-> Outdoor dining areas increase the physicalspace of restaurants and bars. The Austriansmoking ban further boosted their appeal.In addition, since the COVID-19 pandemic,outdoor dining areas have been regarded assafer spaces to avoid virus transmissioncompared with indoor dining.
-> In winter, outdoor dining areas are oftenheated to increase comfort, which isassociated with significant electricityconsumption.
-> In 2023, the City of Vienna approvedpermanent winter outdoor dining areas.At the same time, however, the City ofVienna is committed to ambitious climategoals. How can these objectives bereconciled?

-> Increasing psychological distress among minors is being linked to online services.
-> Age restrictions are being discussed as a simple solution.
-> Many methods of determining age are risky; privacy preserving methods are under development and clearly preferable.
-> Age restrictions alone will not solve significant problems – minors could switch to unregulated services.
-> All children's rights must be taken into account. An assessment of impacts on consumers is also needed.

-> The use of new digital technologies is a topic of interest to nearly all social institutions, and natural history museums are no exception.
-> How do digital objects, technologies, and platforms influence life science research as well as collection and exhibition practices?
-> The range of new possibilities is broad, and in many cases digital infrastructures are combined with genetic approaches.
-> Rather than simply replacing analogue technologies, objects, and processes, digital technologies are contributing to far-reaching transformations.

-> New genetic engineering techniques and applications, such as genome editing and gene drives, enable new deployment scenarios.
-> What is the current state of debate on genetic modification of animals, algae, and microorganisms amongst experts and the public?
-> Overall, public discourse is not keeping pace with biotechnological innovation.
-> The aforementioned groups of organisms, in particular, are rarely discussed, yet they raise specific questions.

-> The pandemic has shown that science is an important source of guidance in times of crisis, but it can also become the subject of public conflict and attacks.
-> Since the authority of counter-experts or pseudo-experts feeds on conflict, radical opponents of political measures have no interest in resolving it.
-> Trust in science grows when the experts advising politicians are selected by the scientific community itself rather than by the government.
-> Experts should not act as mission-driven activists, but as knowledgeable advisors who provide policymakers with a range of well-founded options for action.

-> Privacy, a fundamental right essential to the functioning of democracy, has been eroded for years.
-> The European Union has entered uncharted regulatory territory, attempting to balance enabling the economic use of all data with empowering consumers against large tech companies.
-> Nonetheless, data protection and the safeguarding of fundamental rights appear to be under greater pressure than ever. Will the new legislation reverse this trend, or is it too unbalanced and too late

-> In nearly all industries, we depend on the Internet and a operational IT infrastructure for essential work processes.
-> Operators of critical infrastructures must be prepared to deliver their services even when the Internet is unavailable. This includes communication within the organisation and with the state crisis and disaster management authorities.
-> If damage occurs to critical infrastructure, it is called a networked crisis. Among other things, it is characterised by a high level of dynamism, which makes it hard to make reliable predictions about the future course of the crisis. In this case, communication skills and crisis management are clearly more important than strict checklists...

-> Across Europe, AI and automated decisionmaking systems are being introduced into the administration of welfare.
-> Decisions about social benefits and services are often based on algorithmic risk assessment and the profiling of citizens.
-> Automation introduces technical logics and neglects socio-political consequences.
-> Transparency and institutional safeguards are needed to ensure that institutions fulfil their duty of care and accountability.

-> Lithium-ion batteries play an important role in the energy transition, as they enable electromobility, for example.
-> Used batteries that are no longer suitable for vehicles still possess significant storage capacity.
-> They can be used for less demanding applications, e.g., battery storage, improving overall sustainability.
-> Such second-life applications need backing from standardisation, regulation, and research into new use cases

-> Generative artificial intelligence (AI) holds both opportunities and, in some cases, considerable risks for democracy.
-> Generative AI significantly simplifies,reduces the cost of, and enhances the persuasiveness of non-fact-based manipulative content (so-called fake news) on social media.
-> The many risks also include loss of trust, concentration of power, hybrid threats, and much more.
-> Opportunities exist, for example, in processing information or record keeping.
-> A balanced mix of measures must be taken to protect democratic processes

-> The EU considers the supply situation for 34 raw materials to be critical.
-> Each material presents unique challenges at every stage of the supply chain, from extraction to recycling, necessitating specific innovations.
-> Strengthening research and innovation within the EU is essential for autonomy, competitiveness, and sustainability issues

-> Digital connectivity has a considerable impact on entire infrastructure domains. -> Differences in the logic of data usage between services of general interest and digital added value create tensions. -> Data-driven business models enable new optimisation approaches but also lead to new challenges. -> Key problem areas are: insufficient security, growing economic and technological dependencies, and the negative effects on fundamental rights

-> Food waste is a serious socio-ecological problem and a threat to a sustainable future. -> Overcoming this cross-sector challenge requires both scientific work and practical knowledge. -> Various actors across the entire food system must transform the way food is produced and consumed. -> Linking different types of knowledge from “farm to fork” and sharing responsibilities lead to more robust solutions.

-> At first, innovations are also associated with uncertainties regarding their benefits and risks. -> The precautionary principle enables robust decision-making whilst taking uncertainties into account. -> These decisions are intended to protect health and the environment without impeding technical progress. -> The precautionary principle is not yet enshrined in law. However, it should become more legally bindingto steer innovation in a socially acceptable direction. -> At the same time, the precautionary principle should support policymakers in assessing new technological developments.

-> The massive expansion of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems requires additional grid integration measures. -> These measures affect distribution system operators, households or several actors simultaneously. -> A systematic comparison of the various options has shown that the consequences and risks for operators, the environment, and society vary considerably. -> There is a lack of legal and economic frameworks to better utilise the advantages of alternative measures with lower social and environmental risks.

-> Crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic confront science and politics with new challenges. -> Scientific policy advice informs administration and politics, and its quality and effectiveness depend on various criteria. -> In order to increase efficiency and createtrust, scientific policy advice must be transparent. -> At the same time, trust is strengthened during chronic crises when a variety of perspectives are taken into account. -> In order to provide adequate advice, it is essential that sufficient resources are available.

-> European cities need to be fundamentally modernised to meet climate and energy policy requirements. -> The goal is to have 100 Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) in Europe by 2025. -> The implementation of PEDs poses major technical, social, organisational, and economic challenges. -> The aim of this analysis is to strengthen strategic urban planning to enable more sustainable construction.

-> At first, innovations are also associated with uncertainties regarding their benefits and risks. -> The precautionary principle enables robust decision-making whilst taking uncertainties into account. -> These decisions are intended to protect health and the environment without impeding technical progress. -> The precautionary principle is not yet enshrined in law. However, it should become more legally bindingto steer innovation in a socially acceptable direction.

-> Our current food system provides relative food security at the expense of the environment and health. It does not meet the challenges of climate change. -> Regional (direct) marketing of predominantly plant-based (organic) products can significantly promote the transition to a climate-friendly food system. -> Possible alternative futures for the promotion of regional diets show options for action and the political and social scope for action.

-> The European search engine market is heavily dominated by Google. -> In Europe, the call for “digital sovereignty” is getting louder and louder. -> The design of European search engines is linked to different values, but also associated with different ideas of Europe. -> The notion of a pluralistic Europe is related to technological diversity and decentralisation. -> This could be supported with long-term funding, interdisciplinary counsel, and the opening up of data. decentralization