Researchers combine citizens’ help and cutting-edge tech to track biodiversity

The brown marmorated stink bug has become an invasive pest, threatening fruit and vegetable crops in Europe. © Oleksandr Filatov, Shutterstock.com

Researchers are using new technologies, including AI, as well as contributions from citizen scientists, to improve how we monitor and protect increasingly threatened habitats and species across Europe. By Bárbara Pinho In 1998, in a small park in Zurich, Switzerland, one bug woke up in a new world. The bricks on the roof of a … Read more

From lab to life: advanced genetic testing offers fresh hope for a healthy start in life

Advanced prenatal genetic testing pioneered by EU-funded researchers is improving the chance of healthy pregnancies for at-risk families. © Ground Picture, Shutterstock.com

EU-backed researchers and doctors are pioneering advanced pre-implantation and prenatal genetic testing to improve the chance of healthy pregnancies in at-risk families. By Vittoria D’Alessio The story of Bojana Mirosavljević and her two healthy daughters, aged four and 10, is a testament to the power of modern reproductive medicine and the work of researchers like … 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

Fresh eyesight insights bring human eye into sharp focus

Developing state-of-the-art computer models of the eye will help make eye surgery safer and more precise. © Marko Aliaksandr, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are unlocking the secrets of the human eye, creating cutting-edge digital models that are transforming the quality of eye surgeries. By Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro For 89-year-old Mercedes Alvarez from the northern Spanish city of Gijón, cataract surgery was more than a routine medical procedure, it was a life-changing experience. “At first, I didn’t … Read more

Waste not, want not: turning food waste into fertile soil for sustainable growth

Efforts to recycle food production waste into natural fertilisers are a win-win for farmers and the environment. © LamoonfilmPhoto, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are turning food processing waste into a valuable resource, transforming discarded biomaterials into natural fertilisers. By Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro In Catalonia there are 7.7 million residents and approximately 7.9 million pigs. That’s over one pig per person. Large-scale pig farming has led to an excess of nitrogen in the soil, a problem shared … Read more