News EPFL

Cleaning up Earth's orbit: A Swiss satellite to tackle space debris

Published:08.03.12 — The proliferation of debris orbiting the Earth – primarily jettisoned rocket and satellite components – is an increasingly pressing problem for spacecraft, and it can generate huge costs. To combat this scourge, the Swiss Space Center at EPFL is announcing today the launch of CleanSpace One, a project to develop and build the first installment of a family of satellites specially designed to clean up space debris.

A Cardboard Bridge That Supports 297 Times Its Own Weight!

Published:08.03.12 — The second edition of the “Cardboard Bridge Contest” took place Monday at EPFL. The participants had access to no more than 100 grams of cardboard and white glue to create a bridge reaching one meter in length.

A Heating System with a Brain

Published:06.03.12 — A start-up from EPFL and CSEM is putting on the market a thermal regulator that uses neural networks to learn about your house as the seasons change, allowing for savings of up to 65% on fuel.

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.