European Parliament - EPRS Science and Technology podcasts

What if we ran out of copper? Oct 18, 2024

The copper market has recently been showing unusual instability. New EU legislation, though not always directly related, seems to be having a significant impact on copper prices. This is the case for the Chips Act and the Critical Raw Materials Act - designed to make EU industry more resilient by improving strategic autonomy - but also for laws concerning energy, artificial intelligence and digitalisation. New factors, including looming shortages in strategic raw materials - such as copper - may strongly influence political action.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if electrification transformed the EU economy? Sep 13, 2024

Electrification is gaining momentum across many sectors, including transport, buildings and industry, driven by the EU's climate ambition and security of supply. As the cost of renewable energy technologies like solar and wind continues to fall, electrification presents an opportunity to reshape the European economy, enhancing competitiveness and promoting sustainable growth.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if focusing on the system, not just the symptoms, were key to health? Jun 20, 2024

Exposure to 'forever chemicals', air pollution, stress and many other factors depends on where a person lives and their lifestyle choices. These exposures combine over the course of a lifetime, affecting human biology and health. The 'exposome' concept offers a framework for understanding and analysing this complex reality, and ultimately for informing the shaping of evidence-based policy on chemicals, food and the workplace, as well as on pollution, public health and the environment more generally.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if the problem with cars was not their method of propulsion? Mar 08, 2024

The European automotive industry is striving to adapt to market changes driven by the dual green and digital transition. Electrification has become the main strategy for reducing CO2 emissions, especially in urban traffic. At the same time, the average size and weight of cars have greatly increased. Big electric cars are the trend, but are they really the solution? Could better planning and optimisation of resources help?
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if focusing on the system, not just the symptoms, were key to health? Jun 20, 2024

Exposure to 'forever chemicals', air pollution, stress and many other factors depends on where a person lives and their lifestyle choices. These exposures combine over the course of a lifetime, affecting human biology and health. The 'exposome' concept offers a framework for understanding and analysing this complex reality, and ultimately for informing the shaping of evidence-based policy on chemicals, food and the workplace, as well as on pollution, public health and the environment more generally.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
- Subscription to our RSS feed in case your have your own RSS reader
- Podcast available on Deezer, iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, YouTube
Source: © European Union - EP

Analysis exploring risks and opportunities linked to the use of collaborative industrial robots in Europe Feb 02, 2024

Robot applications, including 'collaborative robots' - cobots - designed to collaborate with humans, are in high demand, with sales and installation figures constantly on the rise. However, it is necessary to analyse the risks and opportunities of this technology and its possible social, economic, and ethical impacts. The following study presents the current state of collaborative robotics, its benefits, and its disadvantages, with a special emphasis on key aspects such as safety. It presents possible policy options to enable the EU to remain at the forefront of this technology by taking advantage of the opportunities and avoiding the potential risks.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if generative artificial intelligence became conscious? Jan 12, 2024

Generative artificial intelligence applications, such as ChatGPT, are powered through complex learning processes by comprehensive datasets of – potentially dubious – human-created content. There are concerns that such tools could develop consciousness and spark emergent behaviour that is, by definition, unpredictable and therefore potentially unsafe. Do these concerns point to a need to look again at the relevant legislation?
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if the EU were energy independent? Dec 08, 2023

The EU depends on imported fossil fuels (gas, oil and coal) for about 56 % of its energy needs (gross energy consumption), which in 2021 represented an energy bill of around EUR 300 billion. The domestic production of renewable energy sources has increased significantly in recent years to 22 % of total demand. The European Union can aspire to achieve energy independence through the deployment of existing and emerging technologies. Electrification, renewables and energy storage could reduce EU's reliance on conventional fossil fuels. What are the developments, expectations, concerns and societal implications associated with these technologies? What initiatives and policies can lead to a resilient EU energy system by anticipating impacts?
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if Europe ran out of water? Nov 17, 2023

Droughts and water scarcity are no longer rare or extreme events in Europe. About 20 % of the European territory and 30 % of Europeans are affected by water stress, especially in Southern Europe but also around some river basins in Western and Central Europe. And climate change will only make matters worse, increasing the frequency of extreme events and making the south even drier.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if algorithms decided what we should eat by looking at our DNA? Oct 13, 2023

Diets tailored to our individual characteristics could bring about health benefits but require data on our most personal features, such as our DNA. The promises are many, but so are open questions about the interactions between genes, nutrients, environment and health, and the role of socioeconomic factors behind our food choices. Governance of precision nutrition advice, services and products will include various legislation and policies because of its position between lifestyle and health, or food and medicine.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

Splinternets': Addressing the renewed debate on internet fragmentation Sep 29, 2023

Recent events have multiplied concerns about potential fragmentation of the internet into a multitude of non-interoperable and disconnected 'splinternets'. Composed of thousands of compatible autonomous systems, the internet is by definition technically divided. Yet, the internet was also designed to be an open and global technical infrastructure. The unity and openness of the internet appear to be under great pressure from political, commercial and technological developments. This report explores the implications of the EU's recent policies in this field as well as the opportunities and challenges for EU Member States and institutions in addressing internet fragmentation. It underlines how recent EU legislative proposals – on the digital services act, digital markets act, artificial intelligence act, and NIS 2 Directive – could help to address patterns of fragmentation, but also have limitations and potentially unintended consequences. Four possible strategies emerge: stay with the status quo, embrace fragmentation, resist patterns of divergence, or frame discussions as a matter of fundamental rights.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if biosensors could help treat rare diseases? Sep 08, 2023

