January 2016

Last Friday at ETH Zurich an event was held to coincide with the World Web Forum digital conference. The event hosted well-known speakers such as John Sculley, the former CEO of Apple and Pepsi. This free forum for students, trainees, and young professionals was organised by the Department of Computer Science. Department Head Markus Püschel explains its purpose.

ETH scientists pushed the sensitivity limits of state-of-the-art trace gas analysers. The instruments are now ready for use in medicine, biological research and forensics.

Soja ist die weltweit am intensivsten angebaute Hülsenfrucht – dies im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes. Die Anbaufläche beträgt rund 100 Millionen Hektar; 25-mal die Fläche der Schweiz. Drei Viertel dieser Soja ist gentechnisch verändert. Dennoch ist die Hülsenfrucht nicht nur für Big Business, sondern auch für die Bio-Landwirtschaft interessant.

Lorenz Meier, a doctoral student in computer science at ETH Zurich, created the PX4 software that is already being used to pilot many drones. Now, one of the world’s biggest electronics manufacturers has adopted the software as standard.

Die UNO hat 2016 zum internationalen Jahr der Hülsenfrüchte erkoren. Doch warum gebührt diesen Früchten derartige Ehre? Erbse, Bohne, Linse und Co bergen das Potenzial, die globale Landwirtschaft schonend zu intensivieren. Sie verdienen es darum klar, dass wir uns stärker für sie interessieren.

ETH researchers have developed a new water filtration system that is superior to existing systems in many respects: it is extremely efficient at removing various toxic heavy metal ions and radioactive substances from water and can even be used in gold recovery.

It is natural to think that reducing our energy consumption is good for the climate. We can ride a bicycle instead of driving a car. And if we drive a car, we can drive a smaller, more fuel-efficient car. These things certainly help reduce urban noise, congestion, and air pollution. But do they really help to solve climate change?

The world has decided to adopt measures to prevent average global warming from exceeding the two-degree mark. But what does this mean for temperature and the distribution of heavy precipitation on a regional level? Climate researchers have now calculated this.

Seven promising start-ups, over 100 domestic and international investors, and four hours to shine: this was the first Investor Summit at Zurich Airport. To see how start-ups use the event to their benefit, ETH News accompanied the team from ETH spin-off Archilogic to the event.

A new 3D microprinting process allows scientists to manufacture tiny, complex metal components easily. The technology used was designed by ETH researchers years ago for biological research and has now been further developed for a completely different application.