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SciMingo

SciMingo’s mission is to help researchers reach out to a broader audience, to strengthen interest and trust in science. Through our lectures, competitions and SciComm Academy trainings, we give young scientists a stage and teach them how to take it. Be it in a podcast, video pitch, or written article: we help them find the right balance in appealing to the public, without losing nuance. Like flamingos, masters of balance.
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Picture of SciMingo

SciMingo

SciMingo’s mission is to help researchers reach out to a broader audience, to strengthen interest and trust in science. Through our lectures, competitions and SciComm Academy trainings, we give young scientists a stage and teach them how to take it. Be it in a podcast, video pitch, or written article: we help them find the right balance in appealing to the public, without losing nuance. Like flamingos, masters of balance.
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Tumor’s new photographers: multiplex imaging in the fight against cancer

Precision oncology, which tailors cancer treatments to an individual’s specific biological characteristics, has advanced significantly in recent years. Doctors are now using more targeted therapies that focus on specific cues or biomarkers in tissues, making treatments more personalized. Nevertheless, cancer is still a tough disease to fight, and many treatments do not consistently eliminate tumors. This is where the power of multiplex imaging comes in.

Antibiotic guidelines for food might underestimate the risk for bacterial resistance

Even ‘safe’ levels of antibiotics in food might fuel the next generation of superbugs. Even tiny traces of antibiotics in the meat and fish we eat could contribute to antibiotic resistance. According to research by the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, as little as one tenth of the amount of antibiotics currently regarded as ‘safe’ by regulators is enough to trigger resistance in bacteria. Now, the scientists are expanding their research, initially performed on wax moth larvae, to mice and humans.

Gender personalized medicine: the future of fatty liver disease treatment

In a world where our health is paramount, fatty liver disease, known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is climbing the ranks of health concerns we can't afford to ignore. Imagine your liver, which controls over 500 vital functions, including the body's detox powerhouse, getting clogged with fat. Alarmingly, about 30% of people globally are wrestling against this silent epidemic. It's a complex disease with various risk factors, especially related to gender and sex hormonal differences, making a one-size-fits-all treatment difficult.

The ecological impact of offshore wind farms and sediment dynamics

The number of offshore wind farms in the North Sea is exponentially increasing. Their construction responds to the urgent need to transition to green energy production and carbon neutrality. The installation of these man-made structures has a notable impact on the marine ecosystem. Some positive impacts include providing a new home for various animals, and offering shelter, food, and breeding grounds. However, there have been observations of black sediment patches in the sampled sediments near the turbine foundations, suggesting a high input of organic matter into the sediment, altering natural biogeochemical processes.

Beyond gluten-free: a hopeful future for those who suffer from Celiac disease

Gluten-free dietary products contain more sugar and fats but fewer nutrients and are generally more expensive. A gluten-free diet can even lead to social isolation and stigmatization. Scientists are thus looking for a way that allows people with celiac gluten intolerance disease to enjoy the benefits of gluten in a safe manner.

The chaos of choice: how do people pick their food products?

Every family needs groceries, and most people regularly venture to the supermarket to gather supplies. If researchers can help shoppers make healthier choices, we can improve the obesity problem in a simple yet effective way. But until recently, nobody really understood what motivated people to choose certain products – we knew what they bought, but not why. We’ve therefore investigated shoppers’ choice strategies, hoping to use this information to help people choose healthier.

Stew before you chew – why the way you cook pulses makes a difference to your nutrition

Do you look at the composition or caloric content of foods to make healthy choices? In healthy foods, not only the nutritional composition is important, but also how those nutrients are digested. Our research on pulses – such as beans, chickpeas, and lentils – showed that the way in which pulses are prepared determines how nutrients will be released in our bodies during digestion. To understand this, we need to look at pulses under the microscope.

Marfan patients team up with researchers to catch their silent killer

The world’s undiagnosed Marfan patients often go through life unaware of the hidden killer lurking in their DNA – a gene variant which may lead to sudden death at any moment via an aortic dissection. Currently, there is no therapy available to counteract this disastrous aortic event, so patient awareness of their condition is key to prevention. To learn more about Marfan syndrome and improve diagnosis, our project needs patients to enroll online in our research cohort. In this way, patients themselves can help us contribute to new therapies and avert sudden deaths.

Bacterial biofilms: cooperative bugs cling to food surfaces even after cleaning

Current cleaning and disinfection practices in food industries are insufficient to destroy unwanted bacteria lurking on surfaces, according to recent Belgian research. Cooperation between diverse types of bacteria makes them stronger and more resilient, causing huge damage in terms of food spoilage, recalls, and health issues. Understanding the development of these microbial communities and their underlying cooperation is vital for assuring food safety, and may lead to developing better forms of biocontrol.

Beethoven and bone conduction: modern hearing solutions based on old tricks

The famous composer Ludwig Von Beethoven lost his hearing at a young age. To keep composing, he actively looked for a way to compensate for his hearing loss. He managed to find a solution by making clever use of the bone conduction of sound. To this day, bone-anchored hearing aids help people stay in tune with the auditory world around them. Researchers at pioneering company Cochlear Limited in Belgium are actively working on the future of this technology.

Obesity weighs heavy on healthcare and human lives

Being overweight is not only bad for one’s health – it also costs society a lot of money. Every year, the Belgian government loses at least 4.5 billion euros due to the direct and indirect costs linked to excessive weight and obesity. As with COVID-19, this issue needs to be tackled as a public health concern: the responsibility of both individuals and policymakers.

Genetic blindness: shining a light on Stargardt for future cures

The arrival of gene therapy in the ‘90s brought hope for the treatment of genetic diseases. In recent years, new and emerging technologies have allowed us to overcome initial limitations, opening up the potential of tackling health conditions that were impossible to treat just a few years ago. Stargardt disease – a form of inherited blindness – is one such genetic condition, where researchers in the EU project StarT are working on novel gene therapy approaches to eventually help patients.

RE-Place project: Reducing animal research through alternative methods

If scientists could stop animal testing, most would do so immediately. So why is it taking so long to develop alternatives to animal testing? And what are we doing to speed up the process?

SciMingo SciComm Academy launches spring program of workshops and lectures

Listening to chaos: could you control a hearing aid with your brain?

As the number of people struggling with hearing impairment is one the rise, KU Leuven researchers are attempting to develop smart hearing aids that use brainwaves to help users home in on specific conversations, cutting through the noise in chaotic situations like a busy family dinner.