Most rare diseases are incurable. Biosensors are a technology that, driven by continuous advances in artificial intelligence, can help disease detection, lower the cost of novel therapies, replace placebo groups in clinical trials and foster patient-centred, personalised (e)-medicine.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if we could make nuclear fusion work? Jul 07, 2023

To reach the Paris Agreement objective of keeping the global temperature increase well below 2°C, the EU must consider every possible technology to decarbonise its energy production. Nuclear fusion is the process that powers our sun and we can recreate it on Earth. However, even if we overcome the considerable engineering challenges of designing a fusion power plant, there are hard constraints to upscaling fusion power.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if open strategic autonomy could break the cycle of recurring crises? Jun 09, 2023

Open strategic autonomy ensures the capacity to cope alone if necessary but without ruling out cooperation whenever possible. It relies on foresight to identify threats and ensures resilience by anticipating the required responses. Can the resulting preparedness also prevent crises (or dissuade others from creating them) by normalising internally situations that would else become emergencies?
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if nature taught us to adapt to climate change? May 05, 2023

Over the past 3.8 billion years, nature has been engineering itself to survive. It has also developed efficient and sustainable adaptation mechanisms against changing environmental conditions. To further the EU's political ambitions, could we employ biomimicry to mitigate climate change and achieve climate neutrality?
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if increased energy storage could help fix climate change? Apr 14, 2023

In this podcast we explore the potential ecological benefits of increasing our capacity to store energy, especially from renewable sources. As the availability of some renewable energy sources is variable and intermittent, devising new energy storage capacities could ensure energy security and reliability and help the EU in its efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

Towards a new EU pharmaceutical strategy Mar 10, 2023

As the European Commission prepares to launch a much awaited revised EU pharmaceutical strategy, two recent studies by the European Parliament's Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) advance possible options to tackle current weaknesses in drug development and ensure access to high-quality medicines, including the creation of large-scale European biomedical infrastructure, and a series of targeted strategies to improve EU health research coordination and reprioritise areas of unmet therapeutic need.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if we grew plants vertically? Feb 10, 2023

By 2050, an estimated two thirds of the world population will live in urban areas. Could vertical farming help feed this growing urban population sustainably by reducing the demand for agricultural land and shortening the travel distance between food production and consumption?
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

Using artificial intelligence in workplace management Jan 13, 2023

As AI spreads into workplaces, workers and employers are increasingly confronted with applications and software that affect labour relations. While AI systems could be introduced with the explicit aim of improving working conditions, this cannot be expected in general and evidence suggests that it may be the exception. In this podcast, we'll talk about the impacts that artificial intelligence applications may have on our workplaces and how policymakers and legislators in the EU will need to ensure that it works for and not against us.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if quantum technologies were to revolutionise healthcare? Dec 09, 2022

Quantum technologies could be a game-changer in the digital transformation of health care. By enabling much faster and more complex data analysis, they could open the door to the accelerated discovery and development of novel therapeutics, improved diagnostics and treatments, including for rare and complex diseases, genuinely personalised medicine, and better data-driven health policy planning. However, as is also the case in other sectors, quantum technologies come with risks, particularly to cybersecurity and data privacy, as well as economics, trade, and global competition.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if a 'Trojan horse' strategy could help address antimicrobial resistance? Nov 18, 2022

Antimicrobial-resistant infections are predicted to become the second biggest cause of death worldwide by 2050. Despite increasing investment in the development of new antimicrobials, awareness campaigns on antimicrobial misuse and abuse, and monitoring of antimicrobial use and resistance in animals, humans and the environment, antimicrobial resistance continues to grow and the last three decades have not seen even one novel antimicrobial class reach the market. Could the answer lie in a 'Trojan horse' strategy to disrupt a natural physiological process common to all bacteria?
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if everyone spoke the same language? Oct 14, 2022

One language disappears every two weeks, and up to 90 % of existing languages could be gone by the turn of the century. Globalisation, social and economic pressures and political options can determine whether a language survives. Multilingualism is a cornerstone of the European project, with 24 official and 60 minority languages. In a digital era, ensuring digital language equality can help preserve linguistic diversity.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if AI could make the agri-food sector more resilient? Sep 30, 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been under the limelight of so strong political and social debate that its suitability for its main original purpose of improving supply chain efficiency may come up as a surprise; but, what if, under the actual situation of stress artificial intelligence really can provide solutions for strategic sectors significantly improving their capacity to cope with pressure? More specifically, can the agri-food sector benefit from this technology to the extent of compensating for the shortages being broadly foreseen?
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if microbial protein could help reverse climate change? Sep 09, 2022

