News EPFL

A Magic Formula to Predict Fracture in Steel

Published:22.11.12 — EPFL researchers have elucidated a century-old mystery: how hydrogen destroys steels. A new mathematical model predicts this failure in the presence of the destructive atoms.

Analyzing Lake Geneva from the air – a second wind for elemo

Published:20.11.12 — One year after the MIR submersibles dove into the depths of Lake Geneva, the elemo program is delivering its first scientific results. And with the support of Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the operation will be extended with a campaign to make observations above the lake surface from a sensor-packed ultralight aircraft. The same experiments are planned above Lake Baikal in Russia.

Software Enables Avatar to Reproduce Our Emotions in Real Time

Published:19.11.12 — A virtual character produces the same facial expressions as its user. It makes a video game, chat, or an animated film both fun and fast. Faceshift, an EPFL spin-off, launches its software on the market today.

Tracking facial features to make driving safer and more comfortable

Published:16.11.12 — For those familiar with its language, the face reflects much about an individual’s identity and emotional state. EPFL scientists are developing a tool that will be able to use facial information to make the cars of the future safer and more comfortable.

Choreographing light

Published:14.11.12 — When beams of light hit a pool of water or a glass object, they produce beautiful, seemingly random patterns on surrounding surfaces. EPFL scientists have developed an algorithm to control these patterns and organize them into coherent images. The work could open the door to interesting new architectural applications.

Using rust and water to store solar energy as hydrogen

Published:11.11.12 — EPFL scientists are producing hydrogen from sunlight, water and rust. They’re paving the way for an economic and ecological solution for storing renewable energy.

EPFL Startup Explores New Directions In Open Access

Published:09.11.12 — The “Frontiers in” journal series brings its peer review model to 13 new fields.