ETH News
All stories that have been tagged with Research
Gaining a better understanding of brittle bone disease – without animal experiments
News
![X-ray of both arms](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/06/gaining-a-better-understanding-of-brittle-bone-disease-without-animal-experiments/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.175645233.jpg)
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a cell-based bone model to help investigate the cause of this genetic condition.
Electrifying industry with flexible heat pumps
- News
- Homehero
![Picture of the experimental plant](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/06/flexible-heat-pumps-for-industry/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.458710350.png)
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.
The future of medicine begins in the Gloria Cube
News
![Kuster Frey](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/06/the-future-of-medicine-begins-in-the-gloria-cube/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.122274483.jpg)
The Gloria Cube is ETH Zurich’s newest building in the Zurich City university district. Teaching, research and translation are all carried out in the service of health and medicine here. At the end of last week, ETH Zurich celebrated the laboratory and research building’s inauguration.
How can we tax electric cars without slowing down the electromobility transition?
- Zukunftsblog
- News
![Portrait picture of Alessio Levis](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/06/blog-how-can-we-tax-electric-cars-without-slowing-down-the-electromobility-transition/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.954118371.jpg)
The federal government has plans to tax electric vehicles to secure funding for road infrastructure. However, a new levy could delay the switch to electromobility. Alessio Levis explains how this dilemma could be resolved.
Researchers identify key differences in inner workings of immune cells
News
![Freshly isolated T cells from the blood](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/06/researchers-identify-key-differences-in-inner-workings-of-immune-cells/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1551183124.jpg)
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
News
![Rusty pipes](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/06/the-mystery-of-cathodic-corrosion-protection-clarified/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1034533740.jpg)
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.
ETH Zurich again in seventh place
News
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ETH Zurich maintains its excellent ranking from the previous year in the QS rankings just published. Alongside top scores for its academic reputation and international outlook, the university’s efforts in the area of sustainability have also helped it to retain seventh place. The faculty-student ratio remains the indicator in which the university scores lowest.
When stones start rolling
- Homehero
- News
![Rock avalanche that stopped right at the edge of the village Brienz in Switzerland](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/06/when-stones-start-rolling/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.245818428.jpg)
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.
"AI helps us to grasp more and more complex facts"
News
![Professor Joachim Buhmann](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/05/ai-helps-us-to-grasp-more-and-more-complex-facts/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.42797076.jpg)
Since 2003, when Joachim Buhmann became an ETH professor, he has helped shape the explosive development of machine learning. It is not technical progress that worries him, but how society deals with it. Shortly before his retirement, he looks back on his academic career.
ETH Zurich sets course for Net Zero
News
![On the polyterrace, two people are in a karate fight at the martial arts pop-up event](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/05/eth-zurich-sets-course-for-net-zero/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.996866435.jpg)
ETH Zurich announces its expedition towards climate neutrality today with pop-up events by students and the first Net Zero Day. The "ETH Net Zero" programme supports the reduction of emissions by 2030 and offers people plenty of ways to get involved.
Innovative materials and remarkable people
News
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Paolo Ermanni researched novel composite materials at ETH for over a quarter of a century. His enthusiasm for materials was rivalled only by his passion for teaching. He will also go down in ETH history as the first Vice Rector for Continuing Education. To mark his retirement, we take a look back at his storied career.
Chocolate that harnesses the full potential of the cocoa fruit
News
![Someone breaks apart a persimmon fruit so that the white flesh inside becomes visible.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/05/chocolate-with-full-potential-of-the-cocoa-fruit/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1345375099.jpg)
Researchers at ETH Zurich have teamed up with the food industry to produce a whole-fruit variety of chocolate. This helps increase the value creation of cocoa farming – and is healthier.
Thinking climate action, biodiversity and energy supply together
- Zukunftsblog
- News
![Portrait picture of Cyril Brunner](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/05/reimagining-climate-action-biodiversity-and-energy-supply-together/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.576358698.jpg)
Renewable energies are not the main driver of biodiversity loss. It is rather the other way round: renewables can limit climate change in order to preserve biodiversity. Cyril Brunner contextualises the trade-offs from a scientific perspective.
Medical Engineering block course wins prize for innovative teaching
News
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Medical students at ETH Zurich build a gripper hand for elbow exoskeletons in a crash course lasting just one week. This course has now been honoured with the 2024 Kite Award, the ETH prize for particularly innovative teaching.
