The Defitech Foundation has teamed up with EPFL, CHUV and UNIL to develop innovative therapies for paraplegic and quadriplegic patients. Researchers will trial personalized treatments that use electrical stimulation to restore motor function.
Researchers develop computational method to predict and design allosteric functions in proteins, enabling the creation of novel signaling receptors with precise functions. They successfully designed and repurposed a dopamine receptor into a serotonin biosensor, demonstrating the potential for this approach in personalized medicine.
Researchers have successfully controlled the optical properties of semiconductors using acoustic waves at room temperature. This breakthrough enables the dynamical manipulation of excitonic properties at high speed, opening up new avenues for applications such as acousto-optic devices and sensor technology.
Researchers uncover the first steps in chromatin-opening process, revealing pioneer transcription factor Rap1's role in regulating gene expression. The study provides a biological model for other pioneer transcription factors and tools for investigating them at the single-molecule level.
A new study by EPFL and WSL found that oil palm crops planted on former pastures in Colombia have an unchanged total carbon storage over time. The research suggests a carbon-friendly alternative to deforestation, using large areas of abandoned pastures that could be converted favorably.
A team of researchers from EPFL and MIT used mobile phone location data to study the spread of dengue fever in Singapore. Their findings showed that even low levels of mobility can cause an epidemic to spread, emphasizing the need for effective spatial distribution models.
New research in the Pacific Ocean reveals that ocean acidification is increasing nitrous oxide production, a potent greenhouse gas. If current trends continue, N2O emissions could surge by 185-491% by 2100, exacerbating climate change.
Scientists at EPFL have developed a cheaper way to scale up atomic layer deposition, reducing costs and increasing precision. The new liquid-phase method uses standard lab equipment and achieves coatings that are not possible with gas-phase ALD.
Researchers at EPFL developed a simple and inexpensive AI-based system to predict where and when lightning will strike, using standard meteorological data. The method has been proven correct almost 80% of the time and offers a new way to predict complex phenomena like lightning strikes.
Researchers at EPFL have found unexpected constraints on the achievable sensitivity of measurements, even with backaction-evading techniques. Tiny deviations in optical and mechanical frequencies can cause mechanical oscillations to amplify out of control, affecting quantum sensors and applications.
Scientists at EPFL have engineered aerolysin, a bacterium-produced toxin, to form narrow pores that can sense biomolecules with high resolution. This discovery opens new opportunities for sequencing biomolecules, such as DNA and proteins, and could lead to breakthroughs in gene sequencing and diagnostics.
A recent study found that mountain streams have a higher average CO2 emission rate per square meter than lower-altitude streams due to additional turbulence. The scientists developed a model to estimate natural CO2 emissions from over 1.8 million mountain streams worldwide, indicating geological sources as the primary origin of CO2.
Scientists discovered that bacterial cell division requires both mechanical and biological processes. The study found that a build-up of mechanical stress in the cell wall is necessary before division occurs, and can even be triggered by physical pressure.
Researchers at EPFL's Laboratory for Soft BioElectronic Interface have developed a next-generation soft hearing implant that can send targeted electrical signals to the auditory brainstem. The new implant overcomes the limitations of current ABIs, which can only provide sound perception and are stiff and inflexible.
Researchers at EPFL's QMAT laboratory have discovered a way to produce materials with controlled superconducting regions, paving the way for new quantum technologies. By distorting atomic bonds in thin layers of CeIrIn5, scientists can create complex conducting patterns and distribute them within the material in a highly controlled way.
Deep3DFly uses computer science and neuroscience to model fly movements and poses, enabling robots to climb challenging terrain. The system can automatically predict and correct errors in calculations, opening up new possibilities for robotics and medicine.
Physicists at EPFL's Institute of Physics have successfully created a single phonon in ambient conditions, allowing them to study quantum phenomena in naturally occurring materials. The breakthrough enables the creation of room-temperature ultrafast quantum technologies with potential applications in various fields.
Vibrio cholerae uses its type VI secretion system (T6SS) to compete with other bacteria and acquire new genetic material, leading to rapid evolution and pathogen emergence. The bacterium can steal up to 150,000 nucleic acid base pairs, or roughly 150 genes, in a single attack.
Scientists have successfully merged three amputees with their bionic legs, allowing them to walk instinctively without mental effort. The new technology uses sensory feedback to deliver information wirelessly to the nervous system, reducing mental burden and improving performance.
A new cryptocurrency system, Byzantine Reliable Broadcast, achieves safe and secure transactions with virtually zero energy cost. This paradigm shift is made possible by assuming all players are honest until proven guilty, eliminating the need for complex consensus tasks.
Scientists create a soft, flexible artificial skin made of silicone and electrodes that can replicate the human sense of touch. The skin provides real-time pressure and vibration feedback to enhance rehabilitation and virtual reality applications.
Researchers found that small changes in SOX2 and OCT4 levels impact embryonic stem cell fate during the G1 phase. Elevated OCT4 levels direct cells towards neuronal and non-neuronal types, while increased SOX2 pushes them towards neuronal-type cells.
Researchers found that breast cancer cells form fake synapses with neurons to secrete glutamate and activate the NMDAR receptor, providing a rationale for brain metastasis. This mechanism may be applicable to prevention and therapy of breast-to-brain metastases.
Researchers develop new approach combining individual finger control and automation to improve grasping and manipulation for amputees. The technology uses machine learning and sensor data to interpret user intention and automate object grasp.
Scientists at EPFL have developed perfect soliton crystals in optical microresonators, allowing for the generation of pulse trains with high repetition rates and enhanced power. This breakthrough enables applications in spectroscopy, distance measurements, and low-noise terahertz radiation.