Demographic, socio-political and economic pressures have made eating meat an unsustainable practice for the long term. However, meat substitutes have proved unpopular, owing to social norms and a lack of trust; some alternatives also contribute heavily to climate change. Could microbial protein be a sustainable alternative to meat that not only solves these multidimensional pressures but also contributes actively to reversing climate change?
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if we sequenced all human genomes? Jul 01, 2022

The rapid growth of genetic databases worldwide, coupled with fast-decreasing costs and increased technological speed, has raised the possibility of every human genome on Earth being sequenced within this century. This brings to the forefront ethical and legal questions on data privacy and ownership. While a world genomic database would revolutionise preventive medicine and research, new forms of surveillance, discrimination and power imbalances could emerge. The global interplay between the individual, the state and private individuals could shift, requiring modern and flexible legislation to protect the rights of the individual.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if we built cities on water? Jun 03, 2022

Rising sea levels place coastal cities under constant threat. An estimated 250 million people currently live on land below projected annual flood levels, often in coastal cities such as London, Lagos, Mumbai or Shanghai; and this number may rise to 630 million by the end of the century. An additional 318 million people have been displaced since 2018, due to climate disasters. Could it be that, instead of humankind fleeing from water, building on it could serve as a better long-term solution? What would the creation of entire water cities entail for societies, economies and the environment? What if populations could live on water instead of facing displacement and migration?
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if AI regulation promoted innovation? Apr 29, 2022

'Innovation' is often used as a shorthand for improved technical, economic and social processes. However, any specific innovation involves the redistribution of costs and benefits, creating winners and losers. For some, regulation of technology should be avoided in case it hinders innovation, while, for others, regulation is an essential measure to mitigate risks. However, regulation and innovation are not a zero-sum game. Debates about regulatory (in)action and its impact on innovation would benefit from greater specificity about which innovation paths are considered desirable, for whom, and how policy choices would help to achieve them.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

Responding better to future pandemics Apr 29, 2022

Managing the risks of the Covid-19 pandemic remains a challenge. While EU vaccination rates have reached three quarters of the population, new SARS-CoV-2 variants keep emerging in the EU. Although these variants appear to be generally less severe, they still pose challenges to health systems. The implementation of a globally effective vaccine strategy remains key to enhancing Europe's resilience. If measures are successful, it is expected that SARS-CoV-19 – while still present – will enter a stage of seasonality, characterised by higher case numbers in the winter months, similarly to the flu. To achieve this, rethinking present surveillance and monitoring schemes, ensuring the distribution of vaccines worldwide and implementing an action plan against disinformation and misinformation could be crucial.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if machines made fairer decisions than humans? Apr 01, 2022

Automated decision-making by systems that use machine learning to dynamically improve performance are still seen as lacking the 'human perspective' and flexibility to adapt to the particular nuances of specific cases. But perhaps, as they lack the 'cunning' to hide their biases, automated systems actually make fairer decisions than do humans, when these decisions are based on data that have been properly curated.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if we killed all microorganisms in our bodies? Feb 11, 2022

While killing all microorganisms in our bodies may seem tempting to some germaphobes, scientific evidence indicates that beneficial microorganisms (that live in nearly ubiquitous communities called microbiota) are an essential component of human health, and could form a new frontier for personalised medicine to fight non-communicable diseases and improve human health. In this podcast, we'll look at the microorganisms that live in our bodies and the incredible role they play in assuring our health.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if xenotransplantation made up for the shortage of organ donation? Jan 14, 2022

Following the first successful organ transplant in 1954, this procedure has become increasingly prevalent as it has revolutionised the treatment of end-stage organ failure. Nevertheless, organ shortage remains a critical problem which could potentially be overcome with xenotransplantation, regarded a promising alternative approach. In this podcast, we'll talk about the transplantation of animal derived organs and cells into humans. A medical procedure known as xenotransplantation that could open the door to a renewable source of desperately needed organs.
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if hydrogen accelerated decarbonisation of European Industry? Dec 10, 2021

The European Union has an ambitious climate strategy and is looking for ways to boost technologies that will make it possible. Could hydrogen and the deployment of related technology and infrastructure become a decisive factor in decarbonising specific industry sectors? In this podcast, we'll talk about hydrogen and its potential to accelerate the decarbonisation of European industry.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if ecolabels could nudge us to choose greener food? Nov 19, 2021

The way most food is produced is harming the planet. A profound change is needed, involving all agri-food actors. As consumers, we sit at the end of the agri-food chain. Our daily dietary choices implicitly support certain food systems, production methods and types of food. What could help us make better choices? In this podcast, we'll talk about ecolabels and their potential to nudge us towards more sustainable food choices.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if novel drug delivery methods revolutionised medicine? Oct 15, 2021

Nanoparticles lie at the heart of a new method for delivering medicines inside the body – and they were crucial to the success of the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines. This new drug delivery method and others could transform the way we treat disease, potentially boosting the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and HIV, among others. Insulin and Covid-19 vaccines might even become available as pills. In this podcast, we'll look into new drug delivery methods that could simplify the way we treat diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.
- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
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Source: © European Union - EP