Using solar energy to generate heat at high temperatures
News
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Instead of burning coal or oil to produce cement or steel, in the future solar energy could be used for this purpose. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a thermal trap that can absorb concentrated sunlight and deliver heat at over thousand degrees Celsius.
Researchers outsmarted EasyRide function on Swiss travel app
News
![Smartphone in one hand, when using the Easyride function of the SBB app](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/05/researchers-outsmarted-easyride-function-on-swiss-travel-app/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.242382997.jpg)
Experiments by ETH Zurich computer security researchers showed that smartphones can be manipulated to allow the owner to ride Swiss trains for free. The researchers also highlighted ways of curbing such misuse.
Mosaic grassland landscapes are the most beneficial
![Three cows in a pasture](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/05/mosaic-grassland-landscapes-are-the-most-beneficial/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1516902199.jpg)
Like forests, grassland provides numerous ecological, economic and social benefits. Researchers have investigated ways to maintain and improve these benefits in the Swiss canton of Solothurn.
Electron vortices in graphene detected
News
![Representation of an electron vortex in graphs](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/05/electron-vortices-in-graphene-detected/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.318934233.png)
Researchers at ETH Zurich have, for the first time, made visible how electrons form vortices in a material at room temperature. Their experiment used a quantum sensing microscope with an extremely high resolution.
Solving physics puzzles with coloured dots
News
![Painting “A Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte*](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/05/solving-physics-puzzles-with-coloured-dots/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1794739894.jpg)
By analysing images made of coloured dots created by quantum simulators, ETH researchers have studied a special kind of magnetism. In the future this method could also be used to solve other physics puzzles, for instance in superconductivity.
Digi, Nano, Bio, Neuro – or why we should care more about converging technologies
- Zukunftsblog
- News
![Portrait picture of Dirk Helbing](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/05/digi-nano-bio-neuro-or-why-we-should-care-more-about-converging-technologies/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1013779620.jpg)
Dirk Helbing expects future digital technologies to penetrate the human body even more in the future. However, he believes that society is not prepared for the risks involved. He puts forward a new legal framework to protect our most intimate data from misuse.
Blood diagnostics modelled on leeches
News
![Finger with a leech hanging from it](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/05/blood-diagnostics-modelled-on-leeches/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.888477193.jpg)
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a safe and inexpensive device for reliable blood measurements. It works using a suction cup and could also be employed to diagnose the tropical disease malaria – even by non-medical personnel.
How the plant world shapes the climate cycle
News
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In order to understand the Earth's resilience, researchers at ETH Zurich are modelling climate changes from times long past. And they show: Plants are not simply victims of circumstances, but have helped to shape climate conditions on Earth.
ETH Zurich spin-offs develop high performance batteries
- News
- Homepage
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The electrification of many areas of life is leading to an increased demand for high-performance batteries. Two ETH spin-offs are making waves in this field: while BTRY develops high-performance solid-state batteries, 8inks is working on a new standard for production.
AI designs new drugs based on protein structures
News
![Molecule developed with AI](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/ai-designs-new-drugs-based-on-protein-structures/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.328220168.jpg)
A new computer process developed by chemists at ETH Zurich makes it possible to generate active pharmaceutical ingredients quickly and easily based on a protein’s three-dimensional surface. The new process could revolutionise drug research.
Bacteria for climate-neutral chemicals of the future
News
![Illustration of bacteria and molecules](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/bacteria-for-climate-neutral-chemicals-of-the-future/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1421684665.jpg)
Researchers at ETH Zurich have engineered bacteria in the laboratory to efficiently use methanol. The metabolism of these bacteria can now be tapped into to produce valuable products currently made by the chemical industry from fossil fuels.
Surprising reversal in quantum systems
News
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Researchers at ETH Zurich have studied topological effects in an artificial solid, making surprising observations. The new insights into topological pumping could be used for quantum technologies in the future.
Antisemitism in the history of Raiffeisen?
News
![Archive photograph of a bank of Raiffeisen](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/antisemitism-in-the-history-of-raiffeisen/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1071446767.jpg)
On behalf of Raiffeisen Switzerland Cooperative, ETH Zurich researchers examined the beginnings of the Raiffeisen movement in Switzerland. Their focus was on antisemitism as well as Raiffeisen during National Socialism.
