News EPFL

A Dam at Gibraltar to Control the Level of the Sea

Published:14.08.14 — Summer Series – Student Work (5): For his master’s work, a student in hydraulic engineering has conceived of a dam in the Strait of Gibraltar to contain rising waters in the Mediterranean. This work of art worthy of Pharoah would allow boats and marine wildlife to pass while maintaining a constant sea level.

An innovative Contact Lens for Glaucoma

Published:13.08.14 — EPFL researchers have participated in the development of a contact lens for the early detection of glaucoma. Clinical trials are being conducted at the CHUV.

Spin-based electronics: New material successfully tested

Published:11.08.14 — Spintronics is a new field of electronics, using electron spin rather than motion. This technology requires insulating components that can control this quantum property. Scientists have shown experimentally that a novel material shows all the required properties.

The immediate aftermath of an oil spill

Published:08.08.14 — The fate of oil during the first day after an accidental oil spill is still poorly understood, with researchers often arriving on the scene only after several days. New findings from a field experiment carried out in the North Sea provide valuable insight that could help shape the emergency response in the immediate wake of disasters.

Baby Universe picture brought closer to theory

Published:05.08.14 — The Planck Telescope allowed physicists to draw the most detailed map of the first light emitted after the Big Bang. Some of its features do not entirely fit the standard cosmological theory, but scientists have discovered that these anomalies could be explained by how the data was processed.

Uncovering the 3D structure of a key neuroreceptor

Published:04.08.14 — EPFL scientists reveal for the first time the 3D structure of a crucial neuroreceptor. The achievement has great implications for understanding the basic mechanism of electrical signal transmission between neurons and might help to design novel medicines to treat various neurological diseases.

Cancer: Tumors Absorb Sugar for Mobility

Published:30.07.14 — Some cancer cells are characterized by both high sugar intake and high mobility. Researchers at EPFL show that these two phenomena are related.