Dec 19, 2019 | Reproducing historical trombones
To play a piece of music as it was conceived by the composer is a trend. But where can the rare historical instruments be found? The solution would be exact copies of the coveted originals. A team of Empa researchers is...
Dec 13, 2019 | ETH Zurich appoints Empa researcher professor
Empa researcher Dominik Brunner was appointed titular professor by ETH Zurich. He teaches environmental system sciences in the ETH Department and heads a research group at Empa that uses modelling to analyse the...
Dec 10, 2019 | Elusive molecule predicted in the 1970s synthesized
Graphene, a two-dimensional structure made of carbon, is a material with excellent mechanical, electronic and optical properties. However, it did not seem suitable for magnetic applications. Together with international...
Dec 5, 2019 | Greenhouse gas emissions from soil
Thanks to a newly developed laser spectrometer, Empa researchers can for the first time show which processes in grassland lead to nitrous oxide emissions. The aim is to reduce emissions of this potent greenhouse gas by...
Dec 3, 2019 | Auxetic membranes
A material that thickens when you pull on it seems to contradict the laws of physics. However, the so-called auxetic effect, which also occurs in nature, is interesting for a number of applications. A new Empa study...
Nov 28, 2019 | Planned obsolescence
Whether mobile phone or automatic toilets – electronic devices are becoming increasingly complex. And who hasn't heard stories of devices that fail precisely after the warranty has expired? According to Empa researcher...
Nov 26, 2019 | Espionage for wound healing
Whether a wound heals well under a dressing cannot be seen from the outside. Empa researchers are now enabling a view through the bandage à la James Bond. The refined application of terahertz radiation could promote the...
Nov 25, 2019 | ICOS Switzerland
Greenhouse gases are the cause of climate change. The European infrastructure network ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) is committed to standardised measurements so that emissions can be compared across Europe....
Nov 21, 2019 | Computer model calculates heat disipation beneath clothing
Whether for sports, at work or in the living room – depending on activity and environment, our clothing has to meet different demands. Empa scientists have developed a model that predicts how well a given garment will...
Nov 20, 2019 | Two Empa scientists among the "Highly Cited Researchers"
Empa researchers Bernd Nowack and Maksym Kovalenko are among the most cited in the world. According to this year's list of "Highly Cited Researchers", the publications of the two Empa researchers in their respective...
Nov 19, 2019 | Wood technology
Empa scientist Mark Schubert and his team would like to use the many opportunities offered by machine learning for wood technology applications. Together with Swiss Wood Solutions, Schubert will present his latest...
Nov 14, 2019 | Empa researchers calculate load with micro-rubber
The tread on the tyre is worn out, new tyres are needed. Everyday life for many drivers. But where do these lost centimetres of tyre tread "disappear" to? As micro-rubbers, they mainly end up in soil and water and, to a...
Nov 13, 2019 | The bronze hand of Prêles/Bern
In autumn 2017, the archaeological service of the Canton of Berne was amazed when two private individuals delivered a crusted lump of metal. The bronze hand of Prêles, decorated with a ribbon of gold, turned out to be...
Nov 11, 2019 | Destabilization renders wood more stable
It can be deformed as required and is three times stronger than natural wood: the wood material developed by Marion Frey, Tobias Keplinger and Ingo Burgert at Empa and ETH Zurich has the potential to become a high-tech...
Nov 5, 2019 | Magnesium orthopaedic screws
Where bones fracture, surgeons often have to join the fragments with implants. Magnesium orthopaedic screws, which over time dissolve in the body, spare patients another operation after healing is completed and reduce...
Oct 31, 2019 | New head of lab Acoustics / Noise Control
A rippling stream is Jean-Marc Wunderli's favourite sound. However, his everyday research has little to do with calming natural sounds. He deals with completely different ones: noise from aircraft turbines, train noise,...
Oct 28, 2019 | Guideline for approval procedures
Hydrogen is considered a promising solution for mobility without fossil fuels. What is still missing, however, is a nation-wide network of fueling stations. One reason for this: The approval procedure for the planning...
Oct 25, 2019 | NMJ Association takes on special challenges
Empa recently founded the NMJ Association together with partner institutions from Japan, Canada, China, the USA and Germany. The association is dedicated to the development of novel joining technologies for the...
Oct 24, 2019 | Empa: Partner of the "sitem-insel" Competence Center
The first national competence center for translational medicine and entrepreneurship has opened in Bern. As a hub for research and innovation, "sitem-insel" is home to several start-ups, companies and scientists. These...
Oct 22, 2019 | Corrosion processes at the molecular level
"Corrosion" comes from Latin "corrodere": to gnaw something to pieces. This refers to the gradual destruction of a sub- stance due to the influence of other substances in the environment. Specialists at Empa take a close...