How data provided by fitness trackers and smartphones can help people with MS
News
![A person's hand is visible, wearing a smartwatch and holding a walking stick.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/how-data-provided-by-fitness-trackers-and-smartphones-can-help-people-with-ms/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.615518723.jpg)
Monitoring and treating a case of multiple sclerosis requires reliable and long-term data on how the disease is progressing in the person in question. Fitness trackers and smartphones can supply this data, as a research team led by ETH Zurich has now shown.
Twisted pollen tubes induce infertility
News
![Photo of sand rock-cress on rock](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/twisted-pollen-tubes-induce-infertility/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1413800935.jpg)
Plants with multiple sets of chromosomes have advantages over their relatives with a double set. But why they often start out infertile was only partially understood. Biologists at ETH Zurich have now discovered a new reason for the initial difficulties.
Tropical forests can't recover naturally without fruit eating birds
News
![Toco Toucan](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/tropical-forests-cant-recover-naturally-without-fruit-eating-birds/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.713575284.jpg)
Natural forest regeneration is hailed as a cost-effective way to restore biodiversity and sequester carbon. However, the fragmentation of tropical forests has restricted the movement of large birds limiting their capacity to disperse seeds and restore healthy forests.
Using a hopping robot for asteroid exploration
News
![SpaceHopper during a parabolic flight](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/using-a-hopping-robot-for-asteroid-exploration/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1609709711.jpg)
As part of the SpaceHopper project, ETH Zurich students are developing a robot that can navigate very low gravity environments using a jumping-like mode of locomotion.
What can cities do to promote acceptance of densification?
News
![Koch site in Zurich-Altstetten from the air, showing construction site with cranes.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/what-can-cities-do-to-promote-acceptance-of-densification/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1860957047.jpg)
Swiss cities are more likely to accept densification when densification projects provide affordable housing and green spaces compared to densification that is implemented through reduced regulations for housing construction. By prioritizing a socio-ecological densification, extensive planning procedures and delays might be minimized.
Computer science made accessible to over 10,000 children
News
![Portraitphoto of Juraj Hromkovic](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/computer-science-made-accessible-to-over-10000-children/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.594594101.jpg)
Juraj Hromkovic has been Professor of Information Technology at ETH Zurich for the past 20 years. During this time, he has been a leading advocate of teaching computer science in schools. He’s now giving his farewell lecture.
Protecting art and passwords with biochemistry
News
![Four identical artworks showing a DNA double helix each.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/protecting-art-and-passwords-with-biochemistry/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1998668762.jpg)
A new molecular test method helps to prove the authenticity of works of art. The new method could also help to make passwords secure against quantum computers.
Knocking cloud security off its game
News
![An AI-generated image showing a city on a microchip](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/knocking-cloud-security-off-its-game/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.2087151766.jpg)
Public cloud services employ special security technologies. Computer scientists at ETH Zurich have now discovered a gap in the latest security mechanisms used by AMD and Intel chips. This affects major cloud providers.
Strengthening Swiss hydropower with science
News
![The Lac des Dix dam with the panorama in the background](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/04/strengthening-swiss-hydropower-with-science/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1964617812.jpg)
Researchers at ETH Zurich led by Robert Boes are developing specific solutions to optimise electricity production from Swiss hydropower plants. This will ensure that hydropower remains the backbone of Switzerland’s electricity supply in the future.
How micro- and nanoplastics are infiltrating the Arctic ice
News
![Woman is looking at a huge tube with liquid and ice](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/how-micro-and-nanoplastics-are-infiltrating-the-arctic-ice/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1666712980.jpg)
Environmental scientist Alice Pradel cultivates ice cores in the lab to investigate the transport and accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics. Her aim in doing so is to better understand material flows in the Arctic ice.
Climate-friendly renovations using straw and hemp
- News
- Homehero
![A man works on a house facade with straw.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/climate-friendly-renovations-using-straw-and-hemp/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.95325728.jpg)
Renovating buildings to improve their energy efficiency is a crucial step towards Switzerland achieving its climate targets. ETH Zurich researchers can now reveal the most effective renovation strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions: replace fossil-fuel heating systems and harness the potential of bio-based building materials like straw and hemp.
