, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She is convinced … Read more

From brain maps to living bridges: the innovations set to reshape life in 2025

EU-funded researchers will continue pushing the boundaries in 2025 with advances to benefit society and the environment. © chayanuphol, Shutterstock.com

From solar energy beamed from space to genetic brain maps and live self-repairing bridges, research in 2025 is promising. And we may see more changes that make cities greener and cleaner. By Anthony King Whoever thinks research is not exciting might be in for a surprise. In 2025, we could witness genetic decoding of the … Read more

Roasting chestnuts, recycling walnuts: turning festive treats into sustainable new materials

Nut shells contain cells with unique interlocking structures that make them interesting for transformation into strong, biodegradable materials. © Elena Veselova, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are exploring how to make strong and sustainable new materials from hard-to-crack nutshells. By Jack McGovan Dr Notburga Gierlinger, an Austrian researcher specialising in the study of the structure and composition of plant materials, is particularly fascinated by nuts. Confronted with a pistachio or walnut, she would open it with caution, intrigued by … Read more

Tracing the journey from Egyptian cat mummies to modern house pets

Egyptian cat mummies could reveal new information about the ancestry of our feline companions. ©Andrea Izzotti, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are testing DNA from archaeological cat remains to help unravel the tale of cat domestication. By Ali Jones It probably will not surprise cat owners, familiar with the enigmatic and independent nature of their beloved pets, to know that scientists have found the feline domestication process to be rather unconventional in comparison to … Read more

Researchers and patients join forces to battle rare diseases

Pooling resources and data across Europe will transform research into rare diseases. © raker, Shutterstock.com

Researchers, clinicians and patients are collaborating in an EU-wide alliance to advance understanding of rare diseases and speed up the development of new treatments. By Jessica Berthereau Michela Onali, an Italian language teacher now living in Sardinia, never expected to find herself at the forefront of the European fight against rare diseases. But the diagnosis … Read more