Innovation
Teaching fungi how to write
TechTransfer
Empa
Spalted wood is a highly sought-after material in the high-end furniture industry. In a newly developed process, Empa scientists have succeeded at controlling the spread of fungi in native wood types to create elaborate marblewood pictures – and even taught the fungi to write some words.
Achieving razor-sharp vision in the metaverse
Research
EPFL
Thanks to the enhanced light-field technology developed by EPFL spin-off Creal, augmented-reality and virtual-reality images appear increasingly life-like with less strain on users’ eyes. The company will present the latest version of its system at the Augmented World Expo this week in California.
Getting maximum energy out of biomass
TechTransfer
PSI
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have started up the operation of a revolutionary pilot plant for the production of synthetic biogas. The HydroPilot project aims to produce methane in natural gas quality from wet biomass such as liquid manure, sewage sludge, or algae – much more efficiently than conventional biogas plants.
A small house raises big questions
Research
ETH Zurich
Buildings that own and run themselves: this idea, from the think-tank Dezentrum, was put into action for the first time at ETH Zurich in the form of a prototype. The result is a meditation cabin that shakes up the usual economic and social expectations.
Research cooperation on sustainable biomaterials
Research
Empa
With the signing of a statement of cooperation, the BioProducts Institute at the University of British Columbia (BPI) and Empa are celebrating a new partnership to promote innovation and collaboration, furthering joint developments in the field of biobased solutions.
Light construction, efficient operation
TechTransfer
ETH Zurich Empa
Boasting an intricate, doubly curved concrete roof, lightweight funicular floors, and self-learning building technology, the latest addition to Empa and Eawag's NEST research building in Duebendorf, Switzerland officially opened recently. The innovative unit illustrates nearly a decade of formative ETH Zurich research in architecture and sustainable technologies.
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