News EPFL

A Big Data tool begins new era for biology and personalized medicine

Published:29.11.17 — Researchers from EPFL have developed a novel series of systems genetics tools to identify new links between genes and phenotypes. The work, a hallmark of EPFL’s endeavors into the advancement of open science, brings biology to the cloud and sets the stage for the development of precision medicine. The study is published in Cell Systems.

The key to chemical transformations

Published:29.11.17 — Professor Xile Hu, an expert in catalysis at EPFL’s Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, has been awarded the 2017 National Latsis Prize.

Bringing social media to unconnected areas

Published:27.11.17 — The number of connected devices may be on the rise, but large swaths of the global population still live in areas without telecom infrastructure or a reliable internet connection. A group of EPFL researchers, working with the Pennsylvania State University and Médecins Sans Frontières, have developed a number of solutions to connect these areas. 

"Lab-developed technology a boon to today's athletes"

Published:24.11.17 — At this year’s EPFL Information Days, Pascal Vuilliomenet, an EPFL project manager for sports innovation, gave would-be students a cross-disciplinary talk on the latest technological advancements in his field.

Are our lakes on the brink of suffocation?

Published:24.11.17 — In order to gain insight into how lakes breathe, EPFL scientists have studied oxygen depletion in the depths of Lake Geneva – the first time such research has been carried out. By collecting key data, they were able to enhance their understanding of the lake's ecosystem and how it is likely to evolve over time.

Alzheimer's Tau protein forms toxic complexes with cell membranes

Published:22.11.17 — Alzheimer’s disease is caused by tangles in the brain made up of malfunctioning aggregated Tau proteins. Scientists at EPFL have discovered a new toxic form of Tau that forms as a result of its interaction with cell membranes. The research is published in Nature Communications and provides novel insights into possible mechanisms by which this protein moves in the brain and kills neurons.

How to make straight nanowires, in three minutes

Published:22.11.17 — Nanowires are the building blocks of quantum computers, and their secrets have now been revealed, thanks to Lucas Güniat. This talented speaker described the results of his PhD research on nanowires in EPFL’s “My Thesis in 180 Seconds” contest. His passion for his work, coupled with the extraordinary microcrystals used to make the tiny wires, earned him first place in a unanimous vote.