Researchers challenge a long-held hypothesis on water's surface charge, finding that intrinsic properties of water molecules are responsible. Using advanced techniques like nonlinear optics and light diffusion, scientists detect negative charges even in the absence of impurities.
Researchers at EPFL's Computer Graphics and Geometry Laboratory have created an algorithm to control the 'caustic' effect, a natural optical phenomenon that generates clear images on transparent surfaces. The technique allows for the creation of complex representations such as faces or landscapes from simple forms like stars.
Researchers at EPFL have created a device that can transform light energy into clean fuel, neutral carbon footprint hydrogen, from sunlight, water, and metal oxides like iron oxide. The technology has great potential to enable economically viable methods for solar hydrogen production.
Researchers identified a group of proteins that play a key role in methylation, a process that silences genes in embryonic development. This phenomenon can be accidentally reactivated in tumor cells, leading to the formation of cancer.
The EPFL team has achieved a record efficiency of 22.4% for photovoltaic cells by combining amorphous and monocristalline silicon in a 'heterojunction' structure. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper and more efficient solar power, with costs estimated at $100 per square meter.
Researchers at EPFL and University of Geneva create k-MITOMI, a microfluidic device that measures up to 768 biomolecular interactions simultaneously. The device accelerates the acquisition of protein-protein and protein-DNA interaction information, crucial for understanding living organisms.
The Blue Brain Project has accurately predicted the locations of synapses in a cortical microcircuit, demonstrating key principles that govern brain structure and function. This breakthrough enables the creation of near-perfect models of the nervous system, shedding light on how brains are constructed from diverse populations of neurons.
A Swiss-American team has developed a simple, inexpensive system to detect heavy metal pollutants like mercury in water and fish. The new method uses nanoparticles with tiny hairs that can trap toxic substances, enabling accurate measurements at unprecedentedly small concentrations.
Researchers have developed an algorithm that can identify the source of information spreading on social media platforms like Facebook. By analyzing a limited number of connections, the method can trace the path of information back to its origin.
Researchers at EPFL successfully rehabilitated rats with spinal cord injuries using a combination of robotic harnesses and electrical-chemical stimulation. The study, published in Science, reveals that the dormant spinal column can be awakened to restore voluntary movement, suggesting new methods for treating paralysis.
Scientists have discovered rules that relate genes to a neuron's electrical properties and shape, increasing the likelihood of predicting brain structure and function without measuring every aspect. This breakthrough increases the feasibility of modeling the brain in silico and ushering in a new era of predictive biology.
Researchers developed a visual tool to help doctors assess patients' pain levels by analyzing their movement patterns, providing a more precise assessment than traditional questionnaires. The new 'barcode' tool offers a dynamic view of a patient's condition, enabling doctors to monitor progress and adapt treatment accordingly.
A new study reveals how tumours exploit the lymphatic system to evade immune cells, but also identifies a weakness that can be targeted to boost vaccine efficacy. By understanding this mechanism, future cancer vaccines may be able to bypass the tumour's defence and effectively kill cancer cells.
The book uncovers previously unpublished documents and color photographs that shed new light on Le Corbusier's architectural oeuvre. It explores his aesthetic principles, including the use of exposed concrete (béton brut), and examines how he defined artistic quality in construction sites.
Researchers at EPFL have successfully developed a 3D chip with multiple processors stacked vertically, increasing efficiency and processing power. The chip is connected using thin copper microtubes through tiny openings called Through-Silicon-Vias, reducing data exchange time.
Researchers at EPFL develop mathematical tool to model flow of biocides from building façades into river basins, revealing high concentrations of pollutants. The model accurately predicts peak levels of three common biocides, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and reducing dependency on expensive testing.
Scientists isolated a protein called periostin that plays a major role in metastasis development. Blocking this protein can prevent the formation of secondary cancers, offering a promising therapeutic option for late-stage cancers.
INT-777 prevents atherosclerosis by exerting an anti-inflammatory effect, stimulating insulin secretion and reducing plaque formation in arteries. The compound activates TGR5 receptor in gut cells, enhancing Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion, providing a promising treatment for metabolic syndrome and its associated conditions.
Researchers have successfully created a molybdenite microchip, demonstrating its potential as an alternative to silicon. The chip is smaller, more efficient, and flexible than traditional silicon-based electronics.
Researchers at EPFL and University of Geneva uncover a genetic mechanism that modulates gene activity through seven enhancers, leading to diversity in finger shapes. This discovery could help understand hereditary malformations and evolutionary variations in the animal kingdom.
Research on tunnel-FET technology, which exploits the quantum tunnel effect, promises to reduce power consumption of transistors and microprocessors. This breakthrough could lead to ultra-miniaturized, zero-power electronic devices.
Researchers create super-strong mice and nematodes by reducing natural inhibitor function, leading to denser muscle fibers and increased energy delivery. This breakthrough could lead to treatments for age-related or genetically caused muscle degeneration.
Researchers at EPFL discover that specific genes, known as Hox, are involved in this process, situated one after the other on the DNA strand. The genes unfold like an old-fashioned computer punchcard, delivering instructions for each new layer of the embryo to be built.
Optofluidics, the study of microfluidics combined with optics, is poised to revolutionize energy production. By directing light and concentrating its use, optofluidics can increase efficiency in existing systems like biofuel reactors and solar cells, as well as innovate new forms of energy production.
