An international team of scientists has identified a surprising factor that accelerates the degradation of lithium-ion batteries leading to a steady loss of charge. This discovery provides a new understanding of battery life and offers strategies to combat self-discharge, which could improve performance in various applications from smartphones to electric vehicles.

Scientists from Vilnius University's (VU) Life Sciences Centre (LSC) have discovered a unique way for cells to silence specific genes without cutting DNA. This groundbreaking research, led by Prof. Patrick Pausch and published in the journal Nature Communications, reveals a new way how to silence genes that is akin to pressing a "pause" button on certain genetic instructions within cells.

In a meeting with Mr Ala-Laurinaho Juha, Chief Researcher at the Department of Electronics and Nano-Engineering at Aalto University, the progress of the project and future challenges were discussed, and opportunities for cooperation in the fields of science and studies were analysed. The infrastructure of the Antenna Measurement Laboratory, the applied research methods and the possibility to integrate them in the teaching of green engineering were presented.

Vacuum and window cleaners, lawnmowers, couriers – these applications of robotic solutions are becoming more and more common. However, science fiction classics have taught us that from robots we can expect much more.

It is estimated that in 2023 there will be more than 200 thousand foreigners living in Lithuania. In addition to raising families and working, they are also developing innovation and contributing to the technological progress in the country. Juozas Vidas Gražulevičius, Professor at Kaunas University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology, who leads a multicultural research group, says that different cultures bring different approaches to work situations, professional skills and ways of solving problems.

Drought is becoming a more serious challenge every year, affecting up to 55 million people worldwide and posing a major threat to animals and plants. Drought stress leads to biochemical and physiological changes in plants, reducing nutrient levels and damaging the ecosystem, thus affecting human health and creating livelihood vulnerability. To evaluate the response of plants to drought, scientists at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania have developed a special device.

Vilnius University (VU) offers various opportunities for students and educators to take part in international projects that contribute to fostering academic ties and internationalisation. One such example is the successful experience of medical student Rokas Jagminas, whose research in the field of cardiology and otorhinolaryngology was presented at international congresses in Greece and the Netherlands. His participation in these scientific events was financed by the VU funds that aim to promote internationalisation.

The Nobel Prize in Economics crowned the entire week of awards. This year's laureates of the Nobel Prize in Economics are U.S. scholars Dr. Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson, who evaluated the importance of societal institutions for a country's well-being. According to Associate Professor Arūnas Burinskas, Head of the Department of Economic Policy at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Vilnius University (VU), these researchers have proven that one of the reasons for differences in prosperity among countries is the societal institutions established during colonization and their effectiveness.

Last week, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) hosted its annual event, organized by the International Relations Office (IRO)—the International Staff Week titled “AI-Advanced Internationalisation,” the central theme of which was the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in internationalization field.

Vilnius University (VU) has received special recognition from the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). On 2 September, by a unanimous decision of the LHCb Collaboration Board, VU became a new Institute of the prestigious LHCb experiment. This is a landmark achievement for the Lithuanian scientific community and an important step in enhancing the country’s engagement in international research projects.