Redacción de The Smart City Journal, Author at thesmartcityjournal.com

Reconstructing the Roman Empire’s transport network

Digitally reconstructing and costing the Empire’s transport system across sea and land helps uncover how it influenced ancient urban development The Roman Empire was one of the largest empires of the ancient world. At its peak during the 2nd century CE, it spanned roughly 6 million square kilometres over Europe, Asia and Africa. Two of…

digital reconstruction, geospatial analysis, Roman Empire, supercomputing, transport network, urban development

Improving the success of kidney transplants with AI-supported precision medicine

With chronic kidney disease affecting over 100 million Europeans and costing around EUR 140 billion annually, EU-TRAIN helps address the urgent need for more accurate diagnostics For patients with end-stage kidney disease, an organ transplant can be their best hope for recovery. Yet despite medical advances such as immunosuppressive drugs, around 10 % of kidney…

artificial intelligence, biomarker research, clinical diagnostics, kidney transplant, Medical Innovation, Precision Medicine

Are social media bans the best solution?

Experts question whether banning youth from social media is the right approach In a landmark social media trial in March 2026, a jury in the United States found Meta and Google liable for intentionally nurturing addiction in a teen. After Australia banned social media for teens under 16 in December 2025, several countries have done…

digital safety, Education, Mental Health, social media, tech regulation, teenagers

Changing Europe’s relationship with packaging

Researchers have explored a range of solutions to reduce single-use plastics, such as novel fibre-based packaging and reuse schemes Over a third of solid waste in EU towns comes from packaging. Plastics are the most widely used material, and research suggests the biggest reductions can come from changing the use of multilayer and multimaterial packaging.…

circular economy, environmental innovation, EU Policy, fibre materials, reusable packaging, waste reduction

New smart technology to enhances accessibility and pedestrian safety in Las Rozas de Madrid

It is a system, which combines IoT and AI, that can detect vehicles without the intention of stopping at junctions A unique innovation in Europe arrives in Las Rozas to protect pedestrians with disabilities. From today, the city of Las Rozas becomes the first municipality to test a pioneering technology on the street: a system…

artificial intelligence, inclusive technology, IoT, pedestrian safety, Smart Cities, urban mobility

Can AI master every subject known to man?

Experts predict how close AI is to passing the hardest test in the world Can you provide a translation of an ancient Palmyrene script found on a Roman tombstone? How many paired tendons are supported by a particular sesamoid bone in a hummingbird? These are just two of the many varied and challenging questions submitted…

artificialintelligence, digital future, Innovation, Science, technology

A web tool for smart historic buildings

SMARTeeSTORY launches a web-based tool to help improve the energy performance of Europe’s historic buildings without compromising our cultural heritage The EU-funded SMARTeeSTORY project has launched a new Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI(opens in new window) Calculation Web Tool) to help speed up the digital and energy transition of Europe’s non-residential historic buildings. The tool helps…

Architecture, European innovation, Innovation, renovation, Sustainability, technology

Medieval chess promoted racial harmony

How the so-called ‘game of kings’ defied racial attitudes by celebrating the intellectual prowess of winners, irrespective of their skin colour A 13th-century Black chess player is about to defeat his white opponent. He looks relaxed – he has a bottle of red wine within reach and a glass filled to the brim. He sits…

culture, diversity, equality, heritage, research, society

Male allies key to women’s global health leadership

Stanford researchers interviewed 21 global health leaders to identify specific strategies men can use to support women’s career advancement Amanda Marr Chung, DrPH, executive director of the Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health (CIGH), has been committed to advancing women’s leadership in her work in global health over the past two decades. For her,…

allyship, equiality, female leadership, gender, Global Health, research

Will world’s largest probe make us lose trust in research findings?

A major study investigates the replicability and reliability of published science experiments A massive effort involving 865 researchers has revealed to what extent humans and machines are able to predict if research results can be replicated. This research project known as SCORE (Systematizing Confidence in Open Research and Evidence) amassed a huge database of information…