Research projects in Europe developed water-surface scanners and better hull designs to tackle shipping accidents. By Tom Cassauwers When one of the world’s largest container ships crashed into the bank of the Suez Canal in 2021, a major gateway for global trade became blocked with an estimated $9.6 billion in daily commerce being held up. … Read more
Personal support and user opinions are crucial to ensuring local transport systems become more widely accessible. By Jessica Berthereau When Inez Rastovac, who works for the Dutch municipality of Tilburg, asked 30 women of migrant background in 2021 about gaps in technologies for using local transport, she wasn’t expecting them to request cycling lessons. ‘At … Read more
The major greenhouse gas contributing to global warming could become a prime resource for biofuels that can cut car, plane and ship emissions. 18 August 2023 By TOM CASSAUWERS Laura Martinelli has bittersweet recollections about a clean-fuels project that she managed. It was interrupted by the sudden death of a leading researcher but ended up breaking … Read more
Aircraft flaps and emergency power units are part of efforts to reduce the aviation industry’s contribution to global warming. By TOM CASSAUWERS Each time a plane takes off or lands, flaps on the wings extend or retract to maintain stability and serve as a visual reminder that an aircraft is composed of thousands of complicated parts. … Read more
Tackling threats to water supply in European highlands is crucial for producers of premium foods and drinks ranging from Spanish ham to Scotch whisky. By HORIZON STAFF Marian Navas is at the sharp end of a major European challenge: ensuring that small-scale farmers can cope with the impact of climate change. For Navas, a Spanish native … Read more
While flying is a major contributor to the climate crisis, behind the scenes scientists are designing cleaner and faster airliners. By Tom Cassauwers The passenger planes of today are based on designs that have been fundamentally the same for decades. This means that flight times have also changed very little. But what if people could … Read more