What if the Internet failed? Oct 01, 2021

Since its early development in the 1960s, Internet infrastructure has become almost as important as electricity and transport infrastructures in contemporary societies. More and more key services such as banking, food retail, and health care, rely on Internet connections. Despite its original resilient decentralised design, the increasing importance of a few central players and centralising developments have made the Internet more vulnerable to failure. What repercussions would that entail? Listen to our podcast to know more!
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2021)690044
https://youtu.be/wggqWelXPLk
Source: © European Union - EP

What if deepfakes made us doubt everything we see and hear? Sep 10, 2021

Deepfakes are hyper-realistic videos created through artificial intelligence techniques. They present many possibilities, but also dangers. A wide range of malicious uses have been identified, including fraud, extortion and political disinformation. The impacts of such misuse can be financial, psychological and reputational. While the technology itself is legal, some malicious uses are not, and a combination of legal and technical measures may be mobilised to limit their production and dissemination.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2021)690046
https://youtu.be/m2FfdjMWBr0
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we chose new metaphors for artificial intelligence? Jul 02, 2021

Artificial intelligence (AI) policy debates are replete with metaphors. In this podcast, we explore some challenges presented by the central metaphor of ‘intelligence', examine how AI metaphors emphasise competition at the cost of cooperation, and ask whether new metaphors could help us to articulate ambitious visions for AI, and new criteria for success.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2021)690024
https://youtu.be/McfLzteWrEo
Source: © European Union - EP

What if objects around us flocked together to become intelligent? Jun 04, 2021

The internet of things is already making us reimagine daily life, but could artificial intelligence be the key to reaching the full potential of this technology?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2021)656344
https://youtu.be/czGzqz2JTrM
Source: © European Union - EP

What if blockchain could guarantee ethical AI? May 14, 2021

As artificial intelligence (AI) companies and other organisations are seeking ways to comply with ethical principles and requirements, blockchain, under specific circumstances, could be seen as a means to safeguard that AI is deployed in an ethically sound manner.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)656334
https://youtu.be/JpNf0uqzVcs
Source: © European Union - EP

What if consumers could use devices to sequence DNA? Apr 30, 2021

Sequencing and analysis of the human genome, all the genetic information stored in our DNA, enable understanding about a person's ancestry, health and various traits. DNA sequencing greatly benefits medicine and the life sciences by allowing them to predict and cure diseases. While DNA sequencing technologies continuously improve and become less costly, what if we all soon possessed our personal, smart DNA sequencers and apps to analyse DNA?
https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/eprs-multimedia-centre_15406_pk
https://youtu.be/PCtgcZpswdU
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we could engineer the planet to help fight climate change? Mar 05, 2021

Efforts to curb carbon emissions are falling short. As climate change impacts become all too clear, geoengineering is again in the spotlight. Some see it as a last-resort option to fight climate change. Detractors highlight the risks and uncertainties. Will governments end up ‘tinkering with Earth's thermostat'?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2021)656339
https://youtu.be/PvaAMyBxPwM
Source: © European Union - EP

What If Technology And Culture Combined To Boost A Green Recovery? Feb 05, 2021

With its recent European Green Deal framework, the EU is striving to achieve climate neutrality in its economy by 2050 and, simultaneously, bring itself on the path of recovery from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology will inevitably play a significant part in this process. However, historical experience tells us that culture and aesthetic have too had significant roles in recovery from a crises, be it war, economic recession, or an epidemic.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)656332
https://youtu.be/STAUrZIfjJw
Source: © European Union - EP

What if AI took care of traffic as well as driving? Jan 15, 2021

Even if autonomous vehicles need to detect traditional signals and allocate uncertainty areas while sharing the public thoroughfare with non-autonomous vehicles, pedestrians and even animals, an efficient exchange of information with as many other vehicles as possible will greatly increase, not only their performance but also their safety.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)656317
https://youtu.be/tQyrPMoEQBU
Source: © European Union - EP

What if AI could assist thermal imaging in fighting coronavirus? Jan 15, 2021

As schools re-open, employees return to work and airports get busier, thermal imaging cameras powered by artificial intelligence are proving a quick and effective way to survey large groups of people and detect high temperatures… But are they the magic bullet for COVID-19 fever detection? And what are the legal and ethical implications of such mass surveillance technology?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)656299
https://youtu.be/UmYgPiBw_7w
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we could renew all our cells? Dec 11, 2020

Regenerative medicine (RM) is an interdisciplinary field that applies engineering and life science techniques to restore tissues and organs damaged by age, disease or trauma, as well as those with congenital defects. Promising data supports the future capability of using RM across a wide array of organ systems and contexts, including surface wounds, cardiovascular diseases and traumas and treatments for certain types of cancer.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)656297
https://youtu.be/IXOuenBovB4
Source: © European Union - EP

What if AI could help us become ‘greener'? Nov 20, 2020

While some argue that AI can potentially be useful or even indispensable in ‘green transitions', important questions remain open. Should AI be only used in resolving various specific problems (for example, intelligent pollinating robots replacing a declining bee population) or should be employed in ‘governing' the sustainability of complex socio-economic systems such as mobility, food or energy? While the latter option is currently technically unattainable and may be ethically dubious , it marks the axis of a political debate about possible synergies between sustainability and AI.
https://youtu.be/uRaztkJ8i0Q
Source: © European Union - EP

