Designing synthetic receptors for precise cell control

Published:24.05.23 — A groundbreaking new technique for engineering biosensors that respond sensitively to specific biomolecules can lead to more precise control over cellular processes for a wide range of therapeutic applications such as cancer treatments.

Climpact: Flying, Fondue and CO2

Published:23.05.23 — Everything we do has a carbon footprint but are our perceptions of the emissions we generate on a daily basis aligned with reality? To find out, two EPFL researchers have launched Climpact a new tool to help separate fact from fiction.

Amputees feel warmth in their missing hand

Published:19.05.23 — An unexpected discovery about temperature feedback has led to new bionic technology that allows amputees to sense the temperature of objects ­– both hot and cold – directly in the phantom hand. The technology opens up new avenues for non-invasive prosthetics.

Diagnosing inflammatory diseases with synthetic peptides

Published:17.05.23 — Scientists have developed a peptide that binds to the protein calprotectin, a marker of major inflammatory disorders, and shown that it is suitable for diagnostic tests. The use of synthetic peptides for sensing disease markers is of great interest as they are more precise, robust, and cheaper than antibodies commonly used in diagnostic tests.

Workshop helps eliminate unconscious biases

Published:15.05.23 — Unconscious biases are formed by the culture and society we live in, along with our education and personal experiences. In the engineering profession, this biases often work against women and minorities. But a recent EPFL study found that training can help us change our behavior.

When scientific research explores artistic questions

Published:12.05.23 — From visual arts and sculpture to sound, film and puppetry, all projects led by the four artists in EPFL's College of Humanities Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program, ‘Enter the Hyper-Scientific’ started in the same way – and, indeed, in the same way as any scientific project: with a question.

Deployable electrodes for minimally invasive craniosurgery

Published:11.05.23 — EPFL scientists have developed electrode arrays that can be funneled through a small hole in the skull and deployed over a relatively large surface over the brain’s cortex. The technology may be particularly useful for providing minimally invasive solutions for epileptic patients.