News 2021

Mar 9, 2021 | Biotechnology
Empa researchers have succeeded in extracting the pigment melanin in large quantities from a fungus. The gigantic Armillaria fungus in the service of science is one of the largest and oldest living organisms in the...
Mar 4, 2021 | AI for electricity distribution
Energy management in a house with a solar system is becoming increasingly complex: When do I turn on the heating so that it is nice and cosy in the evening? How much electricity can the hot water tank hold? Will there...
Mar 3, 2021 | Celebrating 50 years of "Sendung mit der Maus"
On Sunday, 7 March 2021, the "Sendung mit der Maus" celebrates its 50th birthday. For the anniversary edition of the most successful children's show on German TV, Armin Maiwald, anchorman from the very beginning, visited...
Feb 26, 2021 | Innovation from interdisciplinary collaboration
There is plenty of space for energy generation on building envelopes. However, photovoltaic façades are still rare, even though technology and aesthetics can be combined. As part of a competition, students at the Lucerne...
Feb 25, 2021 | Joint research of Empa and PSI
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and the partner institute Empa have started a joint initiative called SynFuels. The goal is to develop a process for producing kerosene from renewable resources. In this way...
Feb 18, 2021 | Siloxene: a new Empa spin-off
After a successful career in research at Empa, Matthias Koebel has now ventured into the private sector and founded the start-up Siloxene. The young entrepreneur has a construction kit filled with a miracle material, a...
Feb 16, 2021 | Radioactive waste repository
Cement is one of the key materials for the safe storage of radioactive waste. What is needed is an almost infinite durability of the containers. Empa researchers are therefore analyzing material systems that can handle...
Feb 9, 2021 | International team to tackle atmospheric pollution
After a mysterious and sharp increase between 2012 and 2017 that could be traced to eastern China global emissions of a potent (and banned) substance notorious for depleting the Earth’s ozone layer – the protective...
Feb 8, 2021 | SCS Award for PhD thesis
The former Empa scientist Kristýna Kantnerová receives the METAS Award 2021 in analytical chemistry, awarded by the Swiss Chemical Society, for her PhD thesis. In her research, she took a closer look at the well-known...
Feb 4, 2021 | NCCR Automation to develop intelligent energy systems
The new National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) Automation has been launched – with the goal of establishing Switzerland as one of the world's leading hubs for research, education and innovation in automation...
Jan 29, 2021 | Pandemic risk in ski resorts
Where do the greatest risks of infection lurk? How can you protect yourself and others even better? Scientists all over the world are working to expand knowledge about Covid-19 – including at Empa. Researchers are now...
Jan 28, 2021 | Together againt foodwaste
Vegetables and fruits often have a long way to go on the supermarket shelf. How can quality be intelligently maintained on long journeys and possible spoilage prevented? In cooperation with Coop, Empa experts are...
Jan 26, 2021 | Particulate matter
The broad introduction of particle filters reduced the emission of combustion generated fine and ultrafine particles significantly. As a result, brake disc and tire abrasion are moving into the focus of public health...
Jan 21, 2021 | Empa and Lidl Switzerland promote sustainability and energy efficiency
Lidl Switzerland aims to operate its stores even more sustainably and efficiently in the future. Together with Empa, the company now puts this plan into practice. First, the energy consumption and the interaction of...
Jan 20, 2021 | Prestigious award for BASE and Empa in data.org challenge
Today, data.org announced the eight global winners of the $10 million Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge, which aims to address major societal challenges through computer and data science. Among the winners is a...
Jan 14, 2021 | Portrait: Pietro Lura
Pietro Lura has bold plans. As head of the new "Concrete & Asphalt" lab at Empa, he is committed to durable materials that are subject to ever-changing external conditions. Climate change and the scarcity of resources...
Jan 12, 2021 | Noise protection
Cars, trains, planes: For two thirds of the European population, traffic noise is part of everyday life. However, the right environment can have a major impact on this nuisance, as Empa researchers have found out. Green...
Jan 8, 2021 | Interview with Rolf Huber from H2 Energy AG
For about six years, H2 Energy AG has been working to build a renewable hydrogen ecosystem in Switzerland. Yesterday, it was awarded the "Watt d'Or" by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) for its efforts. Recently,...
Jan 5, 2021 | When damaged ropes change color
High-performance fibres that have been exposed to high temperatures usually lose their mechanical properties undetected and, in the worst case, can tear precisely when lives depend on them. For example, safety ropes used...
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