Category: Europe
From waste to power: how floating solar panels on wastewater ponds could help solve NZ’s electricity security crisis
Getty Images Wastewater ponds may seem an unlikely place to look for solutions to New Zealand’s electricity security crisis. But their underutilised surfaces could help tackle two problems at once – high power prices and algal growth. Floating solar panels on wastewater ponds offer a multifaceted answer. They generate renewable energy, improve water quality in […]
Climate change is a pollution problem, and countries know how to deal with pollution threats – think DDT and acid rain
Adding scrubbers in coal-fired power plants helped reduce acid rain, but they continued to fuel climate change. Drums600 via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA Climate change can seem like an insurmountable challenge. However, if you look closely at its causes, you’ll realize that history is filled with similar health and environmental threats that humanity has overcome. The […]
How universities can unlock their entrepreneurial potential
A view of the university of Berkley, where the idea of the personal computer first emerged. Shutterstock Universities do more than just teach and conduct research – they’re where some of the most audacious ideas are ignited, eventually finding their way into the private sector and our everyday lives. Take Stanford and UC Berkeley, for […]
Lord Kelvin: how the 19th century scientist combined research and innovation to change the world
Statue of Lord Kelvin in Glasgow. University of Glasgow, CC BY-SA “What got you into astrophysics?” It’s a question I’m often asked at outreach events, and I answer by pointing to my early passion for exploring the biggest questions about our universe. Well, along with seeing Star Wars at an impressionable age. This fascination with […]
China leans into using AI − even as the US leads in developing it
The Chinese government has made extensive use of existing AI technologies, including for surveillance. Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images In the competitive arena of global technology, China’s ambitions in artificial intelligence stand out – not just for their scale but for their distinct strategic approach. In 2017, the Chinese Communist Party declared its intent to […]
Stuck bridges, buckling roads − extreme heat is wreaking havoc on America’s aging infrastructure
When highways buckle, the damage can happen quickly, putting drivers in danger and tying up traffic. AP Photo/David Goldman Summer 2024’s record heat is creating problems for transportation infrastructure, from roads to rails. New York’s Third Avenue Bridge, which swings open for ship traffic on the Harlem River, was stuck for hours after its metal […]
Chicken wire, AI and mobile phones on sticks: how the drone war in Ukraine is driving a fierce battle of innovation
Drones are the signature technology of the Ukraine war. A few miniature aircraft designs were used in the war’s early days, but an incredible array of drones have now evolved. There are different types, sizes and levels of sophistication. They are used for many roles including short- and long-range attack, reconnaissance, electronic disruption, communications relay […]
The Australian government hands out hundreds of millions per year in grants to businesses. We find much of it is wasted
Australia hands out the best part of A$1 billion per year in grants to businesses. Many of these come with no strings attached, meaning there is no need to evaluate whether the grants boost employment, help the recipients become more efficient, or benefit the nation. To test what good these grants do, my team at […]
What if companies rewarded employees for their failures?
Des entreprises ont mis en place des trophées pour les meilleures idées qui ont échoué Shutterstock A growing number of companies are encouraging their employees to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams in-house – a trend known as intrapreneurship. Some managers do this by providing workers with the financial, human and material resources required for innovation. For […]
Using research to solve societal problems starts with building connections and making space for young people
One or two or 10 studies won’t solve our most complex societal challenges. Big problems require collaborations beyond academia. Orbon Alija/E+ via Getty Images Often, when scientists do research around a specific societal challenge, they hope their work will help solve that larger problem. Yet translating findings into long-lasting, community-driven solutions is much harder than […]
