During epidemics, access to GPS data from smartphones can be crucial

Published:15.11.19 — A new EPFL and MIT study into the interplay between mobility and the 2013 and 2014 dengue outbreaks in Singapore has uncovered a legal void around access to mobile phone data – information that can prove vital in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. 

Place of residence and sodas, an explosive cocktail

Published:14.11.19 — In a groundbreaking study published today, scientists used precision geospatial analysis techniques to show that obesity and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are more prevalent in some parts of Geneva than others. The study, a collaboration between HUG, EPFL, UNIGE and CHUV, is the first of its kind to establish a link between place of residence, SSB consumption and high body mass index (BMI).

EPFL-developed geothermal panels reach international finals

Published:14.11.19 — EPFL researchers have developed a geothermal system for recovering the heat captured in basements, subway tunnels and underground parking garages. Their technology will compete today in the finals of ClimateLaunchPad – the world’s largest competition for green business ideas.

A more sustainable material to reinforce concrete structures

Published:13.11.19 — The next generation of ultra high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) has just been created at EPFL. The new material will be used to strengthen and to extend the life span of bridges and other structures – both new and old. What’s more, the process of manufacturing this material releases 60–70% less CO2 than the previous generation of fiber-reinforced concrete.

A cheaper way to scale up atomic layer deposition

Published:12.11.19 — Chemical engineers at EPFL have developed a new method for atomic layer deposition, a technique commonly used in high-quality microelectronics. The new method can be used in materials with larger surfaces much more cheaply than current approaches, while preserving quality and efficiency.

Nitrous oxide emissions set to rise in the Pacific Ocean

Published:11.11.19 — The acidification of the Pacific Ocean in northern Japan is increasing the natural production rate of N2O, an ozone-depleting greenhouse gas. That’s the finding of a study carried out jointly by scientists at EPFL, Tokyo Institute of Technology and Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology and appearing recently in Nature Climate Change.

Using AI to predict where and when lightning will strike

Published:08.11.19 — Researchers at EPFL have developed a novel way of predicting lightning strikes to the nearest 10 to 30 minutes and within a radius of 30 kilometers. The system uses a combination of standard data from weather stations and artificial intelligence.