Theuns Eloff, vice-chancellor of the North-West-University in South Africa, visited the ETH Zurich. In the interview he explained how a university with three campuses and three languages works and why South Africa could be a gateway between the developing and the developed world.

Material scientists at ETH-Zürich are working on composite materials that mimic the structure of seashells. Such complex structures are produced using tiny magnetic particles which guide the composites' stiffer elements into place. This technique enables new technologies from durable coatings to stronger and lighter materials.

Extremely hydrophobic materials cause water to roll right off objects that have been coated with them. Up to now, it was assumed that aircraft or wind turbines coated in such a way did not ice up as easily. However, researchers from ETH Zurich have now shown that, under certain conditions, the surface materials do not influence ice formation.

As average global temperatures rise, larger parts of the world's oceans could become anoxic dead zones. This is shown by an analysis of the oxygen conditions during the past 20,000 years.

ETH Zurich can look back on a successful year of spin-offs. Last year, employees and graduates of ETH Zurich founded 22 spin-offs in a wide range of areas.