Videos

Jana
Helsen
KU Leuven
VIB

Evolution after gene loss: how the tortoise wins over the hare

"Evolution is like a race: the individual who can reproduce the fastest wins the race. But we all know of one race that was not won by the fastest..." Jana Helsen (KU Leuven - VIB) explains how evolution is sometimes a bit like the fable about the tortoise and the hare.
Esther
Hoste
UGent
VIB

Wound healing by liquorice?

Lots of people dislike these black sweets. But did you know that liquorice candy might well contain an ingredient to help cure wounds? Esther Hoste investigates whether an active compound found in the root of the liquorice plant can heal diabetic wounds πŸ‘‰ πŸŽ₯
Xenia
Geysemans
Arteveldehogeschool
UAntwerpen

Grieving at work: why is it so deadly quiet?

"We must learn to talk about death, also in the workplace". Xenia Geysemans investigates how employers can better support grieving employees. Currently, employers are often too absent. In this video, Xenia offers 4 concrete tips.
Awadesh
Mallik
FWO
imec
UHasselt

Growing diamonds for cool electronics

Diamonds are not only a girl's best friend (M. Monroe), but they're also an engineer's best friend (A. Mallik). Awadesh Mallik (Universiteit Hasselt - imec) explains why that is and how engineers grow diamonds in the lab. πŸ‘¨πŸ½β€πŸ”¬ πŸ’Ž
Hanne
Leysen
FWO
UAntwerpen

Communication as a source of medication with fewer side effects

How come medications have long leaflets with a whole list of possible side effects? That is what Hanne Leysen investigates. She looks at how signals are transmitted in our body, zooming in on cellular communication.
Marjolein
Orije
UAntwerpen

Protecting newborns by vaccinating the mummy

Marjolein Orije investigates whether vaccinating pregnant women helps to provide their child with the necessary antibodies against childhood diseases, such as whooping cough. Her research shows that vaccinating the pregnant mother also helps to boost the child's immune system, even if it is born prematurely.
Maja
Verstraeten
UAntwerpen

Tracking down the production of illegal nuclear weapons

Maja Verstraeten contributed to SoLid, a detector at the nuclear research center SCK-CEN in Mol consisting of about 13,000 transparent cubes. Why build such a thing? Well, the SoLid detector allows researchers to find out whether illegal nuclear weapons are being produced anywhere in the world πŸ•΅οΈβ€β™€οΈπŸŒ
Laurie
Freire Boullosa
UAntwerpen

Does an old rheumatism pill help against cancer?

It is a relatively new and promising path in cancer research: the reuse of old, non-cancer drugs. In her PhD, Laurie Freire Boullosa focuses on an old rheumatism pill and examines whether it can be used as a weapon against cancer.
Laura
Dirkx
FWO
UAntwerpen

Playing hide and seek with parasites

Ever heard of a sand fly? If this small fly stings you, you can catch the serious, tropical disease Leishmaniasis. This disease is not easy to combat, because the parasites are masters at hiding in your body. Luckily Laura Dirkx (UAntwerp) has a trick up her sleeve to trace them
Kristof
Bal
FWO
UAntwerpen

CO2 - a tough nut to crack

What does a nutcracker have to do with tackling climate change? Well, Kristof Bal explains it to you in 150 seconds.
Eva
Claeys
FWO
UAntwerpen

What happens in your brain when you are depressed? 😞 🧠

What happens in your brain when you are depressed?Β That is what Eva Claeys tries to find out. As a researcher in biological psychiatry, she wants to better understand the 'biology of the depressive brain'.Β 
Jasmien
Orije
FWO
UAntwerpen

Birds present better thanks to testosterone 🦜 🎢

Did you know that testosterone makes birds sing better? And that you can also use this knowledge to give better presentations? Jasmien Orije (UAntwerp) explains how that works in this video.