Across Africa, efficient use of water is increasingly crucial. Researchers and local communities have joined forces in six countries to restore land, water and livelihoods through nature-based solutions. By Helen Massy-Beresford In Ranerou, north-east Senegal, locals and environmental experts are working side by side to improve livelihoods and farming conditions, and protect the region’s biodiversity. … Read more
EU-funded researchers have developed a soft robot that moves like an elephant’s trunk – precise enough to pick fresh fruit, yet powerful enough to help lift a patient. By Anthony King Lucia Beccai, an expert in soft robotics at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa, had an idea while watching a documentary about elephants. … Read more
From city air to drinking water, microplastics are becoming impossible to avoid. EU-funded researchers are now exploring how these tiny particles interact with our bodies and assessing their long-term health impact. By Anthony King Visitors to Utrecht’s Wilhelmina Park in the summer of 2023 may have come across an unusual sight: volunteers on stationary exercise … Read more
From wildfire-resistant landscapes in Spain to flood warning systems in Denmark, researchers are working with local communities to find, test and deploy practical ways to live with climate change – and to share what works across borders. By Bárbara Pinho Many people expect a raging wildfire to leave a blackened, lifeless landscape in its wake. … Read more
From war zones to coal mines and prison camps, a new generation of video games is helping museums bring history to life and reach audiences far beyond their walls. By Hannah Docter-Loeb What does war look like through the eyes of a child? For those far removed from conflict, it can be hard to imagine. … Read more
From recycling old satellites in space to turning rocket parts into fuel or beaming debris back to Earth, researchers are exploring new ways to tackle the growing problem of space junk. By Jonathan O’Callaghan For decades, we have been littering space with decommissioned satellites and rocket parts orbiting our planet. Now this space debris poses a … Read more