Technology

Watching planes move across the world map in real time is fascinating – websites like Flightradar24 make it possible. You can daydream about far-off destinations, check which aircraft are flying over your house, or keep track of whether your friends have landed safely. But how does it actually work? How does a flight radar know exactly where all these planes are?

Propaganda used to be distributed through leaflets or broadcast over the radio. Today, it reaches us with a click on our smartphones, and it is tailored to our preferences. The way we consume information has changed - and with it, the way we form our beliefs about political and social institutions. Assistant professor Adam Heschke is worried about what comes next.

Earlier this year, Prof. Tiedo Tinga was invited to speak at the Dutch Parliament (Tweede Kamer) about strengthening the connection between academia and the Ministry of Defence. The topic of discussion was how scientific research could address some of the Ministry’s challenges.

There is no way around it: gaming is the largest entertainment industry in the world. Ask any concerned parent what they think of digital games, though, and the answers paint a picture of addictive, isolating, and violent time-wasters. How could such horrible things draw in billions of players?

Wi-Fi is everywhere. From your phone to your laptop, from trains to restaurants—but did you know this world-changing technology has its roots in Twente? Cees Links, an alumnus of the University of Twente, played a key role in the invention of wireless internet. Yet, his idea was not initially taken seriously. It took years of perseverance, an unexpected phone call from Steve Jobs, and a pitch at Apple before Wi-Fi became a global success. How did he do it? This is the story of the inventor of Wi-Fi and how his breakthrough forever changed the world forever.

Batteries are everywhere. In your pocket, in your car and in lots of other places. Yet, despite their ubiquity, batteries are far from reaching their full potential. They degrade over time, charge slowly and are often made of unethically sourced or environmentally harmful materials. Prof. Mark Huijben and his Research Group are looking into novel battery materials to extend battery life and improve performance across applications, from smartphones to heavy machinery.

In the heart of the Netherlands, among the centuries-old trees of the Veluwe, a new way of studying our planet is taking shape. Using advanced sensors, Paul Vermunt is comparing mathematical models with satellite data. His ultimate goal is to enable satellites from among other ESA to measure the water content in forests.

Traditionally, games for the visually impaired include mostly playing cards with braille – fun, but not nearly as immersive and engaging as a game can be. That’s what Industrial Design Engineering students Jonathan, Kara, Leire, Martina, Marcello and Nuria thought when they first started developing BRIGHT, an inclusive collaboration and communication game. Now, about one and a half years later, they have presented their game at Dutch Design Week 2024.

Did you know that in winter, solar panels produce only 10% of their summer output? In a country like the Netherlands, where we lead the world with 3.5 solar panels per person, this seasonal drop is a major challenge. Why do solar panels produce so little energy in winter? And what can we do about it?

When people recover from a stroke, they often start by doing exercises in a clinic. But once they go home, they need to keep exercising to keep their hands and wrists functional. These exercises can feel boring and hard to stick to. Many people skip the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercises, which slows down or reverses their recovery. But what if brushing your teeth or drinking your morning coffee could help you get better?

How does your raincoat stop rain while letting your sweat through? This is due to the special properties of the fabric and design. In this video, UT professor Wiebe de Vos explains how this works.

There are many ways to predict the mole. Mole spotters often talk about body language, intrigue, granted screen time or social behaviour. Nice, vague and exciting, of course, and good for a heated discussion but could it be more exact? What about mathematics, can it help us here too?

More than you might think! Did you know that nanotechnology plays a vital role in everyday products like sunscreen, water-repellent clothing, and even tennis balls? Nanotechnologist Femke Witmans from the University of Twente takes you on a journey into the fascinating world of nanoparticles.

Have you ever stood on the platform, frustrated because your train was delayed yet again? Spoiler: it’s not just the leaves on the tracks.

The smartphone in your pocket and other electronic devices are packed with microchips. With a huge demand for smartphones, computers, and other smart technologies, there is a global shortage of these chips. Production processes simply cannot keep pace with the immense demand. But why does making a computer chip take so long?