What if 'rewilding' could help reverse biodiversity loss in Europe? Oct 02, 2020

Globally one out of eight million species are threatened with extinction, and Europe is no exception to this trend… The EU's 2030 diversity strategy wants to put nature on the path to recovery. But what if one of the ways to do that was to let nature take care of itself? It's called rewilding! Let's take a walk on the wild side!
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)641556
https://youtu.be/PAqjv74slhI
Source: © European Union - EP

What if fashion were good for the planet? Jul 03, 2020

We shop ‘til we drop, and chuck out just as fast… But this fast fashion, throwaway consumer culture is destroying our planet and creating huge social problems. So, if the EU is serious about achieving its green objectives, it will need to find a way to turn fast fashion into clean, ethical fashion…
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)656296
Source: © European Union - EP

What if insects were on the menu in Europe? Jul 03, 2020

While commonly consumed in many parts of the world, insects have long been off the menu in Europe…but they could soon be creeping their way onto our plates! With Europe's focus shifting towards a more sustainable agri-food sector, entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, is now gaining serious interest… But are Europeans ready for an insect-based diet?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)641551
Source: © European Union - EP

What if AI could advance the science surrounding dementia? Jun 12, 2020

With no reliable prognosis or effective treatment, dementia is a growing public health concern in Europe and world-wide...But what if artificial intelligence applications could help advance the science on dementia?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)641546
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we could fight antibiotic resistance with probiotics? May 08, 2020

Our longtime use - and abuse…- of antibiotics in humans, agricultural livestock management, and food production has led to an increased threat of antimicrobial resistance, making us all more vulnerable to infectious diseases… But what if the answer lied in probiotics?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)641545
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we could fight coronavirus with artificial intelligence? Mar 27, 2020

As more and more European cities go into lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, international organisations and scientists are using artificial intelligence to track the epidemic in real time… to be able to predict where it will hit next and prepare a response.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)641538
Source: © European Union - EP

What if artificial intelligence made work obsolete? Mar 06, 2020

From mass production to word processing, technological innovations have always transformed the way we work, and live… But what would happen if artificial intelligence worked just as well as humans - or perhaps even better - without taking holidays, getting sick, joining unions or drawing salaries…?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)641537
Source: © European Union - EP

What if crop protection were eco-friendly? Feb 07, 2020

Synthetic pesticides used to control pests such as fungi, bacteria, insects or weeds have proved to be rather effective, but they are coming under increasing scrutiny, as they have come to have worrying consequences for human health and the environment. What alternatives are the possible alternatives to help protect plant health and boost crop yields?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)641529
Source: © European Union - EP

What if life expectancy reached 150 years? Dec 13, 2019

In Europe, better healthcare, social and technological improvements are allowing us to live longer, and longer. If we link this to another trend, declining fertility rate… this could radically change the way our societies look and function! Want to know more? Let's peek into the future!
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2019)641510
Source: © European Union - EP

What if hydrogen could help decarbonise transport? Nov 22, 2019

Tackling climate change is becoming increasingly urgent, yet the majority of our transport still runs on fossil fuels. While electric battery cars provide a response, batteries are too heavy to use in ships or aeroplanes. Could using hydrogen gas and fuel cells to produce electricity on board provide the answer?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2019)634453
Source: © European Union - EP

What if technologies substituted for humans in elderly care? Oct 18, 2019

Could technologies respond to the challenges associated with the ageing European population? While future assistive technologies for elderly care are promising, current technologies are not used to their full potential. Effective change should target all social groups, not only the elderly. ‘One-size-fits-all' approaches for technology and policy are not well suited to elderly care because everyone has different abilities and individual circumstances. The establishment of a defined profession of experts in the application of assistive technologies for elderly care could play an important role in supporting the development of the sector.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2019)634449
Source: © European Union - EP

What if Libra disrupted the financial system? Sep 13, 2019

Facebook's envisaged cryptocurrency project Libra may enable a way of more connected, digital banking. However, it also triggered a debate around the added value of cryptocurrencies. What would change for banks, businesses and consumers with the new digital currency?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2019)634443
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we didn't need cows for our beef? Jul 12, 2019

With the help of cells from a single cow, scientists can produce 175 million hamburgers. When fully commercialised, this type of technology will greatly impact the way we produce and consume meat. It will allow us to feed a world of over 10 billion people in a sustainable way, without necessarily drastically changing the diets.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2019)637960
Source: © European Union - EP

What if policy anticipated advances in science and technology? Jun 28, 2019

What if blockchain revolutionised voting? What if your emotions were tracked to spy on you? And what if we genetically engineered an entire species? Through its monthly “what-if” publications, the European Parliament's Scientific Foresight Unit draws the attention of Members of the Parliament to new and interesting developments in the fields of science and technology.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2019)637960
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we could fight drug addiction with digital technology? Apr 12, 2019