Researchers use Photo Activated Localization Microscopy (PALM) to accurately count proteins on the cell surface, gaining insight into their interactions and evolution. This technique may help develop more effective drugs by understanding how cells react to external agents.
Scientists gathered oil and gas from the Deepwater Horizon wellhead for the first time, revealing how pollution is partitioned and transported in the Gulf of Mexico. A new molecular model shows that light hydrocarbons dissolve or form hydrates at depths, potentially causing damage to seafloor life far from the original spill.
Researchers have developed a new technique to improve artificial photosynthesis by using cuprous oxide coated with a thin film of atoms, enabling the production of hydrogen from water. The process utilizes widely available materials and can be easily scaled up for industrial fabrication.
A Swiss-US team found a new strain of leprosy bacteria in the Southern United States, transmitted through direct contact with armadillos. The study confirms inter-species contamination and highlights the importance of education and prudence to prevent further infection.
Researchers have discovered a new, room-temperature method to produce hydrogen using molybdenum-based catalysts, which could significantly lower production costs. The new catalysts are stable, efficient, and compatible with acidic, neutral, or basic conditions in water.
Researchers at EPFL and EMPA developed a technique to improve control over laser parameters, including wavelength and polarization. This innovation boosts high-speed optical fiber communications with reduced errors, while also enabling energy-efficient lasers and precise spectroscopic applications.
Researchers discover that malaria parasite relies on host cell signaling pathways to proliferate. A class of cancer-fighting drugs targeting these pathways can effectively kill the parasite.
A recent study found that reprogramming stem cells leads to genomic aberrations and genetic mutations similar to those in cancer cells. This raises concerns about the safety and effectiveness of using these cells for regenerative medicine applications.
Swiss researchers employ virtual reality and brain imaging techniques to investigate the science behind self-consciousness. By immersing subjects in avatar environments, they explore how the brain integrates touch and vision to create a coherent perception of the body.
Researchers at EPFL developed a brain-computer interface that learns to recognize users' mental intentions, allowing for multitasking and reducing fatigue. The system uses statistical analysis and probability theory to distinguish between commands and enable users to control devices over longer periods.
Researchers have discovered a new material, molybdenite, that can be used to make smaller and more energy-efficient electronic chips. Molybdenite has distinct advantages over traditional silicon or graphene for use in electronics applications.
Researchers have developed racetrack memory, which uses magnetic tape and spin-polarized currents to store data at speeds of several hundred meters per second. This technology could enable computers to boot up instantly and access information 100,000 times more rapidly than traditional hard disks.
Researchers at EPFL have discovered an all-optical transistor that controls the flow of light using a novel optical microresonator. The device enables a strong 'control' laser to turn on or off a weaker 'probe' laser, opening up new possibilities for telecommunications and photonics.
A new computer program helps researchers map brain connectivity in children and adults, showing how white matter improves with age. The tool may aid epilepsy and schizophrenia research, and inform brain surgeons about potential surgical sites.
SPADnet aims to create a new generation of smart image sensors for photon-starved biomedical applications, enabling scalable and efficient imaging. The project will develop ring-assembly modules for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging and carry out performance tests in a PET evaluation system.
Researchers successfully convert thymic epithelial cells into skin multipotent stem cells, exhibiting improved performance in skin regeneration. This discovery may have significant implications for organ transplantation and regeneration, offering new possibilities for treating severe burn victims.
Astronomers have discovered a quasar that acts as a gravitational lens, allowing them to weigh and measure a distant galaxy containing a black hole. This groundbreaking observation was made possible by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey database and will provide new insights into the distribution of matter in the universe.
Professor Michael Graetzel receives Millennium Technology Prize for his groundbreaking work on dye-sensitized solar cells, a cost-effective and versatile form of solar energy. The award recognizes his contributions to developing this technology and unlocking safer, more efficient batteries and carbon-free energy storage.
Scientists propose general rules governing the assembly of filaments into thicker and twisted ribbon-like fibers using Atomic Force Microscopy images and polymer physics concepts. The model accurately predicts the formation of Amyloid fibers, with potential applications in understanding neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at EPFL discovered how tumors create a tolerant microenvironment by mimicking key features of lymph nodes. This allows tumors to avoid detection by the immune system, leading to cancer progression.
Researchers found that a master regulatory protein called KAP1 orchestrates silencing of viral sequences, preventing harm to the host. The discovery provides insights into evolution and suggests potential new therapies for fighting AIDS.
Researchers found that mental imagery training significantly improves performance in identifying anomalies on medical images and detecting the proximity of a central line in parallel lines. This suggests that thinking about something repeatedly can be as effective as doing it.
A team of scientists analyzed the DNA of ancient remains to discover that Mycobacterium leprae, the leprosy bacterium, has colonized the entire earth due to human travels. The study found that the bacteria's four strains are distributed according to historical population movements.
A new molecule has been discovered that can treat type 2 diabetes and reduce weight gain by activating the protein TGR5. The study found that INT-777, a selective TGR5 activator, increases GLP-1 secretion and energy expenditure, leading to improved blood sugar control and weight loss.
Researchers discovered a weakness in the MD5 algorithm that allows for the creation of rogue certification authorities, which can be trusted by all major web browsers. This opens the door for virtually undetectable phishing attacks, compromising user passwords and private data.
Carbon nanotubes form extremely tight contacts with neuronal cell membranes, creating shortcuts between neurons for enhanced excitability. This breakthrough has the potential to treat traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson's disease, and severe depression by bypassing faulty brain wiring.