Videos

Max
Bols
FWO
KU Leuven

Beating enzymes at chemical catalysis

To make the production of plastics and other chemical processes less energy-intensive and waste-producing, Max Bols turns to nature. Enzymes, the catalysts of living cells, hold the key to improve chemical processes, as he explains 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.
Shorok
Abdelhameed
FWO
KU Leuven

Studying protein structure thanks to metal oxides

Did you know that our body contains more than 20.000 different types of proteins? These are crucial for vital functions such as wound healing. But when these proteins mutate, they can lead to diseases such as Alzheimer's. To help fight such protein-based diseases, Shorok Abdelhameed investigates methods to study the very complex structures of proteins.
Ana
Escorza
KU Leuven

A cosmic dance: understanding double star systems

Did you know that more than half of the stars you see in the sky are born with a partner? Just like with humans, the presence of a partner can really have an effect on the life and the behavior of a star.
Hans
Gerstmans
FWO
KU Leuven
UGent

Enzybiotics in drops: a killer combination!

Almost 100 years ago Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic: penicillin. Even then, he warned that there would come a day when bacteria would be resistant to all antibiotics. That day is now very near. Will the 'killer combination' of enzybiotics and water droplets save us from super-bacteria?
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!
Mihir
Gupta
imec
KU Leuven

Personalized medicine using computer chip technology

"Why is it that there are so many different sizes of clothes?  Simple, because one size cannot fit all. But how come our medical treatments  are not customized and tailored to each patients biological needs?" That's what Mihir Gupta is working on at imec and KU Leuven.
Jacopo
Sala
imec
KU Leuven

Window solar panels

"If we would cover the entire surface of Portugal with solar panels , this would generate enough energy to power the entire world. But of course, no Portuguese would ever allow this. But what about using their windows?" Jacopo Sala talks about new generation of solar panels.
Balakumar
Baskaran
imec
KU Leuven

Zooming-in on the nanoscale

"In the early days, a computer was the size of a storage room. But today, this computer wouldn't stand a chance against the smartphone in your pocket" How is this even possible? Well, thanks to the nanotechnology inside your smartphone. In his PhD Balakumar Baskaran zooms in on the nanoscale
Anastasiia
Kruv
imec
KU Leuven

Skyscrapers in your gadgets

New smartphones and laptops with increased memory capacity are released all the time. We've become used to have more storage available at a lower price continuously. Anastassiia Kruv (imec) explains how scientist and engineers are constantly challenged to assure this trend.
Guillermo
Solis Fernandez
KU Leuven

Finding the tools cancer uses to spread through the body

Many types of cancer are still being diagnosed too late. The disease has then often already spread, making it difficult to treat the patients. Can we improve early diagnostics in cancer? The answer is hidden in the proteins of the cell, as Guillermo Solis Fernandez explains.