Gentle identification of fish species through their DNA
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SHORT NEWS

Microplastics fly particularly far and high

#environment #microplastics #plastic waste #pollution

Microplastic fibres fly higher and further than previously assumed - even as far as the Arctic.

pressed plastic bottles

The shape of the fibres is responsible for the microplastics' ability to fly, as a study in the journal "Environmental Science & Technology" shows. This allows the small plastic fibres to fly as far as the Arctic - and they could even reach the stratosphere, the layer of the atmosphere above the ozone layer. This could have an impact on cloud formation processes and even on stratospheric ozone. However, further studies are still needed.

The researchers from the University of Vienna and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organisation in Göttingen, Germany, arrived at their findings on the trajectory of microplastic fibres using a combination of laboratory experiments and model simulations.

According to the researchers, previous calculation models were based on absolutely round particles. The fibres with a length of up to 1.5 millimetres were able to reach the most remote places on Earth in the model, while spheres of the same mass were deposited much closer to the respective regional plastic sources.

Written by: sda

Photos: Keystone

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November 22nd, 2019
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June 11th, 2020
Pilot plant and founders Jan-Wurzbacher and Christoph Gebald by Climeworks Zev Starr Tambor

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July 10th, 2020
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July 17th, 2020
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July 21st, 2020
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Animation by Enrique Quintero for interview with Pardis Sabeti

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December 10th, 2020
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March 17th, 2021
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March 29th, 2021
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April 12th, 2021
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April 19th, 2021
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April 26th, 2021
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May 3rd, 2021
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Putting a face to the voice in the head

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May 6th, 2021
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May 17th, 2021
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Knitted roads

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June 7th, 2021
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Exploring the impact of microplastics

Microplastics in the sea are a danger to plants, animals and humans. To better assess the impact of these mini-particles, an EU project will measure their size and concentration off the Norwegian coast from 2023. A sensor developed in Switzerland will play a crucial role.
June 14th, 2021
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Under the ice, there is no GPS reception. But mapping the Arctic Ocean beneath the ice sheet is essential to understanding the effects of climate change. MIT has now developed a navigation method based on sound.
June 21st, 2021
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July 5th, 2021
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Robot dispenses hugs on demand

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August 16th, 2021
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Smartwatch activates insulin production

ETH researchers have developed a method that could possibly replace insulin injections for diabetics in the future. In a gene network built into cells, insulin production can be switched on with green light.
August 23rd, 2021
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Solar cells from the printer

The solar cells from the inkjet printer are ultra-thin and flexible - and should also work inside buildings.
August 30th, 2021
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Moderna co-founder Bob Langer in conversation

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September 6th, 2021
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Cheap raw material for smartphones and solar cells

Whether for smartphone screens or solar cells: Precious metals such as iridium or ruthenium are in high demand. Researchers from Basel have developed a cheaper and less toxic alternative.
September 13th, 2021
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New repair method for old bridges

Many bridges are getting on in years and need renovation. Empa has optimised a strengthening method that allows concrete to withstand 77 percent more pressure.
October 4th, 2021
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60 years ago, Theodore Maiman powered up the very first laser. At that time, however, neither industry nor research saw any practical application for the technology. The story of a major misjudgment.
October 6th, 2021
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A house in the spirit of the circular economy

The ZHAW has built a house according to the closed-loop principle: Nutrients extracted from urine serve as fertiliser, rainwater is processed into drinking water. And much more besides.
October 11th, 2021
New type of plant from Climeworks in Iceland filtering CO2 from the air.

Twelve fans filter the air near Reykjavik

To slow down climate change, a new type of plant in Iceland filters CO2 from the air. This is then mixed with water and injected into basalt. There it petrifies.
November 1st, 2021
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Artificial nacre takes on a load-bearing role

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November 8th, 2021
The Ocean Cleanup prototype system.

29 tonnes of plastic waste fished out of the Pacific Ocean

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November 15th, 2021
Craig Venter (archive image)

Admired and controversial: gene pioneer Craig Venter

First Craig Venter deciphered the human genome, then he created the first bacterium with an artificial genome. But the American gene pioneer has always been controversial. A portrait.
December 6th, 2021
Engineers Francesco Stellacci (left) and Simone Giaveri at work in the lab.

