Horizon Magazine

Swarming drones could help fight Europe’s megafires

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More than 700,000 hectares of land in the EU were destroyed by forest fires between January and September 2017.

by Rob Coppinger Swarms of firefighting drones could one day be deployed to tackle hugely destructive megafires that are becoming increasingly frequent in the Mediterranean region because of climate change, arson and poor landscape management. It’s one of a number of initiatives looking at how best to fight large fires from the air – a … Read more

Why get a filling when you could print a new smile?

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A new material printed onto teeth could help the approximately one in 10 people who suffer from dental sensitivity caused by worn enamel.

by Ethan Bilby Twinges. Painful teeth. About one in 10 people suffer from dental sensitivity caused by worn enamel. But rather than providing short-term solutions like special toothpastes or fillings, new techniques could print whole new layers of enamel onto teeth – or even stimulate the body to grow new ones. Dr Antonios Anastasiou wants to … Read more

Personalised nutrition to serve up a healthy life with a side of living longer

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A tool that accurately assesses someone's dietary intake will allow scientists to deliver highly personalised advice.

A new tool that uses molecular clues to determine what someone has eaten and a better understanding of how genes affect the way we break down food could pave the way for personalised dietary advice that not only helps people avoid diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, but could also lengthen life. Six … Read more

Your phone may soon know when you’re stressed – and help you cope

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A sleep tracker uses smartphone acceleration sensors to monitor body movement and sleep stages - good predictors for stress and wellbeing.

by Ethan Bilby European businesses lose hundreds of work hours each year to stress-related absences, but an app that monitors stress levels and a device to teach relaxation exercises could help provide an answer. Christopher Lorenz is the co-founder of Soma Analytics, a UK-based start-up company that has made a smartphone app that detects people’s … Read more

Eco espresso and upcycled inks set to make coffee greener

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Recycling old coffee waste can help create environmentally friendly inks.

An environmentally friendly coffee machine and a way to turn used coffee grounds into a new type of ink are helping to increase the green credentials of one of the most popular beverages in the world. Globally, more than 2 billion cups of coffee are consumed every day. At a rate of around 2.64 cups per … Read more