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We asked a selection of European scientists which scientific breakthroughs they'd like to see in 2018. Image credits from left to right: Atrial myxoma edge low mag by Nephron is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, Maddieee/ Pixabay, NASA/ESA
space | health | transport
02 January 2018

Expect exoplanet atmospheres, organs with new functions and fewer traffic jams in 2018

The search for alien life with next-generation telescopes, a self-healing heart capable of restarting itself, and safer roads with smarter cars are expected to feature as the some of the key scientific breakthroughs in the coming year.

Intelligent autopilots could make flying easier for the crews and allow them to undertake on-board training. Image credit - A-PiMod/ DLR
transport
03 November 2017

Smart autopilot promises to keep flying safe

Intelligent autopilot and cockpits designed by virtual reality could ease the burden on pilots and make flying safer for Europe’s airline passengers.

Leftover straw from wheat harvests could be the building blocks for greener chemicals. Image credit – Pixabay/ ArnoBeauvois
agriculture | environment | transport
10 October 2017

Wheat straw waste could be basis for greener chemicals

The straw leftover from harvested wheat could be turned into bio-based chemicals that offer high greenhouse gas savings and do not compete with food supplies or damage ecosystems.

Researchers hope to make cars energy efficient by measuring road conditions through your smartphone. Image credit - CROWD4ROADS
transport | environment
14 September 2017

Sensors in your smartphone could make roads greener

By combining car sharing apps with a smartphone’s ability to measure movement and vibration, researchers are hoping to make roads greener.

Spinning cylindrical sails can be used on large ships to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and propel them forward. Image credit - Norsepower
environment | transport
12 September 2017

Cleaner engines and spinning sails propel emissions reductions in big ships

A major overhaul of ship propulsion is underway to make global shipping cleaner and more energy-efficient.

Researchers are looking into smart radar and on-bike avoidance tech to prevent accidents with cyclists. Credit: CC0 Public Domain
transport
12 June 2017

Small-scale Doppler effect to help cyclists stay safe

An extremely sensitive radar that can detect when different parts of people’s bodies are moving at different speeds could help drivers avoid collisions with vulnerable road users such as cyclists.

Road traffic makes up one-fifth of the EU’s total CO2 emissions. Image credit: Pixabay/ Gellinger
transport
09 June 2017

Competing businesses cooperate to take empty trucks off our roads

Linking up empty trucks and competing businesses through trusted networks could mean less road traffic and pollution.

Motorbike or moped riders have a 12 times higher chance of dying per kilometre than car drivers, according to researchers. Credit: ‘Motor Cycle EB’ by Eric Baetscher is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
transport
30 May 2017

Two wheels closer to a safe arrival

Death doesn’t visit our roads equally. 

European Commissioner Carlos Moedas says that we need to invent, create and guide the future of connected and automated transport. Credit: Connected and Automated Driving conference
transport | ict | policy
06 April 2017

Now is the time to shape the future of transport – Commissioner Moedas

Connected and automated cars could improve road safety, pollution levels and social inclusion, but only if implemented well – and now is the time to shape the course of events, EU research commissioner Carlos Moedas told a conference in Brussels.

Dr Alexander Kröller is researching the risk that hacking and viruses pose to self-driving cars. Image courtesy of Dr Alexander Kröller
interview | transport | ict
16 March 2017

Hackers could blackmail owners of self-driving cars - Dr Alexander Kröller, TomTom

Automated vehicles have the potential to revolutionise our day-to-day lives, but these kind of cyber-physical systems are vulnerable to attack by criminals. Horizon spoke with Dr Alexander Kröller, a research manager at Dutch navigation company TomTom, to explore the risks that hacking and viruses pose to self-driving cars.

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