Detecting storms thanks to GPS
News
![Gloomy storm clouds which are lightened by a flash of lightning.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/detecting-storms-thanks-to-gps/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1495192112.jpg)
Researchers at ETH Zurich have succeeded in detecting heavy precipitation events directly with GPS data. The results of their study could significantly improve meteorological monitoring and forecasting.
Pesticide-free as a new pathway for agriculture
- News
- Zukunftsblog
![Portraitphoto of Robert Finger](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/blog-pesticide-free-as-a-new-pathway-for-agriculture/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.791496592.jpg)
We can transition to pesticide-free agriculture without converting to organic farming. Robert Finger outlines the advantages and challenges involved.
ANYmal can do parkour and walk across rubble
News
![Anymal climbs over two boxes with a gap between them.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/anymal-can-do-parkour-and-walk-across-rubble/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.331849909.jpg)
The quadrupedal robot ANYmal went back to school and has learned a lot. ETH Zurich researchers used machine learning to teach it new skills: the robot can now climb over obstacles and successfully negotiate pitfalls.
A new ion trap for larger quantum computers
News
![The researchers' experimental setup](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/a-new-ion-trap-for-larger-quantum-computers/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.421952097.jpg)
Researchers at ETH have managed to trap ions using static electric and magnetic fields and to perform quantum operations on them. In the future such traps could be used to realize quantum computers with far more quantum bits than have been possible up to now.
Cutting-edge research from Basel
- Globe magazine
- Homehero
![Illustration of cells](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/globe-cutting-edge-research-from-basel/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.646818986.png)
From new tests and therapies to the fundamental principles of biology: five compelling examples of the benefits of new bioengineering technologies.
Recycling plastic is not a quick fix
- News
- Zukunftsblog
![Portrait picture of Helene Wiesinger](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/blog-recycling-plastic-is-not-a-quick-fix/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.919347688.jpg)
Recycling is an accepted formula for sustainable resource use, but in the case of plastic it can have serious side effects, says Helene Wiesinger – and uses the example of plastic flooring in Switzerland to illustrate the dilemma.
The man for freak events
News
![Portraitphoto of Christoph Schär](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/the-man-for-freak-events/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1884389057.jpg)
Christoph Sch?r is one of the Swiss climate scientists who have shaped high-resolution climate modelling. He is now retiring after more than 35 years at ETH Zurich. In this portrait, he explains why he himself never tires of researching climate change.
ETH students accelerate private sector innovation
News
![Student at work](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/eth-students-accelerate-private-sector-innovation/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.2040510318.jpg)
Students at ETH Zurich are working together with engineers from the technology firm Bühler to accelerate innovation and minimise the attendant risks. It's a fruitful collaboration that other companies are also poised to benefit from.
Cost of direct air carbon capture to remain higher than hoped
News
![An installation from the ETH spin-off Climeworks](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/cost-of-direct-air-carbon-capture-to-remain-higher-than-hoped/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.646630690.jpg)
The cost of removing large quantities of CO2 from the air will fall in the medium term, but not as much as previously hoped. This is the conclusion reached by ETH researchers on the basis of new calculations. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions should therefore continue at pace, says the research team.
Turning waste into gold
News
![Gold nuggets in front of flowers](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/03/turning-waste-into-gold/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.655791202.jpg)
ETH Zurich researchers have recovered the precious metal from electronic waste. Their highly sustainable new method is based on a protein fibril sponge, which the scientists derive from whey, a food industry byproduct.
Do we have cosmic dust to thank for life on Earth?
News
![Shattering asteroid in space, smoking dust](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/02/haben-wir-das-leben-auf-der-erde-kosmischem-staub-zu-verdanken/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1265409462.jpg)
It might be that what set prebiotic chemistry in motion and kept it going in the early days of the Earth was dust from outer space accumulating in holes melted into ice sheets. Researchers at ETH Zurich and the University of Cambridge have used a computer model to test this scenario.
Earth as a test object
News
![Earth viewed from space](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/02/earth-as-a-test-object/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.564786078.jpg)
Physicists at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich wanted to know whether the planned LIFE space mission could really detect traces of life on other planets. Yes, it can. The researchers reached this conclusion with the help of observations of our own planet.
