Researchers have created an in silico inventory of proteins on cell surfaces using machine learning, predicting the presence of over 2,900 proteins on human cell surfaces. The study reveals a wide variety of surface proteins across different cell types, with primary stem cells showing the greatest diversity.
Researchers have discovered that macrophage activity is lowered when they sit in tissue between cells, even with pro-inflammatory stimuli present. This mechanism helps prevent unnecessary inflammatory responses in healthy tissues.
A team of vulcanologists from ETH Zurich has found evidence suggesting the Phlegraean Fields are in the early stage of a new caldera cycle, which could lead to another massive eruption. The researchers used rock samples from previous eruptions to reconstruct the conditions in the crust and create a model of the cycle.
Researchers discovered a novel defence mechanism in yeast cells that uses centromeres to detect and neutralize foreign genetic material. This mechanism ensures that potentially harmful DNA is confined within one cell, while the daughter cell contains only reliable DNA.
Researchers at ETH Zurich successfully heal genetic disease phenylketonuria in mice using a modified CRISPR/Cas9 system. The technique achieved a high correction rate of up to 60% and restored normal levels of phenylalanine, eliminating the disorder's symptoms.
ETH Zurich researchers have created a molecular recording system that writes transcriptional events into DNA, allowing permanent storage and later access. The CRISPR-Cas system records genetic information about pathogens infecting the cell, storing it in a specific stretch of DNA known as a CRISPR array.
The High Plains landscape was formed 20 million years ago through geological uplift and erosion, resulting in a unique ecosystem with hundreds of thousands of ephemeral lakes. These lakes provide crucial breeding and wintering habitats for millions of birds and recharge the Ogallala aquifer, North America's largest groundwater reservoir.
A thought experiment by Renato Renner and Daniela Frauchiger reveals a paradoxical situation where indirect observation of a quantum mechanical object yields the opposite result of direct observation. The calculation shows that precisely this is not the case, creating a conundrum. While colleagues have proposed various solutions, none ...
A team of scientists has discovered the atomic-resolution structure of a specialized ribosome in Trypanosomes, a parasitic disease-causing organism. The study reveals that these ribosomes are composed primarily of proteins, unlike other ribosomes which are dominated by RNA.
A new study uses satellite technology to measure the impact of droughts on photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration. Researchers found that during dry years, natural ecosystems removed about 30% less carbon from the atmosphere, leading to faster CO2 concentration increases.
Zebra finches learn to distinguish between birdsongs using trial and error or observation. Trial-and-error methods are more robust for generalization, while observation is faster but less effective.
A study by ETH Zurich researchers has discovered new cancer-specific molecular changes in RNA molecules, which could inform the development of cancer treatments. The analysis found that alternative splicing occurs more frequently in tumor tissues than healthy tissues, particularly in pulmonary adenocarcinomas.
Alessio Figalli, a mathematician at ETH Zurich, has been awarded the Fields Medal for solving the Monge-Ampere equation, a famous partial differential equation with applications in urban planning, imaging, and meteorology. He has also made significant contributions to optimal transport and its connections to probability.
A team of scientists at ETH Zurich have found a way to avoid disturbances in qubit operations by coupling a microwave photon to a spin qubit. The researchers created a 'spin trio' consisting of three quantum dots and demonstrated strong coupling between the spin qubits and a microwave photon.
Researchers at ETH Zurich found that soil microorganisms degrade films composed of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), a biodegradable polymer. This discovery demonstrates the true biodegradation of a plastic material in soils, offering a potential solution to plastic pollution.
Research shows that ambient temperature before conception influences offspring's brown adipose tissue activity and protection against excess weight and metabolic disorders. This epigenetic mechanism may explain why people in cold regions have higher levels of brown fat.
Researchers from ETH Zurich have found that cold, iron-rich seawater from the North American continental slope is captured by meanders of the Gulf Stream and carried out to the North Atlantic Gyre, enriching it with iron. The study suggests that this source may deliver up to 15% of the iron delivered by Saharan dust.
Researchers found that even extremely low doses of an endocrine disruptor caused epigenetic changes in a pregnant sow's DNA and its offspring. The study suggests that humans may also be affected by such chemicals, leading to a re-assessment of acceptable daily intake values.
A recent study suggests that Mars' river networks were shaped by superficial run-off of rainwater, contradicting previous hypotheses about groundwater seepage. The researchers found similarities in the branching angles of Martian valleys with those in arid landscapes on Earth.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a solid catalyst for a major chemical reaction, reducing waste and increasing efficiency by 20 times compared to traditional soluble catalysts. The new palladium-carbon-nitrogen material is more stable and cost-effective, making it suitable for commercial-scale production.
A team of physicists has measured a tiny time difference in the ejection of an electron from a molecule depending on its position. The researchers used attosecond laser pulses to study the photoelectric effect in carbon monoxide molecules, achieving precise measurements of the Wigner time delay and electron localization.
Researchers at ETH Zurich discovered a new type of regulatory fat cell called Aregs that inhibits the formation of new fat cells. This discovery opens up promising avenues for future therapies to protect obese people from diabetes and other secondary illnesses.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a method to transmit quantum states deterministically over short distances, paving the way for more efficient and secure quantum computing and cryptography. The transmission rate reaches 80% fidelity, enabling entanglement creation between qubits up to 50,000 times per second.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new propulsion concept that exploits water temperature for swimming robots, eliminating the need for engines or power supplies. The robots use bistable propulsion elements triggered by shape memory polymer strips to propel forward.
