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Environment

Why not explore the European environment through the local cuisine? EuroGeoSurveys, a 33 member association of geological services in Europe proposes discovering our mineral treasures through gastronomy. There are indeed strong links between the land on which food is produced and the quality of our meals. © EGS
environment
11 June 2013

When the geologist met the chef

Our food is directly influenced by the ground on which we stand. A group of European geologists have put together their very own cookbook to show us why.

Manufacturers of jet turbines have already shown interest in the new rhenium compounds identified by ProMine scientists, which are resistant to high temperatures. © Juha Kaija
environment
10 June 2013

Deep earth modelling to reveal vast EU deposits

High-tech 3D models of rock formations deep underground should reveal that Europe has vast concealed ore deposits, researchers believe, helping to ease Europe's dependency on imported metal.

Thanks to EU-funded research, the monitoring of bees in the hive is going wireless. © Shutterstock
environment | bioeconomy
07 June 2013

How are the bees doing?

Innovative new EU-funded research aims to help tackle an alarming decline in Europe's bee population. At Nottingham Trent University in the UK researchers are developing new methods to transfer wirelessly information about the health of the hive to the beekeeper.

It is in atmospheric regions of so-called supercell storms that tornadoes may develop. © Shutterstock
environment
24 May 2013

300 tornadoes hit Europe every year

The deadly tornado that hit the city of Moore near Oklahoma City in the US on 20 May dramatically highlighted such extreme weather events and their dangers. In Europe, the same phenomenon is under close scrutiny.

Biomaterials in granular form are today used to make items such as mulching film or disposable tableware as well as different kinds of packaging. © Novamont
environment | industry | bioeconomy
15 May 2013

From plastic litter to high-quality compost

Early shoots for the bioeconomy have sprung up through innovative ideas in completely different businesses. And, at the same time, they raise some legislative initiatives.

During the PERPETUATE project, researchers used a huge shaking table from the Italian National Agencies for New Technologies and the Environment in Rome to test the vulnerability of model buildings confronted by a simulated earthquake. Here, a model of a vault from the Dey Mosque of Algiers is being tested. © Serena Cattari
science in society | environment
24 April 2013

Earthquake projects try to preserve history

The Ottoman mansion of Hassan Bey in the seismically active medieval centre of Rhodes, Greece, does not worry civil engineers – even though the building is faulty because its floor isn’t very well connected to the wall.

© Getty
bioeconomy | environment | industry | agriculture
18 March 2013

Bioeconomy: the new revolution

The industrial revolution made the world wealthy through a simple idea: to replace the physical labour of humans and animals with energy from fossil fuels. Two-and-a-half centuries after the revolution started, however, it is in trouble. The oil that powers much of the world’s economy is running out, and the greenhouse gases given off by the fuels are harming the planet. 

A cross section of the tree trunk shows the symptoms of the ash dieback. ©Fera-Crown
environment
18 March 2013

The alien fungus attacking ash trees

Ash dieback is an invasive fungus that threatens to decimate stocks of European ash.

Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed) has spread rapidly in a number of European countries after introduction as an ornamental from its native area. © Shutterstock
environment
18 March 2013

The aliens are here

They can burn and blister your skin, stop you from getting a mortgage, and even kill you. Plants and animals carried around the world by tourists and trade are costing the European Union over EUR 12 billion per year. Even these estimates are conservative as the data relates mostly to land-based invasive species.

The zeppelin's mission is to collect as much data as possible on air pollutants and climate-altering gases in the atmosphere © Pegasos
environment
17 March 2013

Aboard the Climate Zeppelin

It is about two in the morning and while most Europeans are tucked up in bed, the sleep-deprived crew members of the Pegasos Zeppelin are preparing for take-off. Weather conditions are perfect so they load the airship with their state-of-the-art equipment and get ready to start their day’s work.

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