Bio-inspired neuroprosthetics: sending signals the brain can understand
News
![Legs of a person, where one foot is a prosthesis.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/02/bio-inspired-neuroprosthetics-sending-signals-the-brain-can-undrestand/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.367185337.jpg)
Prostheses that connect to the nervous system have been available for several years. Now, researchers at ETH Zurich have found evidence that neuroprosthetics work better when they use signals that are inspired by nature.
A sustainable fuel and chemical from the robotic lab
News
![White robot arm in the lab](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/02/a-sustainable-fuel-and-chemical-from-the-robotic-lab/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1963161.jpg)
Artificial intelligence and automated laboratory infrastructure are massively accelerating the development of new chemical catalysts. With these tools, researchers at ETH Zurich are developing catalysts for efficiently and cost-effectively synthesising the energy source methanol from CO2.
What can bulls tell us about men?
News
![In the center stands a tethered bull, surrounded by men](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/02/what-can-bulls-tell-us-about-men/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1052086931.jpg)
Researchers have found genes in the reproductive organs of bulls that influence fertility. The findings can be transferred to humans, as these genes are also present in men.
Pain relief without dependence
Globe magazine
![Several pills are lying next to each other.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2023/12/globe-pain-relief-without-dependence/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1523423174.jpg)
ETH researchers have teamed up with Kantonsspital Baden to find ways of preventing patients from becoming dependent on opioid painkillers.
ETH Zurich logistics tool saves ICRC millions
News
![People caring for a patient in Sudan](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/02/eth-zurich-logistics-tool-saves-icrc-millions/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1808384681.jpg)
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provides medical supplies to people in need. A planning tool developed by researchers at ETH Zurich will make this complex task more efficient in future and save the ICRC millions.
Mario Kart in a wheelchair
News
![Mother and child try out the exhibition.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/02/mario-kart-in-a-wheelchair/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1520178959.jpg)
The new “Mobility and Inclusion” exhibition at ETH Zurich lets people find out first-hand the obstacles faced by people with impairments along with the technical aids available. From 2025, it will be on display as a permanent exhibition at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne.
A new solution for energy transfer to heart pumps
News
![Man looks at the new cable system for heart pumps.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/02/a-new-solution-for-energy-transfer-to-heart-pumps/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1577531992.jpg)
Roughly one in two wearers of ventricular assist devices are diagnosed with an infection. The reason for this is the thick cable for the power supply. ETH Zurich researchers have now developed a solution to mitigate this problem.
Innovative coating prevents limescale formation
News
![Worker cleaning a heat exchanger](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/02/innovative-coating-prevents-limescale-formation/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.410613349.jpg)
Wherever hot water flows, limescale is never far away. In households, this is a nuisance; in thermal power stations, it’s an expensive problem. Now researchers at ETH Zurich have found an answer.
Why olivine and diamonds are best friends
News
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Hardly any gemstone is more difficult to find than diamonds. Geologists from ETH Zurich and the University of Melbourne have now established a link between their occurrence and the mineral olivine. This could make the search for diamonds easier in the future.
Visualising multiple sclerosis with a new MRI procedure
News
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The loss of myelin sheaths in the brain is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis. Researchers at ETH Zurich have now developed an MRI method that maps the condition of this nerve insulation layer more accurately than before.
Scientists successfully simulate protein complex that initiates fertilisation
News
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Researchers at ETH Zurich recently developed highly realistic simulations of the proteins on sperm and egg cells coupling together before they fuse. These findings enabled the research team to solve several mysteries of fertilisation at once, which could help to accelerate development of more targeted infertility treatments.
Midday sun at the touch of a button
News
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At ETH Zurich, there is a room where the sun shines at the touch of a button; one hour it’s noon in the Sahara, the next it’s January in Berlin. Researchers use it to test newly developed building systems, components and materials.
How to make bright quantum dots even brighter
News
![Illustration of the cube-shaped perovskite nanocrystal and the molecules that form around it.](/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2024/01/how-to-make-bright-quantum-dots-even-brighter/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.1410624913.jpg)
Researchers at Empa and ETH Zurich have developed methods for making perovskite quantum dots faster and more efficient emitters, thereby significantly improving their brightness. This is relevant for applications in displays as well as in quantum technologies.
Artificial muscles – lighter, safer, more robust
News
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Researchers at ETH Zurich have recently developed artificial muscles for robot motion. Their solution offers several advantages over previous technologies: it can be used wherever robots need to be soft rather than rigid or where they need more sensitivity when interacting with their environment.
