Research

Oasis of wellbeing or source of stress?

In a recently launched project, the aquatic research institute Eawag is investigating, together with Empa on the joint campus in Dübendorf, how the use of borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) affects the surrounding soil, the groundwater and the microorganisms living in it.

Fruit fly brain shows how simple commands turn into complex behaviors

Researchers at EPFL have discovered how networks of neurons in fruit flies transform simple brain signals into coordinated actions. This sheds light on the neural mechanisms underlying complex behaviors for potential application in robotics.

Electrifying industry with flexible heat pumps

Researchers from ETH Zurich and the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences have developed a novel solution for heat pumps. Using this new approach, companies can generate carbon-free process heat at temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius while also drastically reducing the number of different heat pumps required.

Medicine has yet to tap the potential of digitalisation

Despite digitalisation being a mainstay in many areas of life, the healthcare sector is lagging behind. Jörg Goldhahn explains what the medical field can learn from banks and travel companies.

Hydrogen, the net-zero hero?

Green hydrogen could transform our energy system and solve many supply and emissions challenges. Whether this happens will depend on how economically it can be produced and attractive it will be to consumers.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater

Researchers at Eawag have analysed wastewater for antibiotic-resistant coliform bacteria. Monitoring wastewater can help to observe trends and regional differences, independent of the actual cases of illness.

Researchers identify key differences in inner workings of immune cells

Using machine-learning methods, researchers at ETH Zurich have shown that more than half of all killer T cells exhibit nuclear invaginations, or folds in the cell’s nuclear envelope. Thanks to this particular cellular architecture, such cells are able to mount a faster and stronger response to pathogens.

The mystery of cathodic corrosion protection clarified

Cathodic corrosion protection is a widely used technique for protecting steel-based infrastructure from corrosion. ETH researchers have now clarified the detailed mechanisms involved, thereby resolving a controversial issue that had preoccupied the engineering community for decades.

Shoveling loads of snow

SLF researchers investigate in deep holes whether satellite data accurately show snowmelt to improve hydrological discharge forecasts.

Antibody-peptide inhibitor conjugates: a new path for cancer therapy

Cancer treatments often struggle with balancing efficacy and side effects. A new study by EPFL scientists offers a promising solution using antibody-peptide inhibitor conjugates to target specific cell types and block the activity of cancer-promoting enzymes called cathepsins.

Scientists map biodiversity changes in the world's forests

A group of EPFL and ETH Zurich scientists have mapped the biodiversity in forests worldwide. Their data, when combined with climate projections, reveal trends that could support ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts.

When stones start rolling

The landslide in Brienz (GR) in 2023 kept Switzerland on tenterhooks for weeks. Researchers from ETH Zurich, WSL and SLF used a model to provide a highly accurate blind prediction of where the sliding mass would come to rest. ETH Professor Johan Gaume explains how the model works and where its limitations lie.

Using quantum computers already today

Understanding how chemical reactions really happen at a quantum mechanical level is difficult. As experimental tools such as the SwissFEL enable new insights into the ultrafast changes that govern them, the data becomes too complicated to model classically. Here, simulations on quantum computers could help.

Gamma-ray method monitors nuclear reactors safely and quickly

Scientists at EPFL have devised and tested out a new, gamma-noise method for monitoring nuclear reactors non-invasively and from a distance. The new method, tested out on EPFL’s CROCUS nuclear reactor, can improve nuclear safety and treaty compliance.

An AI leap into chemical synthesis

EPFL scientists introduce ChemCrow, a large language model-based AI system that revolutionizes chemistry by integrating 18 advanced tools for tasks like organic synthesis and drug discovery. ChemCrow streamlines complex processes in chemical research, making it more efficient for experts and novices alike.

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