Videos

Pieter
Libin
FWO
VUB

Keeping epidemics under control thanks to artificial intelligence

The current corona crisis is having a huge impact on our lives. Artificial intelligence can help keep such a pandemic better under control, with less drastic measures and thus a more limited impact on our social lives. Pieter Libin explains how this works in this video.
Alexander
Cruz
imec
KU Leuven
VUB

A dog's nose in your smartphone

A dog's nose is one of the most powerful sensors we have. Trained dogs are even able to detect early signs of certain diseases by sniffing our breath. As this would not be very practical, Alex Cruz is looking to integrate a doglike 'nose' in our smartphones to do the trick.
Mónica
Vara Perez
FWO
KU Leuven
VIB

Understanding the self-cannibalism instincts of melanoma

Melanoma is a very common and lethal type of skin cancer. Melanoma cells have a strange, yet effective defence mechanism called autophagy: they can manage to survive by eating parts of themselves. Monica Vara Perez tries to figure out this self-cannibalism mechanism in order to help defeat melanoma.
Mathilde
Patin
VUB

The science of light and our cultural heritage

Last year, we all witnessed the horrible fire in the Notre Dame de Paris. While the magnificent stained-glass windows survived the inferno, they suffered damage and need to be repaired. But how can you repair such historic artefacts, of over 900 years old? That's where the 'science of light' comes in, as Mathilde Patin explains in this video.    
Charysse
Vandendriessche
UGent
VIB

Fewer calories as a weapon against Alzheimer's disease?

Mice that follow a low-calorie diet appear to be protected against the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Charysse Vandendriessche is investigating why this is the case to gather more insight in the underlying disease mechanism. This information could into the future contribute to the development of a treatment against this devastating disease.

Astrid
Gadeyne
UGent
VIB

More corn with less fertilizer 🌽

Fertilization is crucial in agriculture, but over-fertilization causes environmental pollution and all-rich algae growth in our watercourses. Wouldn't it be great if plants and crops could grow well with less fertilizer? That's what Astrid Gadeyne wants to achieve in her PhD.
Rahel
Park
KU Leuven
VIB

Who is hitching a ride on a housefly?

Rahel Park has a dilemma for you: what to do if a bunch of flies land on the cake you were just about to eat? Should you eat it anyway or should you throw it away? Watch the video for the -scientifically substantiated- answer!
Arnout
Bruggeman
UGent
VIB

How do intestinal bacteria affect Parkinson's disease?

Imagine if you could influence Parkinson's disease by altering the intestinal bacteria of patients? That sounds strange at first glance, but Arnout Bruggeman explains why it might work.
Sebastian
Proost
KU Leuven
VIB

Bytes and bacteria: software to explore the intestinal flora

What happens when you as thousands of Flemish people to send samples of their stools for scientific research? Well, you get this huge pile of... right, data. Sebastian Proost makes this data readily available to doctors and scientists so that they can acquire new insights from this data in an efficient manner.
Joren
De Ryck
UGent
VIB

How do bacteria hack the immune system of plants?

Like humans, plants are constantly attacked by diseases. Joren De Ryck (VIB - UGent) does research on a bacterium called Ralstonia, which can infect and kill all these crops in a few weeks time.
Lieselotte
Vermeersch
KU Leuven
VIB

Brewing beer faster with the same taste

Did you know that insights from genetics can help to brew beer faster without losing taste? Lieselotte Vermeersch (VIB - KU Leuven) explains how this works. Cheers! 🍻
Giorgio
Russo
VIB
VUB

Using the glue of geckos during surgery

A gecko, a post-it and a tube. Let these 3 things stick into your mind for just one minute. Giorgio Russo (VIB - VUB - Vrije Universiteit Brussel) explains how a gecko could potentially help to heal wounds after surgery. 🦎👩‍⚕️