Research

The human body consists of around 30 trillion cells – all of them highly complex structures with a wide variety of shapes and functions. What they all have in common is the cytoskeleton.

Scientists at EPFL have synthesized the first ever metal-organic frameworks membrane with thickness of just one unit cell. The ultrathin film yields record-high separation performance of hydrogen-nitrogen.

Experts from ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, and the University Hospital Zurich have used machine learning to jointly create an innovative method. This new approach can predict how individual cells react to specific treatments, offering hope for more accurate diagnoses and therapeutics.

The ISREC Foundation and EPFL are pleased to announce the creation of the Paternot Chair in Interdisciplinary Cancer Research, led by Professor Nicolas H. Thomä. The chair, which is supported by a CHF 7.5 million donation from the ISREC Foundation, is named in honor of Yves Paternot, a committed patron and former president of the Foundation, who passed away in 2016. Building on his work, the chair will aim to fast-track progress in translational oncology.

ETH Zurich researchers show in a new study that a short reflection exercise to boost self confidence increases job search success. This holds true even for the long-term unemployed and people over 50.

Cell biologists at ETH Zurich describe a new organelle present in mammalian cells that is made of rings of DNA. This “mini-organ” could potentially play a role in autoimmune diseases, and it could help researchers to understand how cell nuclei evolved.

Scientists at EPFL use cutting-edge imaging techniques to shed light on the progression of Parkinson's disease by studying how the main culprit, the protein alpha-synuclein, disrupts cellular metabolism.

Researchers at EPFL have uncovered a fundamental flaw in the training of machine learning systems and elaborated a new formulation for strengthening them against adversarial attacks.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a suction cup that allows medications to be absorbed through the mucosal lining of the cheeks. This new approach could spare millions of patients the pain and fear associated with injections.

A place for cutting-edge research: PSI researchers are to receive funding from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) as part of its “BRAIN Initiative”. Their aim is to produce a comprehensive map of a mouse’s brain.

EPFL scientists show that it is possible to make a femtosecond laser that fits in the palm of one’s hand using a glass substrate.

Although strict limits exist, old types of batteries can still contain too many hazardous ingredients such as mercury, cadmium and lead. The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has therefore launched a control campaign. Empa has laid the foundations for this with a novel tailor-made method for analyzing heavy metals.

EPFL researchers uncover an intricate protein network controlling asymmetrical development of organs in the embryo, providing insights into genetic disorders and fundamental biology.

A complete spinal cord injury leads to irreversible paralysis. Scientists at .NeuroRestore report in Science that they have developed a gene therapy that was proven in mice to stimulate nerve regrowth across such injuries and guide nerves to reconnect to their natural targets below the injuries in order to restore motor function.

An extraordinary heat wave is assailing the world’s oceans with an intensity that is surprising climate researchers. Environmental physicist Nicolas Gruber provides some context.