Revolutionary: Creating useful substances from plastic

Two engineers from the ETH Lausanne (EPFL) are revolutionising the recycling of plastic: following the example of proteins, something new and useful is to be created after the decomposition of plastic.
December 13th, 2021
Glacier V at Schnapfenkuchl in the Austrian Alps in comparison 1954 and 2020.

Researchers keep an eye on invisible glaciers

Researchers have used a new surveying method for the first time to keep tabs on ice remnants hidden by boulders in Austria's Silvretta Mountains. Via laser.
January 3rd, 2022
New hydrothermal vents and previously unknown animal species in the Gulf of California.

Gulf of California: New animal species found

Researchers from Mexico and the USA have discovered new hydrothermal vents and previously unknown animal species in the Gulf of California.
January 10th, 2022
Portrait of Michel Fornasier the Bionicman

The man with the robotic arm

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January 25th, 2022
Electric car at the charging station

E-cars as electricity storage

Researchers have calculated the savings potential of imported greenhouse gas emissions if electric cars were used as electricity storage.
January 26th, 2022
3D maps to help researchers track and predict the ocean's response to climate change (MIT).

MIT creates new atlas of oxygen-poor waters

The 3D maps would help researchers track and predict the ocean's response to climate change.
February 7th, 2022
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More targeted therapy for multiple sclerosis

Researchers have created a reference database of a blood marker that can be used to measure the disease state of patients with multiple sclerosis. They hope this will open the way to more targeted and personalised therapies.
April 11th, 2022
Antarctica

Drones and AI provide information about the melting ice

How fast is the ice melting in Antarctica? Autonomous drones and AI could help reduce the uncertainty of sea-level rise.
April 18th, 2022
Scientist looking at a screen showing a brain

Completely paralysed patient can communicate again

With the help of electrodes implanted in the brain, a paralysed ALS patient has regained a simple form of communication ability. A computer decodes letters from his brain signals.
May 6th, 2022
Sacha Menz sitting and working at his desk

“There is no one-size-fits-all formula for the city of the future.”

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May 6th, 2022
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Surgery from a distance

A joystick-controlled robot could help surgeons operate on stroke patients remotely. This would allow patients to be treated during the critical time window after a stroke - even if they are far away from a specialist.
May 16th, 2022
plastic waste on a beach

Converting plastic waste into fuel

Scientists have developed a new method to convert plastic waste into hydrogen through pyrolysis, a high-temperature chemical process.
May 23rd, 2022
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New water filter removes pathogens

A research team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has presented a prototype of a low-cost filter that efficiently decontaminates water using only sunlight. The device is intended to provide clean drinking water for people in regions with little electricity.
June 13th, 2022
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Black holes in wooden boards are supposed to dampen sound

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June 27th, 2022
Franz Winter from the TU Vienna

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July 4th, 2022
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July 15th, 2022
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July 18th, 2022
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Hand exoskeleton enables paralyzed people to grasp

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August 2nd, 2022
Perovskite silicon tandem solar cells

World record for tandem solar cells

A Swiss research team has succeeded in increasing the efficiency of perovskite silicon tandem solar cells to over 30 percent. This is a world record.
August 8th, 2022
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September 5th, 2022
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September 19th, 2022
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One drop is enough: Paper battery with water switch

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October 3rd, 2022
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October 17th, 2022
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November 7th, 2022
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November 9th, 2022
An illustration of the new VR glove designed by scientists

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December 5th, 2022
Peter Wick from Empa's "Particles-Biology Interactions" laboratory in St. Gallen.

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Empa researchers have tracked viruses as they pass through face masks and compared their failure on the filter layers of different types of masks. The new method should now accelerate the development of surfaces that can kill viruses.
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AnimatedGIF_Key

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February 3rd, 2023
an image of broken smartphones about to be recycled

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February 6th, 2023
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Detecting cancer in a few minutes with a simple blood test: Scientists at the University of Fribourg are one step closer to achieving this goal. With a new nanosensor, they can detect biomarkers originating from cancer quickly and precisely.
February 13th, 2023
Scientists suggest using moon dust to combat global warming