The Blue Brain researchers have generated statistical instances of the micro-connectome of 10 million neurons, a model spanning five orders of magnitude and containing 88 billion synaptic connections. This model reveals a surprisingly complex structure at cellular resolution, tying together neurons in different regions and at opposite ...
A team of scientists at EPFL developed an algorithm that can estimate a microscope's resolution from a single image, boosting image quality and enabling optimized imaging conditions. The algorithm has been made available as an open-source plugin, allowing researchers to directly obtain the estimate and optimize their microscopes.
Researchers develop a high-resolution printing method to create complex tissue shapes in a biocompatible hydrogel containing stem cells. The resulting tissue can be vascularized by adding endothelial cells, enabling the creation of functional bioprinted organs with unprecedented speed and design freedom.
Researchers found that individual cortical neurons cannot find order amidst chaotic signals, but the brain averages many neurons' activity for certainty. External inputs can briefly switch networks to a regime of highly reliable spiking, allowing the brain to overcome noise and chaos.
Scientists at EPFL have found a way to generate over 9,000 macrocyclic molecules below 1 KDa with high structural diversity. The new method enables the discovery of surprisingly efficient macrocyclization reactions, leading to the identification of binders for different disease targets.
Scientists have developed a new type of intraneural electrode called OpticSELINE, which stimulates the optic nerve and sends messages directly to the brain. This innovative approach bypasses the eyeball entirely, offering a promising solution for restoring sensory function in the blind.
Researchers have developed a soft and stretchable pump, eliminating tethers in soft robots. The pump uses an electrical field to circulate liquids, promising applications in exoskeletons, robotic clothing, and smart clothing.
A tiny biodegradable electronic circuit made from magnesium can release controlled amounts of painkillers over several days. The implant degrades safely inside the body after use.
Scientists at EPFL Valais Wallis have developed high-performance membranes for carbon capture that surpass post-combustion capture targets. The membranes, based on single-layer graphene with selective layers, show six-fold higher CO2 permeance and high separation factors.
Researchers have developed a new method to stabilize collapsing metal-organic frameworks by adding small amounts of polymer, resulting in significant increases in surface area. This breakthrough enables the creation of mesoporous MOFs that were previously inaccessible due to pore collapse.
A study of 200,000 FAM app users found that digital self-tracking can provide valuable information for inferring underlying hormonal changes and ovulation timing. The analysis revealed patterns similar to those in small-scale clinical studies, with notable improvements in the duration and range of the follicular phase.
The study used machine learning to analyze data on Hepatitis E epidemics and environmental statistics, identifying areas with high risk of transmission. The researchers hope their map will inform prevention campaigns in high-risk regions, such as northern India.
Researchers at EPFL have developed Tribots, three-legged robots that can jump, communicate, and work together like ants. With multiple locomotion modes, they can detect and overcome obstacles, move objects, and even adapt to unknown environments.
A new nanotheranostic system uses silica-coated bismuth-ferrite harmonic nanoparticles to combine diagnostic imaging with targeted drug delivery, overcoming limitations of previous approaches. The system allows for medically safe release of therapeutics upon near-infrared light activation.
The Bertarelli Foundation has awarded two grants to researchers at EPFL, focusing on developing smart upper limb prostheses that can provide sensory feedback to patients. Additionally, a non-invasive brain stimulation system is being developed to improve cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment or brain injury.
Scientists have discovered semiconducting nanotubes with precise cylindrical structures, which can be used as fluorescent markers in medical research or catalysts in photoreduction reactions. The researchers' accidental discovery reveals the spontaneous formation of these nanostructures using metallic nanocrystals and certain ligands.
Scientists at EPFL have developed a new method for modifying cysteines on peptides and proteins using ethynylbenziodoxolones (EBXs), allowing for dual attachment points for new chemical groups. This enables the study of biological processes without interfering with them.
Researchers developed a new computational method using neural networks to simulate open quantum systems, predicting properties of large-scale quantum systems. This approach addresses the challenges of simulating intrinsically complex tasks with exponentially growing computational power.
Scientists have developed a method to grow human embryonic stem cells in culture, mimicking the dynamic range of morphogen concentrations that tell stem cells what type of specialized cell and tissue to become. This breakthrough has potential applications in regenerative medicine, drug testing, and understanding developmental biology.
Researchers successfully simulated real-world conditions to assess perovskite solar cell performance. The study found that temperature and irradiance variations have a minimal impact on efficiency, with slight decreases during the day but recoveries at night.
Researchers discovered a new metallic and air-stable 2D magnet in platinum diselenide (PtSe2), which can be manipulated by strategically placing defects across its surface. This breakthrough has the potential to enable ultra-thin metallic magnets for future spin-transfer torque magnetic random-access memory devices.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a high-efficiency catalyst converting CO2 into carbon monoxide, paving the way for recycling fossil fuels' carbon dioxide to preserve resources and limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers discovered a grappling hook-like appendage called type IV pili that enables Vibrio cholerae to take up DNA, bind to nutrient-rich surfaces and recognize 'family' members. The findings reveal a multifunctional toolkit for the bacterium's survival in ocean environments.
EPFL researchers use data science to analyze Beethoven's String Quartets, finding that few chords govern most of the music. The study reveals a unique statistical signature characterizing Beethoven's composition style, offering new insights into the structure and evolution of classical music.
Researchers discover that fluid flow significantly impacts bacterial biofilm architecture, with dense formations in weak flows and sparse colonies in strong ones. This study provides insights into the role of physical principles guiding biofilm organization and its implications for bacterial physiology and evolution.