The ETH Zurich researchers developed nanovalves that can control individual nanoparticles in liquids using electric forces. This technology enables sorting and manipulation of tiny particles such as metal, semiconductor, virus, liposomes, and antibodies.
Researchers found that a shade-tree cover of approximately 30% has a predominantly positive effect on cocoa plants, maintaining maximum soil moisture and keeping pests and diseases in check. This amount of shade also increases animal and plant species, carbon sequestration, and cooling effects on temperature.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a device that combines multiple gas sensors to detect entrapped people. The device, the size of a small computer chip, can identify specific chemical compounds emitted by humans and distinguish them from other sources.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have identified volatile biomarkers that can detect malaria in people with no external symptoms. The study found that changes in human odours are characteristic of both acute and asymptomatic malaria infections, allowing for nearly 100% detection rate even at low pathogen quantities.
The Swiss Personalized Health Network aims to develop guidelines for responsible health data sharing, addressing key topics like data quality and patient sovereignty. Innovative solutions, including blockchain and reciprocity-based incentives, are being explored to overcome hurdles in data sharing.
The study shows that using rough particles can significantly reduce the amount of material needed to achieve sudden solidification in suspensions. This could lead to improved cement flow characteristics and potential applications in everyday materials like bullet-proof vests.
ETH Zurich scientists have discovered two new materials that could advance the development of aluminum batteries: a corrosion-resistant titanium nitride material and a flexible polypyrene material for the positive electrode. These advancements aim to improve the energy storage capacity, cost-effectiveness, and scalability of sustainabl...
A synthetic gene network implanted under the skin monitors blood calcium levels to detect four common types of cancer, triggering a visible mole when a threshold is exceeded. Early detection increases survival chances by up to 98%, significantly improving treatment outcomes.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a marker substance to visualize NMDA receptors on nerve cells using positron emission tomography (PET). This will aid in researching various brain diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and depression. The PET tracer may also help determine the correct dosage of drugs influencing NMDA receptor ...
Researchers at ETH Zurich found that initial estimates of Ebola's genome change rate were due to biased computer models and limited virus sample data. The team's new calculations show a slower, more accurate mutation rate over time.
Researchers found that the efficiency of information processing cannot be increased indefinitely, with thermodynamic and information theory combining to identify key factors. Better understanding and tailored software can influence the limit.
Glacier research suggests north-facing ice cliffs contribute significantly to melting of debris-covered glaciers in the Himalayas. Satellites show rapid mass loss, contrary to initial assumptions that debris protects the ice from direct solar radiation.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new screening method that speeds up the search for drugs using a 35 million compound DNA-encoded chemical library. The library consists of drug candidates with a stable ring-shaped basic structure and varied attachments, allowing for highly-specific binding to proteins.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a self-folding material inspired by the earwig's wing, which can operate without muscular actuation. This innovation has potential applications in space travel, foldable electronics, and everyday objects.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered that Schwann cells produce fatty acids through an enzyme called FASN, which is essential for myelin layer formation and maintenance. This breakthrough has implications for understanding the development of rare childhood diseases and potential treatments.
Researchers found that multiple small differences, rather than a single factor, explain the large variation in how people respond to drugs. The study used systems biology and metabolomics techniques to analyze protein and metabolite concentrations in cell culture experiments.
A new method has been developed to crystallize membrane proteins of any type or size, allowing researchers to elucidate their structure. The technique uses lipid-water mixtures to create self-assembled channels that enable large proteins to be crystallized.
Researchers developed machine learning software that allows computers to learn the quantum state of complex systems based on experimental observations. This approach enables faster tomography for quantum states and has implications for testing quantum computers with many qubits.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have made a groundbreaking discovery that protein amyloids can self-replicate, challenging the long-held RNA hypothesis as the origin of life. The findings suggest that early life forms may have used amyloids as information carriers and catalytic units.
The study reveals the importance of sugary appendages on protein surfaces, which differ in composition and branching. The researchers discovered the three-dimensional structure of oligosaccharyltransferase, providing insight into eukaryotic N-glycosylation.
The ozone layer has continued to decline in the lower stratosphere, contrary to expectations that it would have recovered by the middle of the century. Satellite measurements show a decrease in ozone concentrations at latitudes between 60° S and 60° N since the Montreal Protocol banned ozone-depleting substances in 1989.
Researchers have developed a novel technology platform to genetically modify phage genomes systematically, providing additional functionality. The new phage workbench allows for the creation of custom bacteriophages with various functions, overcoming constraints associated with naturally occurring phages.
Researchers have developed a new method to quantify protein-metabolite interactions, discovering hundreds of new interactions and binding sites. The approach has the potential to identify new regulatory mechanisms, enzymes, and metabolic reactions in cells.
Researchers developed a practical approach combining clever land use and urban radiation management to cool extreme summer temperatures locally. The measures can lower temperatures in agricultural regions and densely populated areas by up to two degrees Celsius.
A new algorithm developed by ETH Zurich and Stanford University aims to increase employment opportunities for refugees in Switzerland by up to 73%. By analyzing data on refugees' characteristics and labor market conditions, the algorithm provides a tailored recommendation for which canton each refugee is most likely to find work.
Researchers at ETH Zurich investigate extreme winter weather events that led to unprecedented sea ice melting. A unique combination of air currents and high-pressure systems accelerated the melting, reducing sea ice thickness by 30 centimeters in some areas.