Repurposing wood waste for a clean, green alternative to fossil-based chemicals

Inside every log, lignin acts as nature’s glue, giving wood its strength and offering industry a renewable alternative to petrochemicals. © fotokaleinar, Shutterstock.com

The EU and Europe’s bio-based industries are tapping into the hidden potential of wood to replace fossil resources in the production of high-performance resins with a low carbon footprint. By Ali Jones In one of Europe’s most forested nations, Estonia, a quiet revolution is transforming the way we think about wood. For centuries, timber has … Read more

From mushrooms to new architecture: the rise of living, self-healing buildings

Researchers are using the splitgill mushroom’s network of thin fungal strands to create new ‘living’ materials for construction. © iwciagr, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are cultivating fungi on agricultural waste to create smarter and greener construction materials able to adapt and react to their environment, and even repair themselves. By Anthony King In his office in the Netherlands, Professor Han Wösten holds up a hard sponge-like block for show. It is a material he made in 2012 using … Read more

Rediscovering voyages that changed trade, culture and medicine across the Pacific

Researchers retrace a sunken Spanish galleon’s trans-Pacific route, uncovering global connections. © vlastas, Shutterstock.com

New EU-funded research, sparked by a 17th-century shipwreck, reveals how centuries of trans-Pacific trade shaped medicine, shipbuilding and geographical knowledge, and built cross-cultural connections still relevant today. By Gareth Willmer In 1609, the Spanish galleon San Francisco sank off Japan after sailing through storms and hurricanes en route from the Philippines to Acapulco in Mexico. The shipwreck … Read more

Battling the heat: Europe takes action to protect health in a warming world

EU-funded researchers are developing strategies to protect people from rising temperatures, focusing on vulnerable groups and clearer climate-health communication. By Vittoria D’Alessio The environmental impact of climate change – shifting weather patterns or vanishing biodiversity – is widely recognised. But do we truly understand the toll rising temperatures are taking on human health? Members of … Read more

Behind the screens: global teams unite against child abuse and trafficking

EU-funded researchers are developing new strategies to detect, prevent and respond more effectively to cases of child exploitation and human trafficking. © New Africa, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers and experts are joining forces across borders to combat child sexual abuse, exploitation and human trafficking using AI-powered solutions. By Michaela Nesvarova As online platforms play a bigger role in children’s daily lives, so do the risks – from grooming and coercion to the spread of exploitative content. Child sexual abuse and trafficking … Read more

Under the influence: how digital media affects teens

Navigating the online world can be tough, but parents and teachers can help protect children from the negative effects. © Monkey Business Images, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are shedding light on how digital media use is impacting teenagers and what parents, teachers and policymakers can do about it. By Michaela Nesvarova In today’s world, the line between online and offline is increasingly being blurred, especially for children and teens. Navigating this space safely can be a challenge. Klavdija Berginc, a … Read more