Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a 3D-printed model of a rock avalanche to study the movement of mixtures of water, ice, and rock. The model, which is 1:577 in scale, was used to test various scenarios and measure parameters such as depth of runoff and impact dynamics.
Researchers investigated three concrete mixes in four locations with varying climatic conditions. Their study shows that climate plays a significant role in how quickly steel in the concrete rusts. Key findings include that low-carbon concrete can last for 50 years or more in some locations, but may suffer damage sooner under different...
A new method called freeze-structuring turns whole legumes into a fibrous product with a desired texture. The process involves soaking, blending, heating, and freezing the legumes to create a directional fibrous structure.
Researchers discovered that unique satellite DNA patterns on each pair of chromosomes, like barcodes, help matching chromosomes find each other. These patterns ensure correct distribution of chromosomes during meiosis, preventing errors in fertilization.
Researchers found that brain synchrony increases when individuals draw together, but decreases over time in cross-generational pairs. In contrast, same-age pairs show increased synchrony over time. The study suggests that mutual prediction, or anticipating each other's behavior, plays a key role in brain synchrony.
Researchers propose 'Thermal Justice' framework to address heat-related inequalities, combining emergency measures with structural changes. The framework prioritizes exposed residents, accessible cooling, and worker protection during heatwaves, while retrofitting housing and expanding green infrastructure between heatwaves.
Researchers use fiber-optic cables to detect hidden crevasses within glaciers, improving stability monitoring. This method reveals over 8% of ice volume was hidden, impacting glacier stability and sea levels.
A study reveals weaknesses in farm sustainability monitoring, finding that one in four cocoa farm entries showed manipulated data. Auditors were more likely to make changes when aware of the target value required for certification, highlighting the need for independent verification.
Researchers found that electrifying kilns and using DAC can significantly reduce cement production's climate impact. The technology removes more CO₂ than it generates over its lifecycle, with efficiencies ranging from 85-96% depending on the energy mix used.
Recent research suggests Venus is geologically active, with evidence of recent rifting and volcanic activity. Computer models indicate that rift flanks can form along the edges of rift valleys, widening rapidly over time.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a handheld device that detects acetone in exhaled air to measure fat metabolism. The device provides reliable results comparable to blood tests and has the potential to personalize diets and therapies for metabolic disorders.
Researchers have discovered a complex layering system around phytoplankton cells, with water-repellent substances concentrated near the surface. This finding has significant implications for models of interactions between phytoplankton and bacteria, and could improve our understanding of the oceans' carbon cycle.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new approach for quantum computing that separates computation from working memory, using mechanical vibrations to store information. This method has the potential to improve the efficiency of quantum computers and enable them to tackle complex problems more efficiently than classical computers.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a technique to create precise 3D maps of electric and magnetic fields close to the surface of chips. This allows for better optimization and testing of chip materials for quantum applications.
A research team led by David Norris developed pixels that can both steer light and analyse it, allowing for the creation of camera-displays with combined functions. These so-called bidirectional pixels use surface waves to control light intensity, polarisation, and oscillation phase.
A recent study reveals that oil crops like coconut, oil palm, and soybean cause more species extinction than previously thought. The research found that these three crops are responsible for 75% of biodiversity loss caused by oil crops worldwide.
Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed a system that uses light to selectively destroy glucocorticoid receptors on tumour cells, making them vulnerable to attack. This approach could lead to more targeted and effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a novel approach to carbon capture using whey and tofu by-products. The material absorbs CO2 at a high rate, outperforming conventional methods, and can be reused, reducing energy consumption.
A new compound, compound 10, has shown promising effects in slowing the development of Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting GRK2 aggregation. This leads to improved mitochondrial function and reduced amyloid beta deposition, potentially breaking a vicious circle that contributes to dementia progression.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed biohybrid microrobots that combine living neural progenitor cells with magnetoelectric nanoparticles to guide stem cells to injury sites and stimulate repair. The microrobots demonstrate promising results in animal experiments, including improved nerve cell regeneration and recovery of motor function.
Researchers have developed an approach to prevent transmission of E. coli K1 bacteria to newborns, reducing the risk of meningitis by up to 80%. The treatment involves an oral vaccination that weakens the bacteria, followed by a harmless probiotic bacterium that competes with the weakened pathogen for food.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a novel phononic metamaterial that can precisely control mechanical waves, enabling the harvesting of energy from vibrations and processing signals mechanically. The material features a specific pattern with varying unit cell sizes, allowing it to redirect waves along predefined paths.
Scientists have successfully created perfect randomness using quantum physics, a breakthrough that could revolutionize digital security. By amplifying imperfect randomness, they can generate perfectly random numbers for encryption and other applications, rendering existing systems vulnerable to attacks.
A new AI model, ESFM, has been developed to predict extreme weather events with high accuracy. It learns from complex interactions between atmosphere, land, and water, and integrates multi-source data to analyze trends and relationships within the Earth's weather system.
A new study reveals that even the most remote corners of the ocean are contaminated with zinc from human sources, surpassing natural zinc levels. Zinc from fossil fuel combustion and industrial emissions dominates the upper layer of the South Pacific, posing a potential threat to marine life and nutrient balances.
Researchers at ETH Zurich created a machine-learning-based map showing Europe's most beautiful and scenic regions. The study found that excluding these areas would reduce wind energy potential but increase costs per unit of electricity generated.