Green Light for LISA
News
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The European Space Agency’s most expensive and complex mission, the LISA space antenna, has reached a major milestone: it has passed the stage of intensive testing by experts in the Mission Adoption Review process - a significant step for the LISA consortium.
Groundwater levels are sinking ever faster around the world
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A global study shows that the world’s groundwater resources are dwindling: levels are falling sharply worldwide, and the decline has accelerated in the 21st century. Nevertheless, there is still reason for hope.
New agent blocks stress response
News
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If the body’s natural stress response gets knocked off balance, it can result in physical and mental health disorders. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an agent capable of selectively inhibiting this response.
Clarifying the cause of Guillain-Barré Syndrome
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Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves. People affected suffer from muscle weakness and paralysis. A research team led by ETH Zurich has now clarified the mechanism of this autoimmune disease.
A virus that kills sleepers
News
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ETH Zurich researchers have found a virus that kills dormant bacteria. This rare discovery could help to combat germs that can’t be treated with antibiotics alone.
A navigation system to combat bottlenecks in medication supply
News
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A new model designed by ETH Zurich researchers measures how flexible medication distribution systems are in real time. It shows that supply shortages can be eased if pharmaceutical wholesalers coordinate their inventories and reroute scarce products as flexibly as possible along existing supply chains.
Brumadinho dam collapse: The danger emerged after the decommissioning
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In 2019, the tailings dam at a Brazilian iron ore mine failed. The mudslide caused a catastrophe for people and the environment. A team of researchers at ETH Zurich has now uncovered the physical mechanism that may have triggered the accident.
Capturing greenhouse gases with the help of light
News
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Researchers at ETH Zurich are developing a new method to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. It involves molecules that become acidic when exposed to light. Their new process requires much less energy than conventional technologies.
Watt d’Or for efficient and sustainable power supply with photovoltaics
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ETH Zurich researchers from the Automatic Control Laboratory and the electricity supplier AEW Energie AG have won the 2024 Watt d’Or award in the Energy Technologies category. Their algorithm, which was implemented at AEW Energie, makes it possible to optimise electricity grid operations.
Three strategies to boost green electricity in Switzerland
News
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Climate neutrality and nuclear phase-out: Switzerland's ambitious green electricity targets are realistic if the electricity supply is profoundly and rapidly transformed, as a study by the SWEET EDGE consortium shows. The researchers developed three strategies for expanding renewable energies.
“The days of à la carte cooperation are over”
News
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Oliver Thr?nert was head of the think tank of the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich for almost twelve years. On the occasion of his retirement, we spoke to him about the future challenges of Swiss security and defence policy.
The rocky road to the beginning
News
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Craig Walton is the first NOMIS Fellow at the Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life at ETH Zurich. With an unconventional idea, he wants to find out the conditions under which life originated on Earth.
From high-speed electric cars to ETH in space
News
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With its highly qualified graduates, cutting-edge research and knowledge transfer, ETH Zurich exists to serve Swiss society. The university demonstrated this once again in 2023. ETH News looks back at an eventful year.
A picking robot for the greenhouse
News
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Working in a greenhouse is both strenuous and time-consuming. The picking robot from ETH spin-off Floating Robotics takes on particularly repetitive tasks, thereby alleviating the strain on human pickers. It is currently undergoing testing at Beerstecher AG in Hinwil.
The magnificence of objectivity and a couple of solid proofs
News
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Raphael Steiner received his doctorate in mathematics at the age of 21. Now the Swiss National Science Foundation is funding his research at ETH Zurich in the field of graph theory. Among other things, this involves proving a conjecture that is over 80 years old.
Accurate snow measurement thanks to AI and satellites
News
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Snow measurement has never been so fast and accurate: ETH Zurich researchers have developed an artificial intelligence capable of determining snow depth across Switzerland using satellite images.
Artificial intelligence for safer bike helmets and better shoe soles
News
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Researchers have trained an artificial intelligence to design the structure of so-called metamaterials with desired mechanical properties for a wide range of applications.
A big step in joint research
Globe magazine
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Surprisingly little is actually known about how the knee works. ETH professor Bill Taylor plans to change this with a unique technology and a new 22-metre-long experimental facility. ?
