IT, Information, Media

Efficiently accessing a wider range of laser spectral regions is a must for the photonics industry. A miniature frequency tripler developed under the MINIMODS project promises to bring conversion efficiencies from 10 to above 30 %.

A new machine called the Watly offers solutions to three of society’s most important challenges – ensuring access to clean water, sustainable energy generation and reaping the benefits of the evolving digital revolution. Supported by funds from the Horizon 2020 project, the innovative SME behind the project is now nearly ready to unveil its first full-scale Watly machine.

EU-funding under the ALTEREGO project has helped researchers develop a ‘mirror game’ using artificial intelligence that could provide an affordable, non-invasive way to diagnose and monitor schizophrenia.

Increasing political polarisation in western democracies was starkly highlighted in 2016 with the UK’s vote for Brexit and the election of Donald Trump in the United States. Such polarisation will likely continue to be a key societal factor as 2017 unfolds and consequently, more attention is being placed on a need to understand the scientific and psychological reasons that drive humans to identify enemies based on race, political beliefs and other perceived threats.

New research part-supported by the EU-funded IQIT project has produced the first-ever industrial blueprint for a large-scale quantum computer that could lead to an entirely new and exciting technological revolution.

Researchers have found that our increasing thirst for digital technology can have negative effects on our mental and physical health, neurological development and personal relationships.

The moment when stroke patients return home after treatment has always been a source of concern for both themselves and their physicians, as the latter are left blind without any feedback. But this is now a thing of the past: a novel suit fitted with 41 sensors is finally ready for commercialisation.

By integrating energy management systems the EU funded BESOS project contributes to the efficiency and sustainability of ‘smart cities’, while further empowering citizens to make informed choices.

Whilst there is no denying the potential of graphene, its mass production has so far been hindered by laborious fabrication methods and the high costs they entail. A new technique developed by partners of the CARERAMM project promises to overcome these problems.

It is a well-known fact that Facebook is more than a social media channel. Each year, the company makes about 4 billion dollars in advertising revenues. What people advertising on Facebook did not know until now, however, is how much profit their own activity actually generates.

In the last Trending Science of 2016 (your writer will be ho ho home for the holidays by the time you read this), we’re reporting on three science-related Christmas stories that have hit the headlines this festive season.

Many contemporary artworks are endangered due to their extremely fast degradation processes. NANORESTART – a project developing nanomaterials to protect and restore this cultural heritage – has created a 3D printed artwork with a view to testing restoration methods.

Six months on from the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, researchers are still trying to ascertain how and why the Leave campaign was ultimately victorious. In new research partly supported by the EU-funded PHEME and SOBIGDATA projects, 3 million tweets were analysed over a 6-month period that showed immigration was by far the most important issue driving Leave voters.

New research supported by the EU-funded IGENEE and EPITARGET projects has discovered a specific gene network in the brain that is associated with epilepsy, raising hopes that new treatments for the condition can be developed.

New perovskite material developed by EU researchers is set to define the next generation of hard drives.

Three EU-funded projects – NEUWALK, WALK AGAIN and E-WALK – have contributed to the development of a wireless ‘brain-spinal interface’ that bypasses spinal cord injuries and restores intentional walking movement to a temporarily paralysed leg.

The three-year DYMASOS project has tackled the management of systems of systems - how independent technologies can be harnessed to work together to optimise overall outcomes. With the development of the ‘Internet of Things’, the ability to do this is becoming even more important.

During its second dissemination event held in Brussels on Thursday 3 November 2016, the members of the CAPACITY4RAIL project came together to discuss their promising results on how their work is helping to build a strong, modern and reliable European railway network.

Companies willing to stand out in today’s video game industry need three core assets: an original concept and scenario, an intuitive gameplay, and photo-realistic game environments. As vibrant as it may be, the European video game industry is caught up in this race, and small companies can hardly win without tremendous budgets being invested into their 3D environments. Technology developed under the CR-PLAY project — which enables the creation of realistic gaming environments based on photos and videos — may increase their chances.

During its final conference held in Brussels on 18 October 2016, the EU-funded USE-IT-WISELY project outlined its innovative frameworks and tools that will equip European manufacturers to effectively compete in an increasingly globalised world economy.

Innovative 3D simulation software enables plant managers to streamline factory operations and take into account the experience of workers themselves.

The EU-funded ROVINA project has developed an autonomous robot which can navigate, explore and digitally map hard-to-access areas

EU-funded researchers have created a tool to assess the impact of natural disasters on transport infrastructure in order to save both lives and money.

EU researchers have developed a new system to monitor industrial food processing in real time, an innovation that could have real commercial potential.

In a new book, ‘The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of a Blockbuster Novel’, two Stanford academics describe how an algorithm they designed is able to predict, with 80 % accuracy, which new novels will become mega-bestsellers.