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Science Ministers Commit to Improving Research Careers in Europe

Science Ministers Commit to Improving Research Careers in Europe

EU research ministers on Friday committed to enhance the attractiveness of research careers and improve brain circulation in Europe, and are calling on member states and the European Commission to take a common approach. That will include setting up an EU system to track mobility of talent, assess working conditions and promote gender and intergenerational equality.

UFO-report by US Military and Intelligence Agencies to Be Released

UFO-report by US Military and Intelligence Agencies to Be Released

A task force will share data it collected on unusual flight phenomena with Congress. UFO enthusiasts rejoice. But a German expert with decades of research under his belt doesn't believe aliens have ever been to Earth.

Open Science in Spain: Towards a Coordinated Strategy

Open Science in Spain: Towards a Coordinated Strategy

Spain needs to set out a wider and clear OS strategy and take decisive, coordinated actions that build upon and improve existing structures to bring itself back to the forefront of OS.

Prestigious European Grants Might Be Biased, Study Suggests

Prestigious European Grants Might Be Biased, Study Suggests

Institutional affiliations of panellists seem to skew European Research Council decisions - especially in the life sciences.

Research Reveals Why Some Find the Sound of Others Eating So Irritating

Research Reveals Why Some Find the Sound of Others Eating So Irritating

Scans show some brains have a stronger link between the part that processes sound and that which controls the mouth and throat

Research Lobbies Lock Horns with Science Publishers over Open Access

Research Lobbies Lock Horns with Science Publishers over Open Access

Nearly 900 universities, research organisations, and funding agencies want science publishers to be more transparent and abide by open access rules, after scientists complained their submissions are rejected if they apply a public copyright licence to accepted manuscripts.

Helping to Steer Funding to the Frontiers of Research

Helping to Steer Funding to the Frontiers of Research

Prof. Liselotte Højgaard shares her first impressions as a new member of the governing body of the European Research Council (ERC) and explains what makes the ERC so important for long-term frontier research.

We Know What You Did During Lockdown

We Know What You Did During Lockdown

After watching this short film on how much data private companies are able to gather about you (data that we willingly give them in some cases), you might be forgiven for thinking that, never mind some far flung future, we are living in a full-on dystopia right now.

Dogs Can Better Detect Covid in Humans Than Lateral Flow Tests, Finds Study

Dogs Can Better Detect Covid in Humans Than Lateral Flow Tests, Finds Study

French trial shows dogs were able to detect presence of coronavirus with 97% accuracy

ERC Advanced Grant Call Opened

ERC Advanced Grant Call Opened

Are you an established, leading principal investigator who wants long-term funding to pursue a ground-breaking, high-risk project? The ERC Advanced Grant could be for you. Who can apply? Applicants for the ERC Advanced Grants - called Principal Investigators (PI) - are expected to be active researchers who have a track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years. The Principal Investigators should be exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions.

Face Masks Effectively Limit the Probability of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

Face Masks Effectively Limit the Probability of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

Airborne transmission by droplets and aerosols is important for the spread of viruses. Face masks are a well-established preventive measure, but their effectiveness for mitigating SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still under debate. We show that variations in mask efficacy can be explained by different regimes of virus abundance and related to population-average infection probability and reproduction number. For SARS-CoV-2, the viral load of infectious individuals can vary by orders of magnitude. We find that most environments and contacts are under conditions of low virus abundance (virus-limited) where surgical masks are effective at preventing virus spread. More advanced masks and other protective equipment are required in potentially virus-rich indoor environments including medical centers and hospitals. Masks are particularly effective in combination with other preventive measures like ventilation and distancing.

Günther Dissertori to Become New Rector of ETH Zurich

Günther Dissertori to Become New Rector of ETH Zurich

Current information from the Federal Administration. All press releases from the Federal Administration, the departments and offices.

UNESCO Embraces Open Science to Shape Society's Future

UNESCO Embraces Open Science to Shape Society's Future

After a consultation process, the 193 member states of the United Nations cultural organization UNESCO started negotiating the final text of its ‘Recommendation on Open Science’ this month.

University of Cape Town's Battle to Tackle a Racist Legacy

University of Cape Town's Battle to Tackle a Racist Legacy

Six years after a statue of Cecil Rhodes was toppled, students and staff at the South African university are still working to improve equity and representation.

New Technology Makes Tumor Eliminate Itself

New Technology Makes Tumor Eliminate Itself

A new technology developed by researchers from the University of Zürich enables the body to produce therapeutic agents on demand at the exact location where they are needed. The innovation could reduce the side effects of cancer therapy and may hold the solution to better delivery of Covid-related therapies directly to the lungs.