Drug addiction is one of the greatest problems facing European public health authorities. Advances in drug addiction research have focused mostly on the neurobiological aspects of the disease, but now promising new technologies are enhancing our ability to understand and treat drug addiction. A wide range of health tools for drug addiction recovery is available on the internet: information and education websites; assessment and psychotherapeutic software; comprehensive self-help programmes; and social network therapeutic communities. Use of such tools on smartphones and other mobile devices is known as mobile health (mHealth). The utilisation of new technologies in drug addiction treatment and research has generated interest, curiosity and expectation, but also concerns regarding the ethical aspects of their use.
Source: © European Union - EP

What if you could swab, upload and unlock your future for €50? Mar 22, 2019

What if new-born babies were given a DNA report card that predicted their intelligence, their odds of getting a PhD, their chances of becoming a chain smoker or suffering depression, a heart attack or cancer? Today, a large amount of genetic data are available, involving millions of people. This wealth of information available to researchers is allowing them to create a polygenic risk score based on the DNA test of an individual. This predicts a person's chance of getting a disease, his or her traits and behaviour. Are these predictions perfect? What if you do not want to know what could happen to you? What if these data were used or abused by others?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if your emotions were tracked without your consent? Mar 08, 2019

Facial recognition technology can identify a person in real time by instantaneously searching databases containing tens of millions of faces. What began as a tool to authenticate identity at airports and border crossings has sneaked its way to performing surveillance of human beings in their daily lives without their consent. What implications will these facial recognition techniques have, and in what way could there be a meaningful process of asking for prior consent from the people that are being identified by these technologies?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we could design better technologies through dialogue? Feb 08, 2019

While we often talk about the need to achieve acceptance of technology in the face of real and potential public opposition, there are frequently gaps between how regulators, developers and experts conceptualise acceptance and opposition. Here, we examine some prominent conceptualisations and suggest that, rather than responding to public opposition with information campaigns designed to transform citizens into acceptors, strategies for managing public acceptability should include meaningful dialogues that aim to create better technologies which are not only acceptable to citizens, but can even be actively supported by them.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2019)624291
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we let consumer electricity prices fluctuate? Jan 11, 2019

Allowing consumer electricity prices to fluctuate from one time of the day to another could help accelerate the transition towards renewable energies and drive down the costs of this transition. Electricity production from renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy, is expanding rapidly in Europe and around the world. However, integrating these fluctuating sources into the grid is increasingly becoming a challenge for grid operators that need to match electricity supply with demand. Switching over to a new electricity market system, where the demand would better adapt to the supply, could be crucial for the success of the transition towards a low-carbon society.
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we genetically engineered an entire species? Dec 07, 2018

Genetic engineering is usually applied to individual plants and animals. But what if we could genetically engineer an entire species? Today techniques have progressed so far so as to make that feasible, allowing us to eradicate malaria and cure ecosystems from exotic pest species, while also bringing with it a host of ethical questions we should urgently ask ourselves.
Source: © European Union - EP

What if algorithms were to become ethical? Nov 09, 2018

Algorithms, are step-by-step procedure for solving a problem, usually expressed in computer code as a set of instructions for a computer to follow in order to complete a task. Day-to-day decisions around the world are increasingly based on data science techniques powered by machine learning algorithms that are gradually making a meaningful impact on human lives. For example, the operation of intermediary platforms that propose accommodation (AirBnB) or transportation alternatives (Uber) are extensively using algorithms. Algorithms implicitly or explicitly are not neutral as they comprise essential value-judgments that can potentially have race or sex biases. This raises an important question: is it possible to develop and ensure that algorithms are ethical?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if nudging good habits could make us healthier? Oct 19, 2018

The link between high consumption of trans fats, sugar and salt, found in high amounts in processed food, and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), type 2 diabetes and various cancers is well established. In the current food market, calorie-rich, processed food, wrapped with ambiguous labels, is readily available, cheap and heavily promoted. But what if consumers could be prompted to make healthier food choices?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if blockchain were to be truly decentralised? Sep 28, 2018

Technological systems, once introduced in a particular socio-economic context, often evolve in unforeseen ways and may fall prey to unexpected power relations. Blockchain, as a technology that relies on decentralisation to enable storing and securing data-based transactions without central administration, is currently facing significant centralisation pressures that may undermine the purpose of operating a decentralised blockchain network. But what if blockchain fulfilled its promise to be truly decentralised?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if technologies challenged our ethical norms? Sep 07, 2018

Exploring the relationship between ethics and technological innovation has always been a challenging task for policy-makers. Ethical considerations concerning the impact of Research and Innovation (R&I) are increasingly important, due to the quickening pace of technological innovation and the transformative potential and complexity of contemporary advancements in science and technology. The multiplication of legal references to ethical principles and the mushrooming of ad hoc ethics committees indicate the institutional embedding of ethics into the scientific research process as such, but also into an increasing array of technological trajectories. Yet the rapid development of disruptive technologies means that social and ethical norms often struggle to keep up with technological development. But what if disruptive technologies challenged traditional ethical norms and structures?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if law shaped technologies ? Jun 29, 2018

Existing legal structures may prove a poor match for new types of disputes raised by disruptive technologies. Can the legal system overcome the temporal gap between the emergence of a technology and the subsequent need for controlling its possible effects and retain both flexibility and responsiveness? What regulation is justified by a particular technology? How should a particular technology be regulated? How can law regulate uncertain and unknown futures in the face of limited knowledge?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if technologies shaped the law? Jun 08, 2018

