Science stories

Will we run out of groundwater?
13 Nov 2025

Will we run out of groundwater?

Groundwater supplies half the world’s drinking water and irrigates a third of its crops, yet it is disappearing fast. How much can we still use before it is gone? ERC grantee Marc Bierkens is among the first to map the global overuse of groundwater and its consequences for…
Groundwater supplies half the world’s drinking water and irrigates a third of its crops, yet it is disappearing fast. How much can we still use before it is gone? ERC grantee Marc Bierkens is among the first to map the global overuse of groundwater and its consequences for…
Groundwater supplies half the world’s drinking water and irrigates a third of its crops, yet it is disappearing fast. How much can we still use before it is gone? ERC grantee Marc Bierkens is among the first to map the global overuse of groundwater and its consequences for…
Displaying 105 - 112 of 532

Diving ‘mermaids’ could tell us what the Earth and the ocean look like from within

An ERC grant motivated Prof. Guust Nolet to move back to Europe to develop small underwater robots that could help us understand our planet’s structure. Ten years later, thanks to an industrial partnership funded by an additional ERC grant, these…
An ERC grant motivated Prof. Guust Nolet to move back to Europe to develop small underwater robots that could help us understand our planet’s structure. Ten years later, thanks to an…
An ERC grant motivated Prof. Guust Nolet to move back to Europe to develop small underwater robots that could help us understand our planet’s…
An ERC grant motivated Prof. Guust Nolet to move back to Europe to develop small underwater robots that could help us understand our planet’s structure. Ten years later,…
An ERC grant motivated Prof. Guust Nolet to move back to Europe to develop small underwater robots that could help us…

Antibiotic resistance: How did we get here?

Finding ways to enlist the bacteria living in our bodies to defend against infections while better understanding their role in promoting antibiotic resistance are key to fighting this growing problem, says Dr Nassos Typas, a microbiologist at the…
Finding ways to enlist the bacteria living in our bodies to defend against infections while better understanding their role in promoting antibiotic resistance are key to fighting this…
Finding ways to enlist the bacteria living in our bodies to defend against infections while better understanding their role in promoting antibiotic…
Finding ways to enlist the bacteria living in our bodies to defend against infections while better understanding their role in promoting antibiotic resistance are key to…
Finding ways to enlist the bacteria living in our bodies to defend against infections while better understanding their role…

The tiny island with a big impact on climate research

Amidst the raspy jabbering of Buzzards on a remote island at the edge of the Aegean Sea, one ambitious ERC grantee, Dr. Vassilis Amiridis, instigated the construction of a climate change superstation with the enthusiastic support of the ERC, the…
Amidst the raspy jabbering of Buzzards on a remote island at the edge of the Aegean Sea, one ambitious ERC grantee, Dr. Vassilis Amiridis, instigated the construction of a climate…
Amidst the raspy jabbering of Buzzards on a remote island at the edge of the Aegean Sea, one ambitious ERC grantee, Dr. Vassilis Amiridis, instigated…
Amidst the raspy jabbering of Buzzards on a remote island at the edge of the Aegean Sea, one ambitious ERC grantee, Dr. Vassilis Amiridis, instigated the construction of a…
Amidst the raspy jabbering of Buzzards on a remote island at the edge of the Aegean Sea, one ambitious ERC grantee, Dr…

Periodic table of shapes could uncover the structure of the universe

Hailed as one of the most significant achievements in the field of science, the Mendeleev Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2019. Not only has it revolutionised the way that scientists understand the basis…
Hailed as one of the most significant achievements in the field of science, the Mendeleev Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2019. Not only has…
Hailed as one of the most significant achievements in the field of science, the Mendeleev Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is celebrating its…
Hailed as one of the most significant achievements in the field of science, the Mendeleev Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2019…
Hailed as one of the most significant achievements in the field of science, the Mendeleev Periodic Table of Chemical…

Why viruses coated with peptides could hold the key to cancer immunity

A targeted and personalised method for triggering the body’s immune response could transform how we treat cancer. Thanks to a grant from the European Research Council (ERC), an inspired idea has been developed in the lab and turned into a ground…
A targeted and personalised method for triggering the body’s immune response could transform how we treat cancer. Thanks to a grant from the European Research Council (ERC), an…
A targeted and personalised method for triggering the body’s immune response could transform how we treat cancer. Thanks to a grant from the European…
A targeted and personalised method for triggering the body’s immune response could transform how we treat cancer. Thanks to a grant from the European Research Council (ERC),…
A targeted and personalised method for triggering the body’s immune response could transform how we treat cancer. Thanks to…

New biosensors help control phenylketonuria disease

The LABPATCH project is developing two innovative biosensors to help medical professionals better detect phenylalanine levels – a leading indicator of phenylketonuria disease.
The LABPATCH project is developing two innovative biosensors to help medical professionals better detect phenylalanine levels – a leading indicator of phenylketonuria disease.
The LABPATCH project is developing two innovative biosensors to help medical professionals better detect phenylalanine levels – a leading indicator…
The LABPATCH project is developing two innovative biosensors to help medical professionals better detect phenylalanine levels – a leading indicator of phenylketonuria disease…
The LABPATCH project is developing two innovative biosensors to help medical professionals better detect phenylalanine…

The true costs of our healthy habits

The ASTAOMEGA project solves the problems linked to the production of omega-3 and antioxidants at the same time. The team promises higher production rates and improved sustainability at a lower cost.
The ASTAOMEGA project solves the problems linked to the production of omega-3 and antioxidants at the same time. The team promises higher production rates and improved sustainability…
The ASTAOMEGA project solves the problems linked to the production of omega-3 and antioxidants at the same time. The team promises higher production…
The ASTAOMEGA project solves the problems linked to the production of omega-3 and antioxidants at the same time. The team promises higher production rates and improved…
The ASTAOMEGA project solves the problems linked to the production of omega-3 and antioxidants at the same time. The team…

Turning carbon dioxide waste into carbon building blocks

By creating a conversion process for recycling carbon dioxide into feedstock, the CO2Recycling project is paving the way towards a sustainable chemical industry.
By creating a conversion process for recycling carbon dioxide into feedstock, the CO2Recycling project is paving the way towards a sustainable chemical industry.
By creating a conversion process for recycling carbon dioxide into feedstock, the CO2Recycling project is paving the way towards a sustainable…
By creating a conversion process for recycling carbon dioxide into feedstock, the CO2Recycling project is paving the way towards a sustainable chemical industry.
By creating a conversion process for recycling carbon dioxide into feedstock, the CO2Recycling project is paving the way…