http://ec.europa.eu//research/environment/index_en.cfm en Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:07:52 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss For more RSS news feeds click the link above. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:07:52 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_06_17_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30413 Radioactivity as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in the 1980s is still present in the environment. But 17 national emergency management organisations and 33 research institutes have come together to prevent or minimise the impact of such a thing happening again. Their objective has been to ensure that Europe can respond better to similar emergencies in the future.]]> Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-06-17:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_06_17_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30413 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_06_10_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30313 Exercise has been proved to make farmed fish happier and healthier, in turn providing consumers with better-quality food. Now, a team of European researchers have applied the fitness model to reproduction studies in fish in a bid to speed up their sexual maturity and increase stocks. The research has already shown increases in rates of growth in zebrafish.]]> Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-06-10:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_06_10_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30313 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=329&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30274 Dams that protect urban areas from flooding sometimes fail, resulting in catastrophic damage. But what can be done to prevent such disasters? ]]> Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-06-06:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=329&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30274 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_06_03_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30233 Nothing can be done to prevent earthquakes from occurring, and researchers are limited in forecasting when and where they will strike and how strong they might be. Fortunately, a great deal of progress is being made to ensure that buildings throughout Europe are designed and built to withstand major earthquakes when they strike.]]> Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-06-03:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_06_03_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30233 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_31_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30213 Biofuel extracted from algae could provide a much-needed solution to the world’s increasing energy needs. The Marine algae as biomass for biofuels (Mabfuel) project is working on ways to optimise growth processes and oil yield on a commercial scale with future energy demands in mind. Early results show two specific species of algae have higher oil content when produced outdoors and thus could help address these demands.]]> Fri, 31 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-31:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_31_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30213 http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=F4A864D3-F9F5-125B-3D14FBAA2E5ECF42 Thu, 30 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-30:/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=F4A864D3-F9F5-125B-3D14FBAA2E5ECF42 http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=EB60B02C-F5E6-D2FC-7C49C1B15859654F Tue, 28 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-28:/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=EB60B02C-F5E6-D2FC-7C49C1B15859654F http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_28_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30153 Drought is one of the biggest worries for a farmer, sometimes threatening entire harvests, but a European Union (EU)-funded project is using the latest gene science to see whether the worst effects of water shortages could be averted with drought-tolerant plants.]]> Tue, 28 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-28:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_28_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30153 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-biodiversa&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30173 "Biodiversity is the living tissue of our planet," says Xavier Le Roux, BiodivERsA's project coordinator. "It delivers services – what we call "ecosystem services" – which are very important for human society." Provided by the countless living organisms which make up life on earth, these services include functions such as plant and crop pollination, the maintenance of soil fertility, the regulation of greenhouse gases, and the production of food. ]]> Tue, 28 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-28:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-biodiversa&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30173 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30133 Cities around the world are facing a myriad of pressures, including rapid urbanisation and urban sprawl. As a result, authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to manage scarce water resources, deliver water and sanitation services, and dispose of wastewater. At the same time, authorities must do their utmost to minimise the negative impact of such developments on the environment and urban populations. ]]> Mon, 27 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-27:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30133 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-wheylayer&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30114 Plastic films are used for packaging a wide range of products, offering protection against humidity and potential contaminants. Over time, however, these films let in air, diminishing the properties of the packed products. And while multilayer films combining several plastics are often used to improve protection, most of this packaging cannot be recycled. The researchers behind the EU-funded WHEYLAYER project found a cheese-based biodegradable alternative to conventional multilayer films. ]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-24:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-wheylayer&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30114 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_23_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30093 Over half of the world's population lives in urban areas and that proportion is rising. This has severe consequences for the quality of the air we are exposed to thanks to increased transportation and industry within built-up areas. Rising levels of pollution prompted the European Commission in recent years to fund a number of projects into air quality across the EU at the city, regional and country level.]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-23:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_23_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30093 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-oil_spills&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30076 Major oil spills from sinking supertankers are thankfully very rare these days. However, smaller oil spills from shipping are unfortunately still common. Most ships have some type of fuel on board and if they are involved in an accident, there is a risk of that fuel leaking into the sea.]