Since 1967 the SI unit of time, the second, has been defined by caesium atomic clocks. In these, caesium atoms are probed with microwaves at frequencies that cause electrons to ‘jump’ into higher orbitals (~1010 Hz). When this occurs 9 192 631 770 times it defines one second. These clocks have enabled a wide range of modern tec...
Advanced manufacturing is recognised as a critical technology for the EU’ s economic security, and, since 2023, the EC’s Chips Act has mobilised over 80 billion euros in semiconductor manufacturing and R&D.
Thousands of steps are required to produce silicon wafers and it is important that these are defect free and function as ...
In 2021, the European Commission adopted the EU Action Plan “Towards a Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil” - a key deliverable of the European Green Deal. As the maritime sector accounts for 14 % of the EU’s CO2 emissions from transport, regulations like the FuelEU Maritime Initiative (adopted in 2022) have been created to ...
Formaldehyde, also known as methanal, is a colourless, volatile organic compound released from burning wood, tobacco smoke and from paints, varnishes, adhesive, and waxes. Low levels of formaldehyde in the air are considered harmless, but levels can build up to ten times higher indoors compared to the outside. As citizens in de...
The first “quantum revolution” (Quantum 1.0) came about in the 20th century, when an understanding of fundamental particles led to the development of lasers, semiconductors and atomic clocks. We’re now in the second quantum revolution (Quantum 2.0), where physicists and engineers are controlling individual photons and sub-atomi...
The European Union aims to become fully climate-neutral by 2050. Key to this ambition will be phasing out internal combustion engines in both light and heavy-duty vehicles. Electric vehicles based on hydrogen fuel cells are viable alternatives and it has been estimated by the European Commission that these cells could represent...