Some researchers start their PhD to contribute to fundamental research, while others dream of starting their own company based on their research. Keerthivasan Rajamani (Keerthi for short) was one of those entrepreneurial researchers. He founded UT spin-off Flawless Flow Pumps based on his research on magnetic pumps. He shares his journey from researcher to entrepreneur.

Every year, cardiovascular disease impacts over 126 million people worldwide. In the quest for effective treatments, researchers are tirelessly working to develop better solutions. However, current animal and test-tube models often fall short in predictive accuracy. Prof. Dr. Robert Passier is at the forefront of this research, combining advanced technologies to create innovative human heart models that function like real human hearts. This groundbreaking invention could lead to safer medications and reduced reliance on animal testing in research.

Imagine: you’re at a festival, and your phone always has full signal. No more slow internet or apps that won’t load. Sounds like a dream, right? Lotte Weedage, a PhD candidate at the University of Twente, is researching ways to improve the mobile network in the Netherlands, so this could become a reality.

At Citizen Farm Herenboeren Usseler Es, farmers are exploring how data can help them adapt to climate change challenges, such as unpredictable weather and longer growing seasons. Researchers from the University of Twente are helping by providing them with more precise data for better-informed farming decisions. The goal is to enhance local food production while offering valuable insights for farms around the world.

At the laboratories of the University of Twente, researchers are working on robotics that will improve healthcare. These studies aim to make care more personalised and precise, ensuring that every patient receives the treatment that suits them best. While robots are already used in healthcare, in the future they will be deployed even more frequently. In this story, we’ll look at how robotics is helping to detect and treat cancer.

The Netherlands faces a water crisis: too much water, a shortage of water, agricultural fertilisers, and industrial pollution such as PFAS and medicine residues threaten our drinking water supply. Some new businesses are already denied drinking water connections; new residential areas may soon meet the same fate. It is crucial to invest in water technology for a sustainable future.

Within innovation cluster MedTech Twente, people are working on tomorrow's healthcare. UT alumnus Gabriel Costa and Stephanie Jansen, founders of spin-off company J58, talk about the importance of patient-centred innovations, the ecosystem in Twente and making an impact.

Within a newly funded project SepsPIC (Highly multiplexed photonics integrated circuit (PIC) sensors for the rapid diagnostics of sepsis), UT Professor Sonia García Blanco and her colleagues are working on a novel device for fast and accurate detection of sepsis. ‘If we are successful, it could dramatically decrease mortality among patients.’

You might not always think about it, but landmines are still an enormous global threat in today's day and age – with (post-)conflict regions being heavily contaminated. The demining of such areas is extremely dangerous and time-consuming. Mechanical Engineering students Benjamin O’regan and Reinis Jaunarajs developed an effective solution as part of their bachelor’s thesis project: they built landmine detection drones.

The greatest athletes are awarded medal after medal at the Paris Olympics. At the same time, very small athletes in Twente are imitating them. In MESA+'s Nanolab, a group of enthusiastic PhD students are making Olympians-on-a-chip. They organise the Nanolympics. The best sports fragments are given a place on chips measuring just five by five millimetres.

Imagine sipping your favourite beer from a cup made of sewage sludge. Researchers at the University of Twente are making it a reality. A team of Profs. Jeroen Cornelissen, Frederik Wurm, and Boelo Schuur are investigating a new process for converting waste materials into bioplastics with the help of bacteria that feed on what people discard daily.

Most people know that spending too much time on your phone can negatively affect your mental health. Yet here we are – often chronically online and spending most of our (free) time on screens, with all its consequences. That’s why student Creative Technology Nina and her project group decided to create an interactive installation for people to reflect on their screen time and happiness. In this article, she talks all about their work and its importance in today’s society.

In any project using images acquired by satellite sensors or from drones, you will frequently display images to look at. Before even diving into technical issues that have an effect on the display, let’s first focus on what we think we have in common and under control: our own visual system.