Εxploring the relationship between law, technological innovation and regulatory governance has always been a challenging task for policy-makers. Technologies are often seen as ordinary objects of formal law that can fit into the traditional doctrinal classification. But what if technologies were legal artefacts that question and challenge the traditional boundaries of legal thought? Some scholars even argue that technology is law, given that the employment of technology for control purposes in regulation provides opportunities to directly or indirectly shape human behaviour in legal terms. However, it is difficult to determine whether it is technology that challenges the law or the law that shapes or even predefines the development paths of new and emerging technologies.
Source: © European Union - EP

What if social media were open and connected? May 25, 2018

Social media platforms are often thought of as open and connected spaces, since they allow users to communicate with a wide range of people and organisations. However, unlike 'old fashioned' telephone and email networks, users cannot change provider without losing access to the entire network. A truly open and connected model for social media could help foster a more competitive market that is more responsive to challenges such as privacy and disinformation.
Source: © European Union - EP

Maglev transportation, from Ten more technologies which could change our lives Apr 13, 2018

Magnetic levitation is based on the creation of opposite magnetic fields that repel each other to counteract gravity and elevate the magnetised objects off the ground. Could this energy-efficient technology revolutionise transport methods and systems? How can policy-makers ensure that the right conditions are put in place in order to facilitate its development?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if all technologies were inherently social? Mar 09, 2018

How technology has shaped society and how future technologies might affect it in the years to come are subjects for frequent debate. It can be tempting in this context to think of technologies as neutral 'things' that can be used for good or bad depending on the user's intentions and skills. However, experts on the relationship between technology and society broadly agree that technologies are social objects that reflect and reinforce human activities and even political values. By scripting, restricting and enabling different human behaviours, technologies can influence our lives in much the same way that policy programmes do.
Source: © European Union - EP

What if all our meat were grown in a lab? Feb 02, 2018

Could laboratory-grown meat be the answer to our environmental problems, and how would this impact on the EU agricultural sector?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if editing genes could fight rare diseases? Jan 12, 2018

A new technique to simplify gene editing might herald a new era of genetic modification. What are the benefits and potential dangers of this technique, and how should policy-makers respond?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if mini-brains could help us understand dementia? Dec 08, 2017

Organoids are artificially grown organs that mimic the properties of real organs. What new possibilities for treating diseases, drug development, and personalised and regenerative medicine do organoids provide?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if we could 3D-print body parts? Nov 22, 2017

The 3D-printing sector has proven its commercial viability in recent years, reaching the high street and, indeed, many homes. The technology is already used in some medical domains such as dentistry and prosthetics, and many scientists are now exploring methods of printing biological materials. Even if reports about lifesaving 3D-printed hearts are certainly premature, the technology has several medical applications.
Source: © European Union - EP

Radio frequency identification tags Nov 22, 2017

What will be the impact of radio frequency identification tags, and other short-range communication devices, on how the Internet of Things transforms our way of life?
Source: © European Union - EP

Intelligent urban transport systems Sep 28, 2017

How can information technology contribute to alleviating traffic gridlock in our increasingly congested urban areas?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if manmade biological organisms could help treat cancer? Sep 07, 2017

Synthetic biology is expected to begin to design, construct and develop artificial (i.e. man-made) biological systems that mimic or even go beyond naturally-occurring biological systems. Applications of synthetic biology in the healthcare domain hold great promise, but also raise a number of questions. What are the benefits and challenges of this emerging field? What ethical and social issues arise from this engineering approach to biology?
Source: © European Union - EP

What if technology helped society become more inclusive? Jun 29, 2017

Many "assistive technologies" are under development. They could help people with disabilities to participate more fully in society. But what if we already had enough technology for a truly inclusive society?
Source: © European Union - EP

Transcript-What if technology helped society become more inclusive? Jun 29, 2017

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rss/podcast/eprs-stoa-podcast/pdf/2017/transcript-assistive-technologies.pdf

What if your personal health tracker could improve public health services? Jun 09, 2017

Through advances in technology, big data has become a major asset and can open up numerous opportunities in all areas, but how can we use this in the context of health care and ensure it benefits everyone?
Source: © European Union - EP

Transcript-What if your personal health tracker could improve public health services? Jun 09, 2017

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rss/podcast/eprs-stoa-podcast/pdf/2017/transcript-big-data-and-health.pdf

What if blockchain changed social values? May 11, 2017

Blockchain technology could shake up many aspects of our daily lives, from the currency we use to the purchases we make. But what is the impact on our social values, and what can policy-makers do about it?
Source: © European Union - EP

Transcript-What if blockchain changed social values? May 11, 2017

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rss/podcast/eprs-stoa-podcast/pdf/2017/transcript-blockchain-changed-social-values.pdf

What if we were to build skyscrapers from wood? Mar 30, 2017

Will the efforts to combat rising CO2 level in the atmosphere lead us to re-discover wood as a primary material for the construction industry or as a source of renewable energy? Massive reforestation campaign could increase the supply and availability of wood for the economy of tomorrow. Reforestation could significantly contribute to carbon capture out of the atmosphere, and it could positively affect the regional and global climate.
Source: © European Union - EP

