In the spotlight
Deadly heatwaves in June? A climate scientist explains why extreme weather is battering Greece
Euronews, 25.06.2024
“The Mediterranean is a hot spot of the climate crisis” says Dr Kostas Lagouvardos from the National Observatory of Athens.
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EU Commission blames low R&D investment for economic stagnation
sciencebusiness, 20.06.2024
The European Commission is blaming the EU’s economic stagnation on low investment in research and innovation, in the European Semester report, the bloc’s main policy tool for coordinating economic and fiscal policy across the 27 member states, which was published on Wednesday.
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Digital transition
Most passwords are cracked in less than an hour, and many in just one minute
elpais-en, 24.06.2024
“Humans are very vulnerable.” That’s according to Yuliya Novikova, head of Fingerprint Intelligence at the cybersecurity company Kaspersky. She made the comment after an exhaustive study of 193 million passwords found that only two out of 10 are secure. Most are cracked in an hour, and many of them in just a minute.
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CSC: New project creates secure research environments for the EU
sciencebusiness, 17.06.2024
Increasing information security threats and more detailed European and national regulation increase the need for secure research environments. The current European environment is fragmented, which is reflected in the lack of interoperability of systems and methods and poses challenges in access to and management of services.
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Environmental sustainability
EIT InnoEnergy launches European Solar Academy to skill 65,000 workers in climate tech over two years
esgnews-com, 24.06.2024
EIT InnoEnergy, the leading innovation engine in sustainable energy supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), announces the launch of the European Solar Academy. Mandated by the European Commission as one of its Net-Zero Academies, the Academy aims to reskill and upskill 65,000 workers across the entire European solar photovoltaic (PV) value chain within its first two years.
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Researchers propose measures to optimise battery recycling
idw-online, 24.06.2024
A team headed by Prof. Stephan von Delft from the University of Münster has been looking at what effects different strategies for achieving a circular economy with lithium, cobalt and nickel for electric vehicles will have on the demand for materials in Europe. Their conclusion: eleven mines and 57 recycling plants fewer could be needed.
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Where in the world are heatwaves happening?
standard, 20.06.2024
As manmade climate change continues to increase temperatures, some experts believe this abnormal weather may become more and more frequent. So, which regions and countries are experiencing a heatwave?
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Mobility & Energy
The health impact of living near a fossil gas leak
bbc, 24.06.2024
Leaked methane is helping scientists map toxic threats to health.
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Which countries are most supportive of a fossil fuel phaseout?
euronews-en, 20.06.2024
Around 80 per cent of Italians want their country to focus on protecting and restoring nature – yet the government was among a handful to vote against the EU’s landmark on Monday. That’s just one small insight from the People’s Climate Vote, the biggest ever standalone public opinion survey on climate change, which was released today.
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Digital twin project set to make offshore wind power more reliable and secure
alphagalileo, 17.06.2024
A new EU project – Federated Digital Twins for Wind-Offshore (DTWO) – is developing a digital twin to simulate offshore wind power generation. Aimed at ensuring greater energy reliability and security, the digital twin will integrate existing models, simulation assets and real-time data.
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Science policy & Communication
EU needs to help Moldova fight Russian disinfo attacks
euobserver, 24.06.2024
As 2024 unfolds, Moldova finds itself at a decisive juncture. With pivotal presidential elections, a crucial EU referendum, and parliamentary contests looming by mid-2025, the destiny of the nation hangs in the balance.
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How can media react to disinformation, climate change?
deutschewelle-en, 18.06.2024
Experts say that climate change and disinformation are two of this century’s biggest issues. Speakers at DW’s Global Media Forum in Bonn discussed how journalists can respond when the two intersect.
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Agriculture & Food
Clean energy, fresh mussels: Scandinavia’s experiment to harvest seafood and wind power together
Euronews, 25.06.2024
Denmark is serving up a side of mussels alongside renewable power.
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How AI could help farming become more efficient and sustainable
bnnbloomberg, 17.06.2024
At Nature Fresh Farms in Leamington, Ont., there’s something new amid the rows of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and strawberries. Using thousands of sensors in every greenhouse, artificial intelligence technology is helping the farm optimize aspects like lighting, irrigation and harvest timing.
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Health
Researchers infected 36 people with COVID to understand why some are less likely to get the virus
Euronews, 25.06.2024
Researchers infected 36 people with the virus that causes COVID-19 to understand why some people seem to evade the virus. The answer was in their immune system.
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Fewer good gut bacteria increase the risk of serious infection
eurekalert, 20.06.2024
The composition of the intestinal flora can predict the chances of developing serious infections such as pneumonia. Researchers from Amsterdam UMC and the University of Turku, Finland, followed more than 10,000 people for 6 years. More than 600 people who had less healthy intestinal flora developed a serious infection, with this leading in some cases to death. The results of the study are published today in The Lancet Microbe.
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Putting rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) at the forefront of the next European Union healthcare agenda
eurekalert, 14.06.2024
The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) calls for a comprehensive European response to RMDs.
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EU initiatives
European Commission opens public consultation on implementation of Facility linked to New European Bauhaus
ageu, 20.06.2024
On Thursday 20 June, the Commission announced the opening of a consultation as part of the preparation of the 2025-2027 roadmap for the implementation of the New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB Facility), established under the Horizon Europe 2025-2027 framework programme.
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EU project develops portable diagnostic device for the early detection of deep vein thrombosis
idw-online, 18.06.2024
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a significant health risk. In about half of patients, the blood clot breaks away from the vein wall and travels to the lungs, where it can cause a pulmonary embolism.
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Curious news
Family sues NASA after home is hit by space junk
skynews, 24.06.2024
Compensation is being sought to “account for the stress and impact” of the event – while the lawyers said the case could pave the way for future claims because of how “real and serious” the issue of space junk has become.
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Turkish student arrested for using AI to cheat in university exam
Reuters, 24.06.2024
Turkish authorities have arrested a student for cheating during a university entrance exam by using a makeshift device linked to artificial intelligence software to answer questions.
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In the cauldron of fake news: The supposed spinster ridiculed by the manosphere who has been married for years
elpais-en, 21.06.2024
The story of a woman taken out of context years later to criticize feminism has gone viral following a chain of events that highlights the complexity of misinformation.
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