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-22:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-oil_spills&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30076 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-devco-rdi&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30074 It's a phenomenon known locally as the "black cloud", and it plagues Egypt every autumn after the rice harvest: an estimated 4 million tonnes of rice straw is burnt every season, spewing some 80,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the skies. It leaves a choking, toxic layer of thick smog hanging just 25 meters above over the entire Nile valley for weeks, and adds to the already polluted air over the Cairo megalopolis. ]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-21:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-devco-rdi&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30074 http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=B18BA977-9958-E252-9AE30BA875E3184B Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-17:/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=B18BA977-9958-E252-9AE30BA875E3184B http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=B16D8C4A-9173-5D0D-EEEC7EA01C425B8A Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-17:/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=B16D8C4A-9173-5D0D-EEEC7EA01C425B8A http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-gp&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29998 Applying advanced economic analysis to climate change policies and the efficient use of resources can sometime lead to surprising and counter-intuitive outcomes. Indeed the longer term impact of some well-intentioned policy initiative may end up having a negative impact. ]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-15:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-gp&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29998 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-efas&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29997 In August 2002 Europe was struck by a disastrous flood when the Elbe and Danube overflowed, affecting the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Croatia. The cities of Dresden and Prague particularly suffered extensive damage. In response to this disaster, the European Commission's in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), launched the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS). ]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-15:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-efas&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29997 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-lignodeco&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29996 If the world is to live within its environmental limits, the need to make the most sustainable use of its raw materials will become ever more vital. Increasingly, this will require us to focus on making maximum use of all the components of those raw materials, right down to the waste products. In today's world, everything has to be used. ]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-15:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-lignodeco&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29996 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-hiwi&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29995 Presently, drives for Fully Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Electric Vehicles develop their highest efficiency of around 93–95% within a speed range of usually 1/4 to 1/3 of the maximum, and at an ideal torque, whereas in real-life driving cycles the motor operates at a wider range of speeds and at partial load, resulting in much lower efficiency. ]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-15:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-hiwi&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29995 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-fuerex&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29994 Overconsumption of fossil fuels, excessive carbon emissions and threats to air quality are all urgent problems that would be addressed if all-electric vehicles were fully operational and in widespread use. Research conducted by the European Union funded Fuerex project could give consumers in the near future the option of driving a car with almost zero emissions, without compromising on the range of the battery. ]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-15:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-fuerex&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29994 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-3encult&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29954 From Roman temples and Gothic churches to Greek theatres and medieval castles, Europe is peppered with historic buildings that reflect its rich cultural heritage. But these monuments all need to be preserved, a task complicated by age, pollution, tourist demands and climate change. Now science is lending a hand in this task, with a new European Union research project developing measures to reduce energy loss from within old buildings. ]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-13:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-3encult&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29954 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-procas&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29934 The seas are Europe’s lifeblood. With the highest ratio of shoreline to land area of any continent, Europe is very much a maritime continent. Now, an EU-funded tool called EMIS (Environmental Marine Information System) allows policymakers and citizens to monitor those seas at the click of a button.]]> Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-10:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-procas&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29934 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-effis&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29926 About one million hectares of forests, which corresponds to one third the size of Belgium, are destroyed by fire every year in the Mediterranean basin. Forests are an important economic resource in that region, and the loss of forests weighs on the economies of the affected countries, especially in North Africa where a warming of 2 degrees Celsius and decreasing rainfall has been recorded. It is expected that climate change in North Africa will substantially increase the yearly losses to fire. ]]> Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-08:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-effis&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29926 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-pegaso&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29924 Where better to enjoy a relaxing coastal trip than the Mediterranean? However, with large areas of this and the Black Sea basin under threat from environmental change, collaboration within the local scientific communities is more important than ever. ]]> Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-08:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-pegaso&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29924 http://ec.europa.eu/research/environment/index_en.cfm For more information on Environment, click the link above, which will take you to the Environment web site. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:07:52 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/environment/index_en.cfm