News EPFL

Evolution of species is recorded in the genes

Published:28.03.11 — Climate change, population movements and natural or forced cross-breeding induce or accelerate the evolution of species. Between geographical information and genetics, a method developed by a researcher at EPFL as part of a European project enables traces of evolution due to the environement to be detected in genes.

SwissCube satellite sends back its first pictures

Published:25.03.11 — After an eventful start, SwissCube has sent back its first pictures. The first-ever Swiss satellite, in space for one year, will finally have fulfilled its mission thanks to the beneficial intervention of two students, and support from RUAG Space, as well as from the Swiss Confederation, CSEM, Loterie Romande, EOTEC, Bobst, the town of Le Locle and EADS-Astrium. This is a story of technological prowess.

Swiss science: current state and future challenges

Published:24.03.11 — Kurt Wüthrich, Susanne Suter and Patrick Aebischer will today discuss the role and the place of science in Swiss politics.

The drop that makes helium overflow

Published:23.03.11 — Helium droplets measuring just a few nanometers that have been associated with a highly excited atom have recently been observed for the first time. These nanodroplets, the theoretical existence of which was predicted around fifteen years ago, are the object of a new field of study and experimentation for basic research. Marcel Drabbels and his colleagues are taking part in this research by associating the drops with sodium, which they excite with a laser to form a stable system.

Erna Hamburger Prize awarded to a remarkable chemist

Published:22.03.11 — The EPFL-WISH Foundation will award its Erna Hamburger Prize today, to acknowledge a distinguished career by a woman. The prize, which is being awarded for the sixth consecutive year, honors Ada Yonath – joint winner of the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 2009 – for her research into a key element of living things: the ribosome.

An Open Source Program For Understanding the Brain

Published:21.03.11 — A new technology allowing for a detailed cartography of the fiber connections made in the brain is now available as an open source program.

Reflex: the challenges of biodiversity

Published:18.03.11 — Globalized insects, standardized cows and beneficial global warming – the EPFL magazine uncovers hidden aspects of biodiversity.