News EPFL

New high-performance computing hub aims to harness the sun's energy

Published:23.03.21 — EPFL will soon be home to a European hub for high-performance computing focused on fusion power – a potential source of clean, risk-free energy. As part of this effort, EPFL’s Swiss Plasma Center will lead a campus-wide, cross-disciplinary research team.

A new dye shakes up solar cells

Published:22.03.21 — EPFL scientists have developed a new dye for solar cells that enables high power-conversion efficiency while being simple and cheap to make. The dye also works exceptionally well under low-light conditions, which is key for self- and low-powered devices.

Lung cancer resistance: the key is glucose

Published:22.03.21 — Lung tumors are home to immune cells that affect their growth and resistance to treatment. Looking at neutrophils, scientists led by EPFL have discovered that the key might lie in the cells’ ability to metabolize glucose, opening an entirely new target for improving radiotherapy.

Mini-fuel cell delivers maximum performance

Published:19.03.21 — EPFL startup INERGIO has just unveiled a prototype for a lightweight, eco-friendly, high-performance fuel cell that can supply energy in situations where there’s no power grid. Its system can be used to run delivery drones, weather stations, environmental sensors, telecommunication antennae and even campsites. 

Revealing the way a critical enzyme works in the cell

Published:19.03.21 — Combining structural biology, molecular simulations, mutagenesis, and in vivo assays, EPFL scientists have made the first extensive study of the mode of action of the enzyme acyl thioesterase, which regulates deacylation, one of the most critical functions of the cell.

A new Master's in Sustainable Management and Technology

Published:18.03.21 — This year’s Specialized Master’s Days marked the occasion to introduce EPFL’s new joint Master’s in Sustainable Management and Technology, a degree that will prepare our next generation to spearhead the transition towards a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive economy and which is hosted by the multi-institutional initiative Enterprise for Society Center (E4S).

Nano-mapping phase transitions in electronic materials

Published:18.03.21 — Scientists at EPFL and the University of Geneva have combined two powerful, cutting-edge techniques to uncover the physics behind an exotic phase transition that turns a metal into an insulator. The materials they looked at are rare-earth nickelates, which are of great interest for innovating new approaches in electronics.