News EPFL

Simulation of a double impact reveals the heart of an asteroid

Published:14.02.13 — Models boost the significance of image and measurement data from space missions and help to understand our solar system. A simulation of a double impact that occurred on the proto-planet Vesta one billion years ago allowed scientists to describe precisely the inner structure of the asteroid. A joint research from EPFL, Bern University, France and the United States is on the cover of Nature this week.

New world record efficiency for thin film silicon solar cells

Published:12.02.13 — EPFL’s Institute of Microengineering has reached a remarkable 10.7% efficiency single-junction microcrystalline silicon solar cell, clearly surpassing the previous world record of 10.1% held by the Japanese company Kaneka Corporation since 1998. Such significant efficiency, independently certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE CalLab PV Cells), was achieved in addition with less than 2 micrometers of photovoltaic active material.

Peering into living cells

Published:11.02.13 — Two young EPFL scientists have developed a device that can create 3D images of living cells and track their reaction to various stimuli without the use of contrast dyes or fluorophores.

Two prizes for cancer research

Published:08.02.13 — For his research on cancer metastases, EPFL scientist Albert Santamaria Martínez has won one of the Pfizer prizes, awards given to young scientists for discoveries in medicine. Tatiana Petrova, a professor at the University of Lausanne and CHUV who is affiliated with the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, has also been awarded one of these prizes.

All-terrain technology for developing countries

Published:07.02.13 — EPFL is launching “EssentialTech,” a unique program in which engineers will in particular produce medical devices custom-designed for the difficult conditions encountered in developing countries.

Back at EPFL after a year in Harvard

Published:06.02.13 — Four students from EPFL completed their masters projects in Harvard Medical School labs thanks to the sponsorship of the Bertarelli Foundation. Here is a snapshot of their trip, featuring anecdotes and fascinating research in neuroscience.

Doctoral student designs microphones that monitor road traffic

Published:03.02.13 — An EPFL doctoral student has designed a microphone-based system that functions as an automatic road traffic sensor. The technology can determine not just how much traffic there is, but also how fast vehicles are going and even their size. It has already sparked an interest in the Swiss towns of Sion and Martigny.