Researchers analyzed nearly 1,800 Eurovision songs over 70 years, finding three stages of development: formation, consolidation, and expansion phases. Countries like France rejecting dominant trends by leveraging cultural identity, while organisers adjust voting systems to balance popularity and musical scoring.
A study by ETH Zurich and the University of Wisconsin found that urban development and transport are mutually dependent and have cause-and-effect relationships. The researchers correlated congestion data with city characteristics, such as road network structure, green spaces, and urban function.
A new AI system called GrimACE uses automated facial recognition to detect subtle signs of pain and discomfort in laboratory mice. The system has been shown to accurately detect pain and provide comparable results to human raters, improving animal welfare in labs.
A new detector technology has been developed to track elementary particles in large volumes of unsegmented scintillator material. The system uses a plenoptic camera and single-photon avalanche diode array sensors to achieve high-resolution 3D tracking, even in photon-starved conditions.
The study found that Methana volcano's magma chambers held steady amounts of magma for over 100,000 years, with intense activity peaking during zircon growth. This challenges the assumption that a prolonged period of volcanic silence means a volcano is extinct.
A team of researchers at ETH Zurich has successfully realised a high-quality swap gate using only geometric phases with extremely cold potassium atoms. This breakthrough enables the robust exchange of quantum states between qubits, a crucial step towards building large-scale quantum computers.
Researchers Paolo Sossi and Dan Bower found that the Earth is composed entirely of non-carbonaceous material, originating from the inner Solar System. This conclusion contradicts previous theories suggesting a significant contribution from the outer Solar System.
Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology, scientists deployed fibre-optic cables across the lunar surface to detect seismic waves generated by moonquakes, meteorites, and landings. The cables can record signals at a higher spatial resolution than traditional seismic networks.
Researchers found that plants cannot extract water from dry soil due to increased capillary and viscous forces. The plant's own properties are not limited, but rather the soil's ability to release water.
A team of ETH Zurich researchers developed a process to convert sawdust into a recyclable and environmentally friendly composite using struvite. The material exhibits excellent fire resistance due to the mineral's non-combustible properties and cooling effect, making it suitable for internal fittings.
Researchers found that reforestation in tropical regions, such as the Amazon basin and West and South-East Africa, can have a significant cooling effect due to high evapotranspiration rates. This approach can be more efficient than previously thought, especially when combined with other climate protection strategies.
A study by ETH Zurich researchers found that climate policies can only be implemented with the support of the 'conditional middle' group, who are flexible and make decisions based on personal cost-benefit calculations. This group's opinions can significantly impact policy feasibility, with a shift towards support potentially leading to...
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new boron-based coupling method that enables the rapid production of key proteins for cancer therapies, overcoming the concentration barrier in chemical protein synthesis. This breakthrough allows for the creation of new peptide and protein medications, as well as unnatural amino acids with sp...
Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed a single-atom catalyst that enables more efficient CO2-based methanol synthesis. The new catalyst, composed of isolated indium atoms on hafnium oxide, allows for the use of precious metals in an economically viable manner.
A team of ETH Zurich researchers has developed a novel hydrogel implant for bone repair, made from a soft, biocompatible material that dissolves gradually in the body. The hydrogel is structured to resemble real bone and features a fine network of bone trabeculae, allowing bone-forming cells to rapidly colonize and form new bone tissue.
Researchers have identified new microbial species in corals that produce unique natural products, offering a vast arsenal of potential benefits to humanity. The study highlights the importance of protecting coral reefs' microbiomes to tap into this untapped resource before it's lost forever.
Researchers at ETH Zurich discover that peatland lakes in the Congo Basin release significant amounts of ancient carbon, up to 40% of which is thousands of years old. This carbon reservoir has a leak, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere and potentially destabilizing climate change.
A record-breaking sediment core 700 km from Antarctica's nearest stations provides direct evidence of how the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and Ross Ice Shelf responded to warmer temperatures. The core, measuring 228 meters in length, contains layers of mud and rock documenting environmental conditions during earlier warm periods.
A study found that only planets with medium-level oxygen conditions during core formation can retain essential elements phosphorus and nitrogen, necessary for life. This limits the number of potentially habitable planets, as most solar systems have stars with different chemical compositions.
Scientists have developed a method to perform quantum operations between logical qubits while correcting for potential errors. The 'lattice surgery' technique involves splitting and merging surface-code squares to entangle two logical qubits, allowing for fault-tolerant quantum computing.
A new hydrogel gel, inspired by nature's NETs, uses near-infrared light to kill bacteria and calm the immune system, promoting wound healing. Trials in mice and pigs show significant reduction in bacterial load and accelerated healing.
A team of researchers has identified the HIF1 protein as a central molecular driver of tendon diseases such as Achilles tendonitis and jumper's knee. Elevated levels of this protein lead to pathogenic remodelling of tendons, making them more brittle and impairing their mechanical function.
A new study finds that electric vehicles combined with solar-powered off-grid charging systems could be viable in Africa sooner than expected. The research shows that the cost of charging accounts for a small portion of total vehicle costs, making electric scooters and motorbikes already an attractive option.
Scientists at ETH Zurich have discovered that electrons in flat layered materials like MXenes respond with a delay to the motion of atomic nuclei. This challenge to the standard Born-Oppenheimer approximation could lead to more precise mathematical models and novel opto-electronic devices.