ETH-Zurich researchers have devised a method to detect mutations in tumour cells that are only present in a proportion of the cancer’s cells. The analysis reveals that cells of individual tumours are more variable than first thought – and differ from patient to patient.

ETH-Zurich postdoctoral fellow Bogdan Mateescu has done it: he is to receive a six-figure grant from Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he wants to use to investigate why breast milk contains microRNA.

Randomness can be amplified. This is the conclusion reached by two ETH Zurich physicists in a study. The results have practical applications, e.g. for casino operators and in cryptography.

Researchers led by Raffaele Mezzenga, a professor in Food and Soft Materials Science, have created a new nanocomposite made of graphene and protein fibrils: a special paper, which combines the best features of both components.

An international research team headed by ETH Zürich for the first time presents data on tropical precipitation from stalagmites up to 570,000 years old. The data shed new light on interactions within the global climate system.