Science stories

Repairing the brain after a stroke
14 May 2025

Repairing the brain after a stroke

Stroke remains the leading cause of disability in older adults and claims over half a million lives each year in the EU. But what if the key to recovery lies within us? Arthur Liesz is exploring how the body’s immune system might be guided to support brain repair - paving…
Stroke remains the leading cause of disability in older adults and claims over half a million lives each year in the EU. But what if the key to recovery lies within us? Arthur Liesz is exploring how the body’s immune system might be guided to support brain repair - paving…
Stroke remains the leading cause of disability in older adults and claims over half a million lives each year in the EU. But what if the key to recovery lies within us? Arthur Liesz is exploring how the body’s immune system might be guided to support brain repair - paving…
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How did human brains get so large?

The human brain is a remarkable organ, but how did it evolve to give us such unprecedented cognitive abilities? ERC grantee Pierre Vanderhaeghen and his team from ULB, VIB-KU Leuven turned to the genome for answers: a specific set of genes, found…
The human brain is a remarkable organ, but how did it evolve to give us such unprecedented cognitive abilities? ERC grantee Pierre Vanderhaeghen and his team from ULB, VIB-KU Leuven…
The human brain is a remarkable organ, but how did it evolve to give us such unprecedented cognitive abilities? ERC grantee Pierre Vanderhaeghen and…
The human brain is a remarkable organ, but how did it evolve to give us such unprecedented cognitive abilities? ERC grantee Pierre Vanderhaeghen and his team from ULB, VIB-KU…
The human brain is a remarkable organ, but how did it evolve to give us such unprecedented cognitive abilities? ERC grantee…

Shut up and heal - possible strategy to cure sick livers

'Silent killers'. This is how liver diseases are often described. But, are they really that silent? ERC grantee Mathieu Vinken, a pharmacist by training and worldwide expert in toxicology based at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), has just proven…
'Silent killers'. This is how liver diseases are often described. But, are they really that silent? ERC grantee Mathieu Vinken, a pharmacist by training and worldwide expert in…
'Silent killers'. This is how liver diseases are often described. But, are they really that silent? ERC grantee Mathieu Vinken, a pharmacist by…
'Silent killers'. This is how liver diseases are often described. But, are they really that silent? ERC grantee Mathieu Vinken, a pharmacist by training and worldwide expert…
'Silent killers'. This is how liver diseases are often described. But, are they really that silent? ERC grantee Mathieu…

Understanding acidification to fight infection

Prof. Giulio Superti-Furga and his team work on understanding the movement of molecules across human cells. In a paper recently published on Cell Host Microbe, they outline the significance of a single protein, SLC4A7, in phagocytosis, the body's…
Prof. Giulio Superti-Furga and his team work on understanding the movement of molecules across human cells. In a paper recently published on Cell Host Microbe, they outline the…
Prof. Giulio Superti-Furga and his team work on understanding the movement of molecules across human cells. In a paper recently published on Cell…
Prof. Giulio Superti-Furga and his team work on understanding the movement of molecules across human cells. In a paper recently published on Cell Host Microbe, they outline…
Prof. Giulio Superti-Furga and his team work on understanding the movement of molecules across human cells. In a paper…

Sailing the mysteries of old maps

Dr Joaquim Alves Gaspar is a man of the sea. After many years in the Portuguese Navy, he gave up plans to become an admiral in favour of pursuing a PhD in the History of Cartography. This second career led him to receive an ERC Starting Grant, the…
Dr Joaquim Alves Gaspar is a man of the sea. After many years in the Portuguese Navy, he gave up plans to become an admiral in favour of pursuing a PhD in the History of Cartography…
Dr Joaquim Alves Gaspar is a man of the sea. After many years in the Portuguese Navy, he gave up plans to become an admiral in favour of pursuing a…
Dr Joaquim Alves Gaspar is a man of the sea. After many years in the Portuguese Navy, he gave up plans to become an admiral in favour of pursuing a PhD in the History of…
Dr Joaquim Alves Gaspar is a man of the sea. After many years in the Portuguese Navy, he gave up plans to become an admiral…

Nature and humanity: a revival of the fittest?

ERC grantee Renata Sõukand is exploring to what extent local ecological practices concerning the use of plants, among selected ethnic minorities in Eastern Europe, have declined due to the centralization imposed by dominant practices through the…
ERC grantee Renata Sõukand is exploring to what extent local ecological practices concerning the use of plants, among selected ethnic minorities in Eastern Europe, have declined due to…
ERC grantee Renata Sõukand is exploring to what extent local ecological practices concerning the use of plants, among selected ethnic minorities in…
ERC grantee Renata Sõukand is exploring to what extent local ecological practices concerning the use of plants, among selected ethnic minorities in Eastern Europe, have…
ERC grantee Renata Sõukand is exploring to what extent local ecological practices concerning the use of plants, among…

New insights into the formation of stars and black holes

Radio astronomy has now entered a “golden age” with new facilities paving the way for significant discoveries on the early universe and the formation and evolution of galaxies. Working on faint radio-signals, Dr Vernesa Smolčić’s research may lead…
Radio astronomy has now entered a “golden age” with new facilities paving the way for significant discoveries on the early universe and the formation and evolution of galaxies. Working…
Radio astronomy has now entered a “golden age” with new facilities paving the way for significant discoveries on the early universe and the formation…
Radio astronomy has now entered a “golden age” with new facilities paving the way for significant discoveries on the early universe and the formation and evolution of…
Radio astronomy has now entered a “golden age” with new facilities paving the way for significant discoveries on the early…

Asteroseismology shakes up theory of stellar evolution

First published on 13-07-2016Updated on 08-05-2018What is the lifespan of a sun-like star? Well, it may not be quite what we thought. The outcomes of EU-funded asteroseismology research conducted by Professor Conny Aerts and her team show that the…
First published on 13-07-2016Updated on 08-05-2018What is the lifespan of a sun-like star? Well, it may not be quite what we thought. The outcomes of EU-funded asteroseismology…
First published on 13-07-2016Updated on 08-05-2018What is the lifespan of a sun-like star? Well, it may not be quite what we thought. The outcomes of…
First published on 13-07-2016Updated on 08-05-2018What is the lifespan of a sun-like star? Well, it may not be quite what we thought. The outcomes of EU-funded…
First published on 13-07-2016Updated on 08-05-2018What is the lifespan of a sun-like star? Well, it may not be quite what we…

The beauty of frozen particles

Emulsions play a key role both in natural and industrial processes, as they allow the combination of two liquids that do not normally mix and make the blend stable. Yet, when materials solidify or freeze, the complex interactions that take place and…
Emulsions play a key role both in natural and industrial processes, as they allow the combination of two liquids that do not normally mix and make the blend stable. Yet, when materials…
Emulsions play a key role both in natural and industrial processes, as they allow the combination of two liquids that do not normally mix and make…
Emulsions play a key role both in natural and industrial processes, as they allow the combination of two liquids that do not normally mix and make the blend stable. Yet, when…
Emulsions play a key role both in natural and industrial processes, as they allow the combination of two liquids that do not…