Imagine a roller coaster without a safety bar. Sounds incredible, but Jurnan Schilder, a mechanical engineer at the University of Twente, proves that it is possible. In this video from De Universiteit van Nederland, he demonstrates how physical forces keep you safely in your seat, even during a looping. He explains how these forces act on us every…

Mass evictions, daily power outages, and pitch-black streets at night: the challenges that people in the Global South face remain largely overlooked. How can satellite imagery uncover the hidden realities of urbanisation? Prof. Dr. Monika Kuffer’s research strives to spotlight urban inequalities and prompt policymakers to take action.

We are living in the Plastic Age, such is the ubiquity of plastics in our lives. The plastic waste in water ecosystems alone is expected to nearly triple from 11 million tonnes in 2016 to 29 million tonnes in 2040*. Biodegradable materials, such as polylactic acid, are seen as an alternative for use in packaging, agriculture, and medical devices. But how biodegradable are these materials in reality? Could they be the plastics of the future?

Getting smarter, stronger and faster with technology. That is what UT professor Herman van der Kooij and his team are researching every day. At 'Universiteit van Nederland', he talks about the bionic man.

Doctors need blood to treat certain cancers, anaemia, and other blood-related illnesses, but also need it in emergency or scheduled surgeries. Most people are unaware, but blood shortages are quite frequent and can happen anytime. Blood donors are always needed. Francisca Fernandes Gomes, PhD student at the University of Twente, aims to create synthetic, artificial blood that can replace the need for donated blood. In this story she explains her work.

Imagine a date between two researchers from completely different research fields, what would happen? In this video, researchers Anne Dijkstra and Douwe Dresscher meet, each with their own unique field of research. Is it a match?

A looming shortage of clean drinking water is screaming for innovations in water treatment. The Waterlab of the Membrane Science and Technology cluster gives an insight into possible solutions.

Lee Calladine has been diabetic for 25 years and the insulin top-up routine is so familiar to him that he’s long past feeling squeamish about piercing his skin. Still, the practice is burdensome. Scientists at the TechMed Centre of the University of Twente are closing in on a pain-free method for people like Calladine.

Bitcoin, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other popular blockchain innovations represent our shift to a digital society. But this transition comes at a cost. The emissions generated by these blockchain technologies from the year 2021 alone are responsible for around 19,000 future deaths. This alarming statistic raises many questions: How is this possible and what can we do about it?

A surgeon swimming through your body, it sounds like science fiction now, but it might be closer than you think. At the TechMed Centre at the University of Twente, tiny robots were already swimming through a detached aorta with kidneys. Discover the future of vascular surgery.

University of Twente startup STERN Motorcycles, unveils a revolutionary electric enduro motorcycle with a distinctive interchangeable battery pack. Their mission? A motorcycle world that embraces electric riding.

For years, we've diligently sorted our waste, but a significant portion of the waste stream remains (yet) unrecyclable. The University of Twente, in collaboration with companies, is researching how to create new products from complex and 'wet' waste streams. This involves efficiently isolating chemical components used in new materials. The multi-year project ReBBloCS - Renewable Building Blocks from Complex and Wet Waste - began last year with a subsidy of €3.8 million from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

Smartwatches that map loneliness among students with specific needs, such as autism. Thanks to UT professor Carolien Rieffe and her team, this will soon be a reality. Carolien received a substantial sum of money from science financier NWO for the Building 4 Belonging project.

Explore the future in our podcast series, "My Future Dream Job," where Anic van Damme guides you to the year 2030. Our scientists explore prospective careers in cybersecurity, climate adaptation, and energy transition. Listen in to gain insights into the professions taking shape at the University of Twente.

Explore the future in our podcast series, "My Future Dream Job," where Anic van Damme guides you to the year 2030. Our scientists explore prospective careers in cybersecurity, climate adaptation, and energy transition. Listen in to gain insights into the professions taking shape at the University of Twente.

The Netherlands has been fighting a battle against water for centuries. This symbolism of water as the enemy was popular among 20th-century engineers. In the 21st century, there is more focus on natural processes, and we speak of water management instead. But what will the Dutch water landscape look like in another century?

Brace yourself for a mind-boggling journey into the tiny world of nanotechnology. This research area focuses on materials existing of just a few atoms or small molecules. Sometimes, the smallest structures hold the key to groundbreaking advancements. On this scale, the world doesn't follow the same rules.