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…
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Four ERC grantees present their research at the Graphene Conference 2012

Graphene is a one-atom-thick flat sheet formed by an array of six carbon atoms arranged in hexagons to form a honey-comb crystal lattice. It is the strongest and most conductive material in the world: just one square metre of material weighing only…
Graphene is a one-atom-thick flat sheet formed by an array of six carbon atoms arranged in hexagons to form a honey-comb crystal lattice. It is the strongest and most conductive…
Graphene is a one-atom-thick flat sheet formed by an array of six carbon atoms arranged in hexagons to form a honey-comb crystal lattice. It is the…
Graphene is a one-atom-thick flat sheet formed by an array of six carbon atoms arranged in hexagons to form a honey-comb crystal lattice. It is the strongest and most…
Graphene is a one-atom-thick flat sheet formed by an array of six carbon atoms arranged in hexagons to form a honey-comb…

Biodiversity to minimize the effects of climate change in global drylands

Both tropical forests and areas with extensive forest coverage are fundamental in tackling the effects of climate change on Earth.However, the environmental importance of arid, semi-arid and dry-subhumid ecosystems – also referred to as drylands -…
Both tropical forests and areas with extensive forest coverage are fundamental in tackling the effects of climate change on Earth.However, the environmental importance of arid, semi…
Both tropical forests and areas with extensive forest coverage are fundamental in tackling the effects of climate change on Earth.However, the…
Both tropical forests and areas with extensive forest coverage are fundamental in tackling the effects of climate change on Earth.However, the environmental importance of…
Both tropical forests and areas with extensive forest coverage are fundamental in tackling the effects of climate change on…

Modelling waterborne epidemics

The 22nd of March is UN World Water Day. Each year World Water Day highlights the importance of fresh water for global health: water's critical role in food security; its cultural role in shaping societies worldwide; the impact of natural disasters;…
The 22nd of March is UN World Water Day. Each year World Water Day highlights the importance of fresh water for global health: water's critical role in food security; its cultural role…
The 22nd of March is UN World Water Day. Each year World Water Day highlights the importance of fresh water for global health: water's critical role…
The 22nd of March is UN World Water Day. Each year World Water Day highlights the importance of fresh water for global health: water's critical role in food security; its…
The 22nd of March is UN World Water Day. Each year World Water Day highlights the importance of fresh water for global…

Investigating signaling molecules in breast cancer

Significant progress has been made in understanding breast tumour biology. However statistics indicate that the number of breast cancer patients and victims will continue to increase. Dr. Bentires-Alj, ERC Starting Grantee at the Friedrich Miescher…
Significant progress has been made in understanding breast tumour biology. However statistics indicate that the number of breast cancer patients and victims will continue to increase…
Significant progress has been made in understanding breast tumour biology. However statistics indicate that the number of breast cancer patients and…
Significant progress has been made in understanding breast tumour biology. However statistics indicate that the number of breast cancer patients and victims will continue to…
Significant progress has been made in understanding breast tumour biology. However statistics indicate that the number of…

Diving into the world of the very small

Nanotechnology — the science of making and manipulating the very small — has the potential to transform our lives. With the help of ERC funding, Dr Davide Iannuzzi is building microscopic moving parts on to the ends of optical fibres, leading to…
Nanotechnology — the science of making and manipulating the very small — has the potential to transform our lives. With the help of ERC funding, Dr Davide Iannuzzi is building…
Nanotechnology — the science of making and manipulating the very small — has the potential to transform our lives. With the help of ERC funding, Dr…
Nanotechnology — the science of making and manipulating the very small — has the potential to transform our lives. With the help of ERC funding, Dr Davide Iannuzzi is…
Nanotechnology — the science of making and manipulating the very small — has the potential to transform our lives. With the…

Exercise changes chemical marks on DNA

The genetic heredity a person is born with isn't as impossible to change as one might think. In a study published in Cell Metabolism on 7 March 2012 Juleen Zierath, an ERC Advanced grantee 2008, and her team of researchers from the Karolinska…
The genetic heredity a person is born with isn't as impossible to change as one might think. In a study published in Cell Metabolism on 7 March 2012 Juleen Zierath, an ERC Advanced…
The genetic heredity a person is born with isn't as impossible to change as one might think. In a study published in Cell Metabolism on 7 March 2012…
The genetic heredity a person is born with isn't as impossible to change as one might think. In a study published in Cell Metabolism on 7 March 2012 Juleen Zierath, an ERC…
The genetic heredity a person is born with isn't as impossible to change as one might think. In a study published in Cell…

ERC supports the transition to a global bioeconomy

During the economic crisis, these challenges have been made more arduous, as pressures to improve the short-term economic situation tend to put resource sustainability and the environment further down the political agenda.
During the economic crisis, these challenges have been made more arduous, as pressures to improve the short-term economic situation tend to put resource sustainability and the…
During the economic crisis, these challenges have been made more arduous, as pressures to improve the short-term economic situation tend to put…
During the economic crisis, these challenges have been made more arduous, as pressures to improve the short-term economic situation tend to put resource sustainability and…
During the economic crisis, these challenges have been made more arduous, as pressures to improve the short-term economic…

ERC grantee mimics photosynthesis to increase further solar cells' efficiency

The Sun provides a steady source of power that could make solar energy a sustainable alternative to conventional sources of energy, provided that technological advances can actually reduce energy production costs. Prof. Michael Grätzel modified the…
The Sun provides a steady source of power that could make solar energy a sustainable alternative to conventional sources of energy, provided that technological advances can actually…
The Sun provides a steady source of power that could make solar energy a sustainable alternative to conventional sources of energy, provided that…
The Sun provides a steady source of power that could make solar energy a sustainable alternative to conventional sources of energy, provided that technological advances can…
The Sun provides a steady source of power that could make solar energy a sustainable alternative to conventional sources of…