Transcript-What if we were to build skyscrapers from wood? Mar 30, 2017

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rss/podcast/eprs-stoa-podcast/pdf/2017/transcript-build-skyscrapers-wood.pdf

What if intensification of farming could enhance biodiversity? Mar 09, 2017

Could introducing more precision agriculture in Europe allow us to obtain food resilience, while ensuring sustainability and jobs, and taking into account the EU's wide agricultural diversity? Precision agriculture (PA), or precision farming, involves using technology to improve the ratio between agricultural output (usually food) and agricultural input (land, energy, water, fertilisers, pesticides, etc.). PA consists of using sensors to identify crop or livestock needs precisely (in space or time), and then intervening in a targeted way to maximise the productivity of each plant and animal, whilst minimising any waste of resources.
Think Tank - "At a glance" product
Source: © European Union - EP

Transcript-What if intensification of farming could enhance biodiversity? Mar 09, 2017

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rss/podcast/eprs-stoa-podcast/pdf/2017/transcript-intensif-farming-enhance-biodiversity.pdf

What if animal farming were not so bad for the environment? Feb 09, 2017

What options exist, especially in terms of new technologies, for reducing the carbon footprint of the livestock industry? How effective might they be, and what could be done to encourage their implementation?
Source: © European Union - EP

Transcript-What if animal farming were not so bad for the environment? Feb 09, 2017

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rss/podcast/eprs-stoa-podcast/pdf/2017/transcript-animal-farming-environment.pdf

What if our computers were trillions of times faster? Jan 16, 2017

Quantum mechanics is the physics of the small, and has some weird consequences, such as particles sometimes being in different places at once. These effects could be used to develop new technologies in the areas of sensing, cryptography, and computing. However, a lot of work remains to be done on developing useful devices, and their powerful new applications could have unintended consequences for society.
Source: © European Union - EP

Transcript-What if our computers were trillions of times faster? Jan 16, 2017

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rss/podcast/eprs-stoa-podcast/pdf/2017/transcript-quantum-technologies.pdf

What if electric cars became an affordable and convenient way to travel? Dec 08, 2016

Christian Kurrer with James Tarlton.
Electric cars are projected to become cheaper than equivalent gasoline cars by 2025, when accounting for their lower running costs. Their widespread adoption would be a big help for the EU in meeting its targets on greenhouse gas emissions and air quality. However, there could be challenges ahead for our electricity grid, the automobile industry, and our supply of lithium, which is currently important for the manufacture of batteries.
Source : © European Union - EP

Transcript - What if electric cars became an affordable and convenient way to travel? Dec 08, 2016

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rss/podcast/eprs-stoa-podcast/pdf/2016/transcript-electric-cars.pdf

What if I had to put my safety in the hands of a robot? Nov 17, 2016

Lieve Van Woensel with Sarah McCormack.
Will intelligent robots bring us benefits in relation to security and safety, or will the vulnerabilities within these systems mean that they cause more problems than they solve?
Source : © European Union - EP

Transcript - What if I had to put my safety in the hands of a robot? Nov 17, 2016

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rss/podcast/eprs-stoa-podcast/pdf/2016/transcript-what-if-i-had-to-put-my-safety-in-robots-hands.pdf

What if we used blockchain for elections? Oct 20, 2016

We could use blockchain, the same technology that makes Bitcoin work, for e-voting. Elections are usually managed by the authorities in a black-boxed, centralised and top-down process, but blockchain elections would be run by the people in a transparent, decentralised and bottom-up process. While blockchain technology could be the breakthrough in security that is needed to enable e-voting, its success also depends upon the values and politics that it represents.
Source : © European Union - EP

What if cars became crucial for the energy grid? Sep 08, 2016

Imagine a car capable of driving you home safely while you're comfortably sitting in the back? With the progress in smart transportation, we may see this within our lifetimes! So fasten your seat belts and let us take you on a ride into the future of smart transportation! Find out more in this EPRS Science and Technology Podcast.
Source : © European Union - EP

Invisibility powers of metamaterials Jun 29, 2016

Ever felt like vanishing after a “faux pas” at a party? Or listen in to conversations without being seen? Be reassured, it's not only boy wizards who dream about invisibility cloaks! And thanks to scientific advances, we may soon be able to throw on our magical garment and see our dreams come true! Find out more about the invisibility powers of metamaterials in this Science and Technology podcast.
Source : © European Union - EP

What if our shopping was delivered by drones? Jun 01, 2016

What if your shopping was delivered by drones? Your post? With drones becoming more common place and affordable, the list of tasks they could fulfil is only getting bigger! Discover with us some of the incredible ways in which drones are overcoming their bad reputation and finding a place in our societies. Find out more in this EPRS Science and Technology podcast.
Source : © European Union - EP

What if others could read your mind? May 04, 2016

Brain-computer interface technology is advancing rapidly and will continue to do so as our knowledge of how the brain works increases. Could this transform our understanding of life as we know it?.
Source : © European Union - EP

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