Researchers propose a new model explaining how consciousness arises, suggesting that the brain processes and integrates information for up to half a second before becoming aware of it. This counterintuitive view challenges the idea of continuous perception and provides insights into how people experience reality.
Scientists discovered that transposable elements influence human brain development by partnering with two specialized proteins known as Krép-el-associated box-containing zinc finger proteins. These partnerships regulate gene expression in neurons and influence the development and function of adult organs.
Researchers have developed a novel approach for converting lignocellulose biomass into valuable chemicals by combining multiple microorganisms. This modular system, known as the lactate platform, enables the production of diverse chemicals, including butyric acid and lactic acid, with high efficiency.
Researchers have solved the debate on respiration's initial molecular events by studying nitrosyl-myoglobin. Using XES, they found that the transition from low-spin to high-spin domed heme is caused by a cascade among spin states.
Researchers at EPFL uncover key role of Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor (BAF) in preventing cGAS-STING pathway activation, which stops cells from attacking their own DNA. This discovery sheds new light on complex processes involved in the body's inflammatory response.
A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology found that the balance between glutamine and glutamate levels in the nucleus accumbens is crucial for sustained effort-based motivated performance. The research suggests a potential link to therapeutic strategies, including nutritional interventions, to address motivational deficits.
Researchers at EPFL have created a technology to amplify light inside hollow-core optical fibers filled with air, increasing the light intensity significantly. This breakthrough enables longer-distance transmission and potential applications in thermometers and temporary optical memory.
Scientists have developed a protocol to measure mitochondrial activity in living animals using a bioluminescent molecule found in fireflies. This method reveals impaired mitochondrial functions in diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
A titanate nanowire mask can trap and destroy pathogens using photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide, potentially reducing waste and environmental impact of disposable masks
Scientists have identified an enzyme called TBK1 that can play a central role in treating Huntington's Disease. The enzyme regulates the degradation and clearance of the huntingtin protein, introducing chemical modifications that block its aggregation.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a synthetic inhibitor of coagulation factor XII that efficiently blocks blood clotting without causing bleeding side-effects. The inhibitor has high potency and selectivity, but its short retention time requires constant infusion to achieve sustained thrompobrotection.
Researchers have identified a specific type of neuron that plays an important role in gait recovery in mice, using machine learning to pinpoint the cells involved. This breakthrough could lead to more effective treatments for paralysis and advance biomedical research.
Scientists combine piezoelectric aluminium nitride with ultralow-loss silicon nitride integrated photonics to create a hybrid circuit for on-chip acousto-optic modulation. The technology enables wideband actuation with ultralow electrical power, opening up new possibilities for precision-demanding applications.
Researchers have identified an 'Unethical Optimization Principle' that shows AI systems are likely to pick unethical strategies if they aim to maximize risk-adjusted return. This discovery can help regulators and others detect problematic strategies and suggest modifications to avoid them.
A new super-resolution microscope reveals unprecedented detail of the centriole's twist, a nanoscale structure important for cell division. The technology could be used to study other cellular structures like mitochondria or viruses.
Researchers developed a compact optical system using silicon photonics, significantly lowering production costs and enabling easy integration with traditional chip production. The technology addresses growing demands for multicolor laser lights in data centers, promising new opportunities in applications like optical clocks.
EPFL physicists have found a way to visualize the whole melting process of skyrmion crystals in Cu2OSe3 by varying magnetic field. They used LTEM to record massive images and videos, demonstrating two novel phases: the skyrmion hexatic phase and the skyrmion liquid phase.
Researchers from EPFL have solved the high-resolution structure of an activated form of a dopamine receptor in a native lipid membrane environment. By combining computational allosteric and de novo protein design approaches, they created a highly stable but activated receptor whose structure could be studied and solved.
Researchers have developed a new method called redHUMAN to simplify genome-scale metabolic models for analyzing human metabolism. This approach reduces the complexity of human genome-scale models by focusing on specific parts of metabolism while minimizing information loss.
Researchers have developed a more effective neutrophil depletion model that outperforms existing methods. This improvement enables scientists to study the role of neutrophils in various diseases, including COVID-19, with greater accuracy and precision.
Scientists have developed a new approach to chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) called FloChIP, which uses microfluidics to automate and lower the cost and complexity of the technique. This method can perform multiple ChIP-seq assays simultaneously and reproducibly in an automated way.
Researchers developed flexible sensor technology to detect fabric deformation, opening doors for smart textiles in clothing, hospital beds and robots. The technology measures time between sent and received signals to determine deformation location, type and intensity.
Researchers have developed a technology that can detect various fabric deformations, such as stretch, pressure, and torque, using soft fiber-shaped sensors. These sensors operate like transmission lines and measure time intervals to determine deformation location, type, and intensity.
A study published in Developmental Cell reveals the CMG2 protein interacts with collagen VI, regulating its concentration inside cells. In Hyaline Fibromatosis Syndrome, a mutation prevents CMG2 protein function, leading to collagen VI accumulation.
Researchers at EPFL have developed an algorithm to design artificial proteins that precisely guide the body's immune system to produce specific antibodies. The proteins were tested in animal models, triggering a strong immune response against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of serious lung infections.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a new way to implement parallel FMCW LiDAR by using integrated nonlinear photonic circuitry. The technology enables up to 30 independent FMCW LiDAR channels, improving acquisition rates tenfold for autonomous vehicle applications.
