Turbulent plasma tamed by mathematics

Published:22.02.11 — A team from EPFL is successfully reviewing existing models describing plasma, this very high temperature ion-and-electron soup. Tested using simulations, this revision paves the way for a better understanding of the design of nuclear fusion reactors, such as ITER.

Reprogrammed stem cells hit a roadblock

Published:21.02.11 — Is there a future for stem cell therapies that don’t use embryonic stem cells? An international study involving EPFL has raised doubts, by showing that “reprogramming” adult stem cells leads to genetic aberrations.

At AAAS 2011: Taking Brain-Computer Interfaces to the Next Phase

Published:17.02.11 — Brain-machine interfaces make gains by learning about their users, letting them rest, and allowing for multitasking.

A breakthrough in our understanding of ionic liquids

Published:17.02.11 — Electrolytes are usually conducting media, in which charged ions move freely in a solvent. Now an experiment led by Professor Jacques-E. Moser has revealed a new mechanism for electrical conduction in ionic liquid electrolytes.

A large African dam modeled in EPFL laboratory

Published:16.02.11 — The dam creating Lake Kariba and its spillway have been modeled in EPFL’s Hydraulic Constructions Laboratory. The school has been commissioned to study the erosion caused by the high-velocity jets issuing from the spillway gates during flood. A few years from now, if no action is taken , the stability of the dam might be endangered.

Good waves for saving lives

Published:15.02.11 — A device developed at EPFL, in cooperation with Colombian universities, enables the remote-control explosion of improvised land-mines by using electro-magnetic energy.

A waffle-mold for improving Grätzel cells

Published:14.02.11 — A new process, developed and refined at Stanford University, and based on work performed by Michael Grätzel at EPFL, will result in improvements in the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells.This method could also enable reductions in manufacturing costs.