Videos

Climate policies often fail because they overlook the irrational ways people make decisions, like the backlash against the fuel tax in France. This shows that better climate policy isn’t just about tech or economics, it’s about understanding people. That's why researcher Guillermo Borragan uses behavioral science and virtual simulations to test how different groups react to policies like subsidies or taxes, making them more effective.

What if we could recycle CO2, just like glass or paper? CO2 is a major driver of climate change, but what if we could turn this greenhouse gas into something useful? In her research at VITO, Avni Guruji is exploring how to transform CO2 into valuable products, like fuels and industrial gases.

What if you could store your personal data in your own digital vault and control who accesses it? Computer scientist Dore Staquet is working to make this a reality by solving key challenges, like efficiently retrieving data when hospitals or services need it. His goal? Putting you back in control of your data, without sacrificing speed or convenience.

What if we could remove "forever chemicals" from water, without boiling a single drop? PFAS, the notorious "forever chemicals," can linger in groundwater for centuries, posing a major environmental and health challenge. Traditional methods to remove them are energy-intensive and inefficient, but what if there’s a smarter way? Researcher Pieter-Jan Piccard is using machine learning models to design advanced membranes that filter out PFAS and other harmful molecules without the need for boiling.

Every year, millions of tons of plastic break down into micro and nanoplastics, infiltrating our oceans, food, and even the air! Yet these tiny particles remain nearly undetectable. That's why chemist Géraldine Dumont is using a technique to trap, analyze, and identify plastics -even at the nanometer scale- using their unique chemical fingerprints. Her work aims to reveal the true scale of plastic pollution because, as she puts it, "The better we measure, the better we can protect our environment."

Too many lives are lost to cancer because it’s found too late. Current detection methods are slow, costly, and sometimes unreliable. But what if our blood holds the key? Researcher Ehsan Mohammadi (VITO - KU Leuven - imec) is exploring how tiny particles released by our cells can signal early signs of cancer.

Did you know that the data from your sports watch can help detect heart disease? Every day, millions of pieces of health data are collected in Belgium: from your movement and heart rate to your sleep quality and blood pressure. This data is gathered via smartphones, sports watches, and doctors, but often remains fragmented and unused. Via 'We Are', a secure online platform, you can consciously connect and share your health data, as researcher Cato van Schyndel explains.

In coastal regions, freshwater rivers and the salty sea are locked in a constant tug-of-war. Seawater can creep inland, turning freshwater sources too salty for drinking. That's why Sait Mutlu Karahan (VITO - UGent) is developing a kind of "weather forecast for salt." This could help us predict salt levels in advance, so that we can safely withdraw drinking water from rivers before they become undrinkable.

3.5 liters of wastewater for 1 kg of vegetables? 🥕💧

Every time vegetables like carrots or beans are processed, wastewater is generated - full of sand, dirt, and potentially pesticides. This water often ends up in our rivers and streams. Perry Hoendervangers (VITO) is testing two new approaches to help vegetable processing companies treat their wastewater and protect our rivers and lakes.

Mats Van Delen is working on an innovative approach for multiple sclerosis: a treatment that uses the body's own messenger vesicles - extracellular vesicles - to reprogram the immune system.

Every package you order has a hidden journey—and a carbon footprint 🌍📦 In this short clip, Rafael Arévalo Ascanio (UAntwerp - VITO) explains how supply chains work, what challenges they create, and how he's developing a model to make them smarter and more sustainable.

Ever wish your phone battery could last a whole month?  Tú Nguyen (VITO - UHasselt) is working to make that future a reality, using 3D-printing. Watch the video!