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2019
The end of Moore’s law reign
Since the 1960s, Moore’s law has guided the production of processors and transistors. However, the continuous shrink of silicon chips approaches physical limits.
2018
The battle for batteries
The European Commission wants to build a strong battery industry that can compete with Asia, but has it entered the game too late?
Europe’s answer to GPS
When Galileo is fully functional in 2020, it will provide the most precise navigation ever, even at the North and South Poles.
The Herculean tasks of quantum computing
Forget the hype, quantum computing is still in its experimental infancy. Researchers must overcome five big challenges before real-world applications can emerge.
Hyperloop: the doubts persist
Elon Musk’s dream of a train that can travel at 1,200 km/h faces serious unresolved engineering challenges.
Hyperloop: why it can work
Recent tests have shown the viability of the futuristic train. But does this mean we will have a new mode of transportation any time soon?
A brief history of photonics
The foundations of this new technology were laid more than 150 years ago.
Displays of the future
From LCD televisions to the latest force-sensitive touchscreen technology, electronics and photonics are pushing the envelope ever outward.
Harnessing optics to handle the data crunch
Photonics may hold the answer to coping with huge volume. But a big challenge remains: converting electronic data into light on silicon chips.
Building circuits of light
Move over, electrons. Ton Backx and his team are putting photons front and center as they lay the groundwork for the coming era of photonics.
Explaining the future
Faced with growing challenges, Europe can rely on its scientists to ensure its future competitiveness.
2017
Clashing over noise and waves
Danish scientists express doubts about the breakthrough detection of gravitational waves. A Portuguese physicist explains the controversy.
Silicon photonics: the next revolution
Say goodbye to copper wires. Silicon photonics promises greater energy efficiency, lightning-speed processing and innovative health devices.
The next frontier: quantum cryptography
As familiar encryption systems reach their limits, the strange world of particle physics offers new solutions.
Europe’s new research élite
Eight success stories show how European scientists are shaping tomorrow’s world.
Should english be the only language of science?
The playing field is not level, say the advocates of plurilingualism.
The architecture of sound
Towards a more intimate musical experience: Hamburg and Paris introduce innovative acoustics to their spectacular new concert halls.
2016
Uncovering Jupiter’s mysteries
After travelling 3 billion kilometres, a space probe begins to explore our largest planet.
Our weighty new view of the universe
The recent discovery of gravitational waves has given us a completely new tool for observing the sky. Technologist spoke to some of the scientists listening for the miniscule ripples in space-time.
Extreme scientists on the cutting edge
Six researchers reveal just how far they go to discover some of nature’s deepest secrets or test novel technologies.
Hello, is there life out there?
Thanks to the digital revolution, finding alien life, if it exists, is getting closer.
2014
Microscopy: Going beyond the limits of light
Super-resolution techniques have pushed back the limits of optics, becoming an essential tool in the life sciences.