Mitigating the effects of global warming with moon dust

In a recent study, US scientists suggest using moon dust to combat global warming, since lunar dust shields a lot of sunlight with little mass. Other experts are critical of this method.
March 6th, 2023
Scientists Jörg Standfuss and Maximilian Wranik

Switching drugs on and off with light

Swiss researchers have filmed for the first time how a drug was activated in the body with light. This film could give the development of such drugs a decisive boost.
March 13th, 2023
Ice core analysis in the Antarctica

New analysis method aims to solve climate puzzle

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March 20th, 2023
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Open design ideas instead of rectangular geometries: Houses from the 3D printer not only look different from conventional buildings. Suppliers from the industry also promise that the technology is faster and more resource-efficient. But, Is that really true?
March 31st, 2023
The robotic system is shown in an experimental hive

A high-tech honeycomb for bees

A new high-tech honeycomb makes it possible to study bee colonies. The hive robot developed by EPFL researchers should provide new insights into the survival of pollinators.
April 17th, 2023
A building site with large amounts of rubble

Recipe for greener concrete

Concrete has a huge carbon footprint. Researchers at MIT in the USA have now developed a method to make its production more climate-friendly. The secret ingredient: baking powder.
May 8th, 2023
Smart bandage on the skin

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Smart bandages with embedded electronics and medicines are designed to help chronic wounds heal better.
May 15th, 2023
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New coating against bacteria

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May 22nd, 2023
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June 5th, 2023
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July 13th, 2023
A scientist holding the patch developed by Empa

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A patch developed by Swiss researchers provides early warning of leaks at sutures in the gastrointestinal tract. The novel patch should significantly reduce the risk of life-threatening complications after abdominal surgery.
July 24th, 2023
A child running through a maize maze (symbol image)

New tracking system makes food aid more transparent

Until now, food aid operations have been a black box. A new MIT technology is shedding light on the issue, with unique IDs for each individual product.
August 2nd, 2023
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Drinking water from fog: researchers capture clean water from polluted air

A specially coated metal mesh can extract water from fog and remove environmental pollutants at the same time. With the technology developed in Zurich, drinking water can be extracted from the air even in regions with heavy air pollution.
September 11th, 2023
Carlos Sanchez

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Sustainability is no longer a distant dream but a present and pressing reality. Climate change and environmental degradation are forcing companies to take action. They must innovate and implement smart sustainability solutions, says Carlos Sanchez, a renowned sustainability visionary who shared with us the latest sustainability trends that can help build robust, resilient, and sustainable businesses.
September 28th, 2023
Mechanics performing maintenance work on an aircraft

Researchers make non-recyclable plastic recyclable

Swiss researchers have developed a new type of recyclable plastic that could be used in aircraft, cars or wind turbines in the future.
October 2nd, 2023
Recycled asphalt was used on the Lucmanier Pass

More recycled asphalt on Swiss roads

Tests with recycled asphalt on Swiss roads show promising results. In Uster ZH and on the Lukmanier Pass GR, the proportion of recycled asphalt could be increased without any loss of performance, according to Empa.
October 16th, 2023
a photovoltaic system on a house facade

Sun soon to be the most important source of energy

The sun is likely to become the world's most important source of energy before 2050, according to British scientists. This is the result of an analysis of technological and economic data by the University of Exeter and University College London.
November 27th, 2023
A hospital room with two beds divided by a curtain

Germicidal textiles for hospitals

A new process developed by Swiss researchers makes textiles germicidal. In future, this could be used to coat curtains in hospitals.
December 25th, 2023
G.V. Shivashankar arbeitet am PSI und der ETH Zürich

Fountain of youth for cells

Reprogrammed cells allow wounds in older people to heal faster. This could, for example, help burn victims.
January 1st, 2024
A scientist taking a water sample with a bottle

Gentle identification of fish species through their DNA

Identifying fish species in a river using DNA traces: This method was tested in Switzerland. It proved to be simpler and more reliable than the electrofishing method used to date.
January 15th, 2024
A futuristic aircraft with a blended wing body

Aircraft of the future make less noise

In an Empa research project, study participants rated the noise of new types of aircraft as less annoying than the noise of today's aircraft.
April 9th, 2024
the airship flying over a coast

British company produces climate-friendly airship

According to its developers, the British airship Airlander 10 could take off for commercial flights with passengers from 2028.
April 22nd, 2024