News EPFL

Studying collective bee behavior thanks to robotics

Published:28.07.25 — EPFL researchers are developing robotic beehive frames that help locate honey stores inside of beehives over time, without relying on cameras. The aim is to develop new observation tools to study honeybee behavior that better fit the bees’ natural way to occupy space compared to current methods.

Smart microscope captures aggregation of misfolded proteins

Published:24.07.25 — EPFL researchers have developed a ‘self-driving’ microscope that can predict the onset of misfolded protein aggregation – a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease – as well as analyze the biomechanical properties of these aggregates.

AI can't see as well as humans, and how to fix it

Published:22.07.25 — A study from EPFL reveals why humans excel at recognizing objects from fragments while AI struggles, highlighting the critical role of contour integration in human vision.

Uranium-based catalyst turns air nitrogen into ammonia

Published:21.07.25 — EPFL researchers have created a uranium catalyst that converts nitrogen gas into ammonia using a unique binding method, potentially offering insights into more sustainable fertilizer production.

Elephant robot demonstrates bioinspired 3D printing technology

Published:17.07.25 — EPFL researchers have pioneered a 3D-printable, programmable lattice structure for robotics that mimics the vast diversity of biological tissues – from a flexible trunk to rigid bone – using a single foam material.

Light reveals secrets encoded in chiral metasurfaces

Published:16.07.25 — By leveraging the concept of chirality, or the difference of a shape from its mirror image, EPFL scientists have engineered an optical metasurface that controls light to yield a simple and versatile technique for secure encryption, sensing, and computing.

New liquid can simplify hydrogen transportation and storage

Published:15.07.25 — Researchers at EPFL and Kyoto University have created a stable hydrogen-rich liquid formed by mixing two simple chemicals. This breakthrough could make hydrogen storage easier, safer, and more efficient at room temperature.