News EPFL

Bacteria a potential threat to nuclear waste repositories

Published:09.07.12 — By interacting with the radioactive waste and the materials used to contain it, underground microorganisms may affect the safety of nuclear waste repositories, for better or for worse.

Demystifying the immortality of cancer cells

Published:05.07.12 — In cancer cells, normal mechanisms governing the cellular life cycle have gone haywire. Cancer cells continue to divide indefinitely, without ever dying off, thus creating rapidly growing tumors. EPFL scientists have discovered a protein complex involved this deregulated process, and hope to be able to exploit it to stop tumor formation in its tracks.

A floating port for docking boats offshore

Published:02.07.12 — SUMMER SERIES: Students projects - Moorage space is becoming increasingly rare in the ports along Lake Geneva. An EPFL student is working on an alternative that provides additional mooring spots without overcrowding the lakefront.

Probing the secrets of unmagnetized magnets

Published:29.06.12 — EPFL physicists studying magnetic materials have discovered that they have some unexpected properties. Their research could lead to the development of even tinier magnets in the future.

Using bad chips to build energy efficient smartphones

Published:27.06.12 — Defective chips could be used to develop cheaper and energy efficient smartphones and computers.

A new dimension for cell culture

Published:25.06.12 — The system developed by QGel allows for new tests of anti-cancer medication and novel experimentation in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

The phone that knows where you're going

Published:22.06.12 — Can mobile phones predict our behavior? Three EPFL students won the "Nokia Mobile Data Challenge" by accurately predicting the place where phone users were likely to go next. Their method could be used to develop new services and applications.