Science stories

At the forefront of tissue engineering
15 Oct 2025

At the forefront of tissue engineering

By combining biology, engineering, and data science, Liesbet Geris develops high-tech solutions to complex healthcare challenges - from damaged cartilage to failing bone - to deliver treatments that are faster, smarter, and more personalised.
By combining biology, engineering, and data science, Liesbet Geris develops high-tech solutions to complex healthcare challenges - from damaged cartilage to failing bone - to deliver treatments that are faster, smarter, and more personalised.
By combining biology, engineering, and data science, Liesbet Geris develops high-tech solutions to complex healthcare challenges - from damaged cartilage to failing bone - to deliver treatments that are faster, smarter, and more personalised.
Displaying 401 - 408 of 530

Flocking drones, swarming pigeons

Not only living organisms, but also robots can move in certain collective patterns. But what rules underlie such behaviour? The study of the patterns of group motion in pigeons motivated Professor Tamás Vicsek to develop a swarm of drones being able…
Not only living organisms, but also robots can move in certain collective patterns. But what rules underlie such behaviour? The study of the patterns of group motion in pigeons…
Not only living organisms, but also robots can move in certain collective patterns. But what rules underlie such behaviour? The study of the patterns…
Not only living organisms, but also robots can move in certain collective patterns. But what rules underlie such behaviour? The study of the patterns of group motion in…
Not only living organisms, but also robots can move in certain collective patterns. But what rules underlie such behaviour?…

A step forward to the service robots of the future

Why should people waste their time executing some repetitive time-consuming everyday tasks which do not require creativity and intellectual capacity? Such a reasoning stands behind Professor Bruno Siciliano’s ERC funded project aiming at the…
Why should people waste their time executing some repetitive time-consuming everyday tasks which do not require creativity and intellectual capacity? Such a reasoning stands behind…
Why should people waste their time executing some repetitive time-consuming everyday tasks which do not require creativity and intellectual capacity?…
Why should people waste their time executing some repetitive time-consuming everyday tasks which do not require creativity and intellectual capacity? Such a reasoning stands…
Why should people waste their time executing some repetitive time-consuming everyday tasks which do not require creativity…

Microrobotics meets nanomedicine for improved eye surgery

With an aging population, Europe sees a rapid increase in the number of people affected by visual disorders requiring surgical intervention. Funded by the ERC, a team of scientists based in Zürich are currently designing innovative microrobotics…
With an aging population, Europe sees a rapid increase in the number of people affected by visual disorders requiring surgical intervention. Funded by the ERC, a team of scientists…
With an aging population, Europe sees a rapid increase in the number of people affected by visual disorders requiring surgical intervention. Funded…
With an aging population, Europe sees a rapid increase in the number of people affected by visual disorders requiring surgical intervention. Funded by the ERC, a team of…
With an aging population, Europe sees a rapid increase in the number of people affected by visual disorders requiring…

Poppy, the 3-D printed robot set to inspire innovation in classrooms

It has long been a sci-fi dream to have a humanoid robot in our everyday life. Soon that dream may seem even more vivid, thanks to Dr Pierre-Yves Oudeyer’s ERC-funded project. His team has developed the first complete open-source 3D printed humanoid…
It has long been a sci-fi dream to have a humanoid robot in our everyday life. Soon that dream may seem even more vivid, thanks to Dr Pierre-Yves Oudeyer’s ERC-funded project. His team…
It has long been a sci-fi dream to have a humanoid robot in our everyday life. Soon that dream may seem even more vivid, thanks to Dr Pierre-Yves…
It has long been a sci-fi dream to have a humanoid robot in our everyday life. Soon that dream may seem even more vivid, thanks to Dr Pierre-Yves Oudeyer’s ERC-funded project…
It has long been a sci-fi dream to have a humanoid robot in our everyday life. Soon that dream may seem even more vivid,…

Towards simpler, smarter artificial hands

Will robots ever have the same dexterity as humans? Professor Antonio Bicchi is working on the next-generation of artificial hands that can be programmed to adapt to different tasks and environments. The promising results of his research could have…
Will robots ever have the same dexterity as humans? Professor Antonio Bicchi is working on the next-generation of artificial hands that can be programmed to adapt to different tasks…
Will robots ever have the same dexterity as humans? Professor Antonio Bicchi is working on the next-generation of artificial hands that can be…
Will robots ever have the same dexterity as humans? Professor Antonio Bicchi is working on the next-generation of artificial hands that can be programmed to adapt to…
Will robots ever have the same dexterity as humans? Professor Antonio Bicchi is working on the next-generation of artificial…

How to equip robots with senses

Compared to humans, the sensing and dexterity of current robots is extremely limited. Reproducing these fundamental human abilities in robotics systems requires a new scientific and technological approach, according to Professor Danica Kragic.
Compared to humans, the sensing and dexterity of current robots is extremely limited. Reproducing these fundamental human abilities in robotics systems requires a new scientific and…
Compared to humans, the sensing and dexterity of current robots is extremely limited. Reproducing these fundamental human abilities in robotics…
Compared to humans, the sensing and dexterity of current robots is extremely limited. Reproducing these fundamental human abilities in robotics systems requires a new…
Compared to humans, the sensing and dexterity of current robots is extremely limited. Reproducing these fundamental human…

Engineering safer cities

How can we guarantee the integrity of existing buildings while continuing to develop urban spaces? Professor Debra Laefer's ERC-funded project tackles fundamental problems at the interface between new engineering undertakings and building…
How can we guarantee the integrity of existing buildings while continuing to develop urban spaces? Professor Debra Laefer's ERC-funded project tackles fundamental problems at the…
How can we guarantee the integrity of existing buildings while continuing to develop urban spaces? Professor Debra Laefer's ERC-funded project…
How can we guarantee the integrity of existing buildings while continuing to develop urban spaces? Professor Debra Laefer's ERC-funded project tackles fundamental problems at…
How can we guarantee the integrity of existing buildings while continuing to develop urban spaces? Professor Debra Laefer's…

What cosmic rays tell us about thunderstorms on Earth

When Prof. Heino Falcke obtained an ERC grant to study and identify the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, back in 2008, he could not imagine that his research would provide an important clue to better understand lightning and thunderclouds…
When Prof. Heino Falcke obtained an ERC grant to study and identify the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, back in 2008, he could not imagine that his research would provide an…
When Prof. Heino Falcke obtained an ERC grant to study and identify the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, back in 2008, he could not imagine…
When Prof. Heino Falcke obtained an ERC grant to study and identify the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, back in 2008, he could not imagine that his research would…
When Prof. Heino Falcke obtained an ERC grant to study and identify the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, back in…