ETH Life - Science

Detecting tumour cells individually

2012-05-16T03:00:00Z

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. [16.05.12]

Starter grant from Grand Challenges Explorations

2012-05-15T03:00:00Z

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. [15.05.12]

How environmental effects regulate genes

2012-05-14T03:00:00Z

ETH-Zurich researchers provide evidence that a specific protein responds to environmental stimuli, regulates genes accordingly and thus exchanges information with the cell memory. Cancer drugs that are currently being tested inhibit precisely this protein. [14.05.12]

How quantum physicists amplify randomness

2012-05-10T03:00:00Z

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. [10.05.12]

A new paper made of graphene and protein fibrils

2012-05-07T03:00:00Z

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. [07.05.12]

Tropical climate stored in stalagmites

2012-05-04T03:00:00Z

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. [04.05.12]

Escape response of small fish tested using a supercomputer

2012-05-02T03:00:00Z

ETH researchers have for the first time succeeded in discovering the optimal escape response of fish using a supercomputer. The aim was to test whether the escape mechanism of small fish, developed in the course of evolution, is optimal for achieving the maximum escape distance in a short time. [02.05.12]

Not only humans compensate

2012-04-19T03:00:00Z

ETH-Zurich researchers have found evidence that plants also “invented” the dosage compensation of sex chromosomes. They detected this phenomenon in the white campion. [19.04.12]

Wind power with benefits

2012-04-16T07:01:00Z

Many developing countries should turn to wind power plants because of the lower costs, ETH-Zurich researchers have concluded in a new study on the use of climate protection funding from the north. [16.04.12]

Brain Network Reveals Disorders

2012-04-12T03:00:00Z

Researchers at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich identify a new method of unerringly detecting the presence of pathophysiological changes in the brain. The new method was developed in order to gain a mechanistic understanding of schizophrenia and other spectrum disorders. [12.04.12]