May 2016

Creativity, skill and most of all team spirit are what matter in the innovation and focus projects undertaken in the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zurich. Students spend months working on their technical innovations, which they will present today in the main ETH building.

No tunnel without science: the Gotthard Base Tunnel will be opened officially this weekend. The world’s longest railway tunnel relied on the expertise of dozens of ETH alumni and numerous ETH researchers.

Thirty architecture students from ETH Zurich’s Studio Tom Emerson have made their first venture into a large-scale project. After ten months of intensive work, the Pavilion of Reflections is ready on time for the opening of the Manifesta 11 European Biennial of Contemporary Art in Zurich.

The ETH Board has appointed 18 professors at ETH Zurich in accordance with the application submitted by ETH Zurich President Lino Guzzella.

ETH Zurich will present a whole range of projects at this year’s International Architecture Exhibition in Venice. At the invitation of curator Alejandro Aravena, several project groups in which ETH is involved will present their contributions in the main exhibition, exhibit at national pavilions and play an active role in the supporting programme.

A principle may be simple, but in mathematics it can be the key to the solution of challenging problems. The pigeonhole principle is a good starting point for students who want to get to know the creative side of proofs.

ETH scientists have discovered a new catalyst that allows the easy conversion of natural gas constituents into precursors for the production of fuels or complex chemicals, such as polymers or pharmaceuticals. The new catalyst is extremely stable and results in fewer unwanted by-products.

ETH chemists are developing a new coating method to protect seeds from being eaten by insects. In doing so, they have drawn inspiration from the humble peach and a few of its peers.

Cells use a sophisticated parcel service to transport biomolecules to their destination. James E. Rothman discovered the cellular transport system, winning the Nobel Prize for Physiology in 2013 for his work. Next week, he will give this year’s Pauli Lectures at ETH Zurich.

Die Alpen und ihre Gletscher sind das Wasserschloss Europas. Schwindet das «ewige» Eis, könnte das Wasser in den Sommermonaten knapp werden. Warum nicht die abnehmende Speicherwirkung der Gletscher mit neuen Stauseen kompensieren?