Riding sound waves in the brain
News
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ETH Zurich researchers have shown for the first time that microvehicles can be steered through blood vessels in the brains of mice using ultrasound. They hope that this will eventually lead to treatments capable of delivering drugs with pinpoint precision.
What should be done with all the carbon dioxide?
Press release
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Capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and storing it either in recycled concrete aggregate or in geological reservoirs in Iceland is not only technically feasible, but also has a positive carbon footprint. These are the findings of a pilot project lead by ETH Zurich and commissioned by the Swiss confederation.
Therapeutic success thanks to determination and robots
- Globe magazine
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After suffering a severe case of Covid-19, Roger Gassert discovered for himself how important a role rehabilitation plays in recovery. The ETH Professor of Rehabilitation Engineering now plans to waste no time ensuring that patients profit from his developments.
From registered nurse to biomedical engineer
- Globe magazine
- Homehero
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Marianne Schmid Daners was already fascinated by the human-technology interface when she worked as a registered nurse. Since graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in biomedical engineering, she has been developing biomedical devices for the treatment of heart failure and hydrocephalus.
Watching electrons at work
News
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Researchers from ETH Zurich, Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratory for Materials Science and Technology, and Stanford have taken snapshots of the crystal structure of perovskite nanocrystals as it was deformed by excited electrons. To their surprise, the deformation straightened out the skewed crystal structure rather than making it more disordered.
Replicating the structure of bird feathers
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Modelled on nature: researchers have developed a new material that replicates the structure responsible for the blue feathers of the North American song bird, among many other birds. It also has other striking advantages.
How Zurich has to change its roads to have more e-bikes than cars
News
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What happens when cities gear their road space primarily to the needs of cyclists and e-bikers? On a new popular-science website, ETH researchers use examples from the city of Zurich to show what such an “E-Bike City” could one day look like.
Lightweight insulating building elements from a 3D printer
News
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A doctoral researcher studying architecture at ETH Zurich is using 3D printing to produce lightweight insulation building components from cement-free mineral foams derived from recycled industrial waste. These could cut heating and cooling costs for buildings, and encourage more efficient use of construction materials.
Digital emblem for humanitarian law in cyberspace
News
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Warfare is increasingly spreading to the realm of cyberspace. In response, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) wants to protect its digital infrastructure and that of humanitarian organisations with a digital emblem. The Information Security Group at ETH Zurich has developed a standard for this along with initial pilots.
Molecular cooperation at the threshold of life
News
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Protein-like aggregates known as amyloids can bind to molecules of genetic material. It is possible that these two types of molecules stabilised each other during the development of life – and that this might even have paved the way for the genetic code.
Artificial intelligence finds ways to develop new drugs
News
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A new AI model developed by chemists at ETH Zurich can not only predict where a pharmaceutically active molecule can be chemically modified, but also how best to do it. This makes it possible to identify new pharmaceutical ingredients more quickly and improve existing ones in a targeted manner.
Measuring earthquakes and tsunamis with fibre-optic networks
News
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Geophysicists at ETH Zurich have shown that every single wave of a magnitude 3.9 earthquake registers in the noise suppression system of fibre-optic networks. This method can be used to set up close-meshed earthquake and tsunami early warning systems at low cost.
Autonomous excavator constructs a six-metre-high dry-stone wall
News
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ETH Zurich researchers taught an autonomous excavator to construct dry stone walls itself using boulders weighing several tonnes and demolition debris.
Halting a malformation of the heart
News
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Researchers at ETH Zurich have now shown that a previously unknown protein plays a key role in a congenital malformation of the heart. Their findings point the way towards new treatment options.
These researchers have received Starting Grants
News
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Of the 13 scientists receiving an SNSF Starting Grant for projects at ETH Zurich this year, 11 are women.
Pioneers of medical materials innovation
News
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The ETH Zurich Latsis Prize goes to Professor Inge Herrmann, and the Lopez-Loreta Prize to researcher Alexandre Anthis. The two scientists have been working together for five years to develop new materials and applications for medicine.
ETH Zurich boosts networking with Europe’s top universities
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ETH Zurich will join the League of European Research Universities (LERU) on 1 January 2024. This will boost its networking with the European university landscape.
When growth becomes a weakness
News
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ETH Zurich researchers are illuminating what can happen when cells exceed their normal size and become senescent. Their new findings could help to optimise cancer treatments.