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Thriving settlements on Mars, mining operations on the moon, exploration teams heading out into the universe - humankind may one day be able to establish a presence far beyond its home planet. The EU-funded SR2S project strives to remove one of the main obstacles by developing a magnetic shield to protect astronauts from radiation in deep space.
Published: 18 May 2015
Solar eruptions release huge amounts of energetic particle radiation. While most of these events will only affect satellites and other spacecraft, particularly large eruptions will also make themselves felt on Earth-in aviation and radio communication, for example. The EU-funded SEPServer project has developed a web-based tool to help scientists investigate solar energetic particles (SEP) and their origin.
Published: 12 May 2015
For years, the European Space Agency (ESA) has been studying the Earth's magnetosphere - a 'bubble' in which the Earth's magnetic field is present. Huge amounts of supporting data have been gathered. EU-funded researchers have made this data available in an easy-to-use, open-access format, giving scientists the information they need to improve space weather forecasting - important for protecting European satellite and ground-based infrastructure.
Published: 9 February 2015
Published: 21 January 2015
Solar flares can strongly influence life on Earth-causing power outages, disrupting radio communication and airplane navigation, and posing potential threats to astronauts and spacecraft. The European Union (EU)-funded project HESPE has developed advanced techniques to better understand these cosmic events in order to anticipate their effects.
Published: 26 September 2014
Access to biological resources such as cells and tissue samples is the lifeblood of biomedical research. Biobanks and biomolecular resource centres collect, store and distribute this material, the related data and powerful analytical tools, but none of them can single-handedly meet the growing, diverse needs of Europe's research community. EU funding has enabled major repositories to link up and share these resources.
Published: 22 September 2014
A new synthetic rubber developed by EU-unded researchers repairs itself. That means longer-lasting components, plus reduced maintenance costs and waste. The rubber will initially be used for reducing rail and traffic noise, with many more applications to follow.
Published: 16 July 2014
Researchers are embarking on an ambitious four-year project to explore some of the deepest, coldest and hottest places on the planet. The aim is to collect and screen samples of mud and sediment from huge, previously untapped, oceanic trenches, more than 8,000 metres deep.
Published: 1 July 2014
Around one quarter of all prescribed pharmaceuticals in the developed world are derived from plants, including well-known drugs such as morphine and codeine. Harvesting plants to derive such medicines can be slow, wasteful and very expensive, yet often no synthetic alternative exists.
Published: 26 May 2014
Live organisms such as bacteria and yeast - known as probiotics - have traditionally been added to dairy foods for an extra health boost, but are now making their way to table olives. EU-funded researchers developing this new 'superfood' say it could help Southern Europe's olive industry become more competitive. Two patents have been registered - in Greece and Spain - for the technology, opening up the way for application on an industrial scale.
Published: 12 May 2014