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The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the recipients of its 2017 Advanced Grants, awarded to experienced male and female researchers well known in their fields. In total, across all disciplines, 269 projects were selected, including 34 hosted in France. With its 15 winners, the CNRS leads the pack: 15% of the candidates it hosts were accepted, while the success rate for all European candidates combined was 12%. Read the full press release here.
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Animal Extinction Hidden in Plain Sight
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04.11.2018 |
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Ecology
A new study suggests that the overrepresentation of wild animals—lions, tigers, giraffes, etc.—in our everyday lives (toys, films, ads) makes us forget that they are on the verge of extinction. Researchers believe companies should pay 'image rights' when using such animals to help conservation efforts. The study's principal author ecologist Franck Courchamp explains.
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Nature’s Liquid Crystals
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03.21.2018 |
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Physics
Known for their use in flat screens, liquid crystals are also naturally present in both plants and animals. An essential tool in fundamental research, their study has opened up immense perspectives for applications, notably in the field of biomimetic materials.
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1968: a Turning Point in History?
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04.17.2018 |
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History
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the strikes and protests that swept across France in May and June 1968. What really happened during this unusual sequence of events and what impact did it have on French society? Was the now-legendary Mai ‘68 part of a larger international protest movement? Historian Michelle Zancarini-Fournel shares her perspective.
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Also this month
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Trusting Artificial Intelligence
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03.28.2018 |
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Ethics As decision support systems come into ever-wider use, are we in danger of losing a bit of our humanity by relying on machines? Moreover, even software programs based on “cold” logic are not devoid of prejudice. Researchers are seeking solutions for giving them a sense of “morals.” |
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Where Have all the Farmland Birds Gone?
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03.21.2018 |
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Ecology The song of skylarks, linnets and meadow pipits traditionally resonate across French farmlands. But for how much longer? Studies from long-term observatories paint an alarming picture: the populations of farmland birds have fallen by one third in the last 17 years. |
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Joseph Fourier is Still Transforming Science
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03.30.2018 |
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Mathematics From JPEG images to the detection of gravitational waves, the work of Joseph Fourier, whose 250th anniversary was celebrated last month, led to numerous modern-day applications. Yet this would not ensure his place in posterity, despite this extraordinary researcher's return to grace. |
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Saving Shiva's Mysterious Manuscripts
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04.05.2018
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Indology The French Institute of Pondicherry houses thousands of manuscripts related to the worship of the God Shiva, one of the most important theistic traditions of India. We take you to the heart of this fragile and unique collection, inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, which continues to... |
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A Guide to Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
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04.09.2018 |
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Robotics The debate surrounding the development of autonomous weapons is skewed by the particularly stressful nature of the arguments. Yet to be able to adopt a position on the topic, it is essential to have a precise understanding of the issues involved. The researchers Raja Chatila and Catherine Tessier... |
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Biodiversity: State of Emergency
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04.10.2018 |
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Ecology The IPBES, which is to biodiversity what the IPCC is to climate change, recently published five reports at its sixth plenary session held in March in Medellín, Colombia. In this synthesis of current scientific knowledge about biodiversity, experts have drawn up an alarming overview of the state of... |
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Mexico's Blind Cavefish: Evolution in Action
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03.28.2018
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Biology Over the years, they have not only lost their gray color, but also their eyes. A subpopulation of Mexican cave-dwelling fish has seen its morphology profoundly changed over generations. A team of researchers went on location in Mexico to study these fish in their natural environment. |
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Bringing the Chartres Manuscripts Back to Life
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03.26.2018 |
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Heritage Severely damaged by fire during the Second World War, the Chartres manuscripts, one of Europe's most important medieval collections, are now undergoing a vast restoration and digitization program using highly innovative technologies.
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