Researchers have successfully developed a method to create proteolytically resistant therapeutic peptides that can survive the gastrointestinal tract. This breakthrough enables the development of oral peptide drugs targeting gastrointestinal targets, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Researchers at EPFL's lab have developed a method to generate soliton collisions in optical microresonators, allowing for the study of complex soliton interactions. By controlling the speed mismatch between two laser-driven solitons, they can induce binding or crossing behaviors, revealing important physics of the system.
Researchers have identified cathepsin S as a key player in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma's ability to evade the immune system. Inhibiting this protein reduces tumor growth by increasing the activity of immune cells that kill cancer cells.
EPFL researchers have successfully generated high-speed microwave signals using integrated soliton microcombs. The breakthrough enables the miniaturization of photonic systems, paving the way for applications in metrology, spectroscopy, communications, radars, and the Internet of Things.
Researchers at EPFL have created a nanoscale device that generates extremely high-power signals in just a few picoseconds, producing high-power THz waves. This technology has the potential to revolutionize security and medical imaging systems, as well as faster wireless communications.
A new experimental protocol developed by EPFL's Laboratory for Soft Bioelectronic Interfaces (LSBI) helps test and validate soft, personalized implants. The four-step process includes developing anatomically accurate prototypes and fine-tuning through tests.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking finding by using gold nanoparticles to label and visualize amyloid fibrils in their natural state. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding the mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and developing new treatments.
Researchers at EPFL discovered that fruit flies remove and excrete damage-causing lipids, preventing lipid peroxidation and ROS-induced inflammatory oxidized lipids. This mechanism may play an important role in other insects and even animals, helping to protect against oxidative stress damage.
Researchers at EPFL have created a prototype vaccine that can travel to the desired location and activate immune cells, overcoming two major obstacles in therapeutic cancer vaccines. The Polycondensate Neoepitope (PNE) combines a patented technique with an algorithm for predicting mutated tumor antigens.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a novel formulation that describes how heat spreads within crystalline materials. This breakthrough will help engineers design next-generation electronic devices by explaining hydrodynamic phenomena, which are prevalent in materials like graphite and graphene.
Research at EPFL suggests that breathing patterns influence conscious decision-making and acts of free will. The study found that voluntary actions are linked to the body's internal state, particularly during exhalation.
A new protein-based method, STOP-CAR, switches off modified T cells on command, reducing toxicity and organ damage in cancer patients. This breakthrough could speed the clinical development of new CAR therapies.
A new portable biosensor developed by researchers at EPFL's School of Engineering can rapidly detect sepsis biomarkers in a patient's bloodstream, slashing diagnosis time from several days to just a few minutes. The device uses plasmonics technology and achieves accuracy on par with gold-standard laboratory methods.
Researchers at EPFL have achieved a record-breaking photoelectrochemical water-splitting efficiency of 4.5% using cuprous oxide (Cu2O) photocathodes with copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) as a transparent and effective hole transport layer, showing improved performance and overcoming limitations such as high cost and electron-hole recombination.
Researchers found that changes in RNA splicing and protein Lark affect the production of messenger RNA, crucial for fighting gut infections. Genetic variants also modulate gene expression levels in response to infection.
A new mathematical model, ETFL, accurately models enzyme expression and its associated metabolic cost in living cells. The model integrates biochemistry, thermodynamics, and multi-omics data to predict enzyme activity and metabolism.
Scientists at EPFL develop a reactor system to observe real-time production of synthetic natural gas from CO2 and H2, capturing dynamic reaction phenomena with high resolution. The method allows for optimized reactor and catalyst designs to improve performance in dynamic conditions.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a system to capture CO2 directly in trucks' exhaust systems, liquefy it, and convert it into conventional fuel using renewable energy. The process recovers most of the energy available onboard, with only 10% of emissions left unrecycled, which can be offset by biomass.
DEAnsect, a soft robotic insect, is equipped with dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) that enable it to move forward through vibrations. The insect is lightweight and quick, allowing it to navigate different terrain types, including undulating surfaces.
Researchers developed a wearable light sensor concept to measure exposure to different light spectrums, filling a gap in current technology. The Spectrace sensor aims to improve our understanding of the physiological effects of light on our bodies, particularly in relation to circadian rhythms and health.
A team of scientists at EPFL has designed a new material that can capture CO2 from wet flue gases more efficiently than existing commercial materials. The material uses a novel approach to overcome the competition between CO2 and water adsorption sites.
Researchers developed MaSIF, a machine learning-driven method to predict protein interactions and biochemical activity based on surface appearance. The algorithm analyzes chemical and geometric properties of proteins, creating a unique 'fingerprint' for each, enabling the prediction of behavior patterns.
Researchers linked genetic variation in fruit fly mitochondrial genomes to changes in food intake, providing a new tool for studying human metabolic traits. The study used the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel and identified specific haplotypes associated with increased food consumption.
Researchers found that charged polymers increase viscosity by altering water-water interactions, which is influenced by a nuclear quantum effect. This discovery has fundamental implications for developing new technologies in health, biosciences, materials science, and environmental science.