News EPFL

When the mind controls the machines

Published:23.01.13 — More than a hundred patients suffering from severe motor impairments have voluntarily participated in the development of non-invasive brain-machine interfaces. The main purpose of these machines is to allow the patients either regain some of their mobility or improve their social relationships. Today, three presentations took place in Sion during the closing seminar of the TOBI European research program (www.tobi-project.org), which has been coordinated by EPFL for approximately four years.

A Light to Manage Learning Exercises

Published:21.01.13 — This simple but effective system helps teachers manage exercise sessions. The “Lantern,” created by a spin-off of EPFL, also enables students to make the most of their time as they search for answers.

How shrubs are disrupting our primary carbon stocking ecosystem

Published:17.01.13 — For the first time, a group of scientists from WSL and EPFL described why on the long run peatlands may not be able to continue fulfilling their role as the most effective carbon stocking ecosystems. They studied the mechanisms behind a phenomenon known as shrub encroachment of peatlands: Complex plant-microbe interactions are at the root of this worldwide vegetation change. The findings have been published online today in Nature Climate Change.

An iconic building to quicken the research on cancer in Lausanne

Published:15.01.13 — The ISREC Foundation and its partners, CHUV, UNIL and EPFL, today unveiled the layout and blueprint of the new cancer centre. It was Behnisch of Stuttgart who won the tender for the parallel studies mandate for the design and construction of the translational oncology centre.

Childhood trauma leaves its mark on the brain

Published:15.01.13 — EPFL scientists have found that childhood trauma leaves a lasting imprint on the brain – a structural change that is related to a predisposition to violence.

Scientific advances that made 2012

Published:11.01.13 — 2012 was an excellent year for research at EPFL. As a preview to a special section in the next Flash, here is a small selection of the most spoken-about scientific results from last year.

Jacques Fellay presented with the 2012 National Latsis Prize

Published:09.01.13 — Member of the Global Health Institute at EPFL, Jacques Fellay will be presented with the 2012 National Latsis Prize this week for his research on genetic variations in the human genome and their effects on the treatment and reaction to viruses.