.stat-hero {
    position: relative;
    overflow: hidden;
    min-height: 460px;
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
  }

  .stat-hero__bg {
    position: absolute;
    inset: 0;
    background: url('https://bioscience.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Biocity-Turku-Bioscience-scaled.jpg')
      center / cover no-repeat;
    z-index: 0;
    background-attachment: fixed;
    transform: scale(1.03);
    transition: transform 8s ease;
  }

  .stat-hero:hover .stat-hero__bg {
    transform: scale(1.07); /* subtle Ken-Burns on hover */
  }

  .stat-hero__overlay {
    position: absolute;
    inset: 0;
    background: linear-gradient(
      135deg,
      rgba(0, 15, 60, 0.84) 0%,
      rgba(0, 55, 115, 0.70) 100%
    );
    z-index: 1;
  }

  .stat-hero__content {
    position: relative;
    z-index: 2;
    width: 100%;
  }

  /* ── Stat cards ── */
  .stat-card {
    display: block;
    padding: 2.5rem 2rem;
    text-decoration: none;
    transition: transform 0.3s ease;
  }

  .stat-card:hover {
    transform: translateY(-8px);
  }

  .stat-card i {
    font-size: 3rem;
    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.80);
  }

  .stat-card__number {
    color: #fff;
    font-size: 3rem;
    font-weight: 800;
    letter-spacing: -1px;
    line-height: 1;
    margin: 1rem 0 0;
  }

  /* accent line under the number */
  .stat-card__number::after {
    content: '';
    display: block;
    width: 40px;
    height: 3px;
    background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.45);
    border-radius: 2px;
    margin: 0.6rem auto 0;
  }

  .stat-card__label {
    color: #fff;
    font-size: 1.05rem;
    font-weight: 600;
    margin: 0.75rem 0 0.4rem;
    letter-spacing: 0.3px;
  }

  .stat-card__desc {
    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.65);
    font-size: 0.875rem;
    line-height: 1.65;
    margin: 0 0.5rem;
  }

  /* vertical dividers on desktop */
  .stat-col-mid {
    border-left:  1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18);
    border-right: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18);
  }

  /* horizontal dividers on mobile */
  @media (max-width: 767.98px) {
    .stat-col-mid {
      border-left: none;
      border-right: none;
      border-top: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18);
      border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18);
    }
  }