Peat bogs – CO2 traps – must be protected

Published:31.03.11 — Too much nitrogen is harmful to these fragile ecosystems, and could lead to the release into the atmosphere of large quantities of carbon dioxide, as emphasized in an article written by researchers at the Laboratory of Ecological Systems at EPFL, recently published in the journal New Phytologist.

Proteins shed light on the lens of the eye

Published:30.03.11 — The lens of the eye, the only transparent part of the human body, is made up of proteins that still hold many mysteries for medical scientists. In order to solve them, it’s necessary to eventually understand both the eye itself and eye diseases. Giuseppe Foffi’s team has been studying the physical properties of our human lens, and their findings have just been published.

State-of-the-art technology used to reveal ancient walls

Published:29.03.11 — The involvement of two start-ups from EPFL will give some unusual perspectives on the remains of the imposing Roman villa uncovered within the perimeter of the Congress Center building site. Sensefly used its drones to make several aerial photos; Pix4d will aggregate them in order to generate a full-scale view of the buildings that may have belonged to a man named Dorinius.

Evolution of species is recorded in the genes

Published:28.03.11 — Climate change, population movements and natural or forced cross-breeding induce or accelerate the evolution of species. Between geographical information and genetics, a method developed by a researcher at EPFL as part of a European project enables traces of evolution due to the environement to be detected in genes.

SwissCube satellite sends back its first pictures

Published:25.03.11 — After an eventful start, SwissCube has sent back its first pictures. The first-ever Swiss satellite, in space for one year, will finally have fulfilled its mission thanks to the beneficial intervention of two students, and support from RUAG Space, as well as from the Swiss Confederation, CSEM, Loterie Romande, EOTEC, Bobst, the town of Le Locle and EADS-Astrium. This is a story of technological prowess.

Swiss science: current state and future challenges

Published:24.03.11 — Kurt Wüthrich, Susanne Suter and Patrick Aebischer will today discuss the role and the place of science in Swiss politics.

The drop that makes helium overflow

Published:23.03.11 — Helium droplets measuring just a few nanometers that have been associated with a highly excited atom have recently been observed for the first time. These nanodroplets, the theoretical existence of which was predicted around fifteen years ago, are the object of a new field of study and experimentation for basic research. Marcel Drabbels and his colleagues are taking part in this research by associating the drops with sodium, which they excite with a laser to form a stable system.