Future
Early autumn colours are a bad omen
Research
WSL
In the extremely dry summer of 2018, beech leaves discoloured in many places as early as July. Now, studies by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL show that up to 10% of these trees died - a multiple of the natural mortality rate. The summer of 2022 is likely to have further affected beech trees in dry locations.
Alpine plants respond to climate change
Research
ETH Zurich
Researchers from ETH Zurich are studying how alpine vegetation is responding to a warming climate – and how some plant communities are continuing to stand firm against newcomers from lower elevations.
A self-learning algorithm that helps save heating energy
TechTransfer
Empa
With energy prices soaring, heating costs will also inevitably rise in the coming winter. In order to mitigate this, solutions for operating buildings more efficiently are needed. The Empa spin-off viboo has developed an algorithm that makes it possible to operate even older buildings with around 25 percent less energy – while user comfort remains the same or even improves.
"We are looking for projects in the 'valley of death'"
Research
Empa
Hubert Keiber, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Werner Siemens Foundation, describes why the Board decided to award a 15 million Swiss francs grant to a team of Empa researchers.
Don’t attack the Energy Strategy with simplified assumptions
Politics
ETH Zurich
An ETH risk researcher has concluded that Energy Strategy 2050 doesn’t work. The Energy Science Center at ETH Zurich disagrees: extensive research shows that the energy transition is feasible and makes sense, writes Gabriela Hug together with her ESC colleagues.
Aiming at an industry without CO2 emissions
Research
Empa
On 20 June, the Association for the Decarbonization of Industry with representatives from industry, energy suppliers, the financial sector and research adopted a joint strategy with the aim of developing holistic approaches for CO2 cuts in industrial applications that can rapidly be implemented. The focus is on high-temperature processes and logistics. In both cases, hydrogen is to play a central role, albeit with different production processes.
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