News EPFL - EPFL

Martin Vetterli elected president of the SNSF

Published:02.03.12 — EPFL researcher appointed head of the Swiss National Science Foundation. Martin Vetterli, currently dean of the School of Computer and Communication Sciences, will start his new position in January 2013.

AGEPoly melts the ice for its 60th!

Published:29.02.12 — From February 27 to March 3, l’AGEPoly will celebrate its 60th birthday during the occasion of the second edition of Polynice with a program that leaves no one out in the cold!

Getting a handle on chronic pain

Published:27.02.12 — Chronic pain has a significant impact on the physical, social and emotional functioning of those who suffer from it. It is also notoriously challenging to diagnose and treat, because pain is such a subjective experience. Scientists at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) have developed a new tool that will give doctors an objective way to evaluate a patient’s pain level. This in turn will enable them to tailor more targeted treatments and monitor their effectiveness over time.

Breaking Down Cancer's Defense for Future Vaccines

Published:24.02.12 — Researchers at the EPFL have identified an important mechanism that could lead to the design of more effective cancer vaccines. Their discovery of a new-found role of the lymphatic system in tumour growth shows how tumours evade detection.

Fiber Optics in Computer Screens To Save Energy

Published:22.02.12 — A single fiber-optic can light up computer screens. This innovation put in place by L.E.S.S., a recently formed spin-off of EPFL, brings energy savings of 30% while boosting processors.

Earthquakes – the science of the stick-slip

Published:20.02.12 — Scientists have succeeded in modelling what happens when two bodies slide against each other and thereby release the pressure; a discovery that has implications for the understanding of the magnitude of earthquakes.

The art of shutting down a nuclear plant

Published:13.02.12 — Gaëtan Girardin, researcher in nuclear engineering, gives us the key to understanding nuclear reactor safety. While the disaster at Fukushima is at the center of our conversation, the recent and minor incident at the Mühleberg plant is also discussed.