news

Methanol is a key starting material for chemical products. Researchers from ETH Zurich can now produce this precursor from CO2 and hydrogen with high efficiency by using isolated metal atoms as catalysts. Every chemical reaction faces a barrier: for substances to react with one another, it is first necessary to supply energy.

Researchers at the University of Bern have investigated the influence of siblings on the development of lifelong social competence in African cichlids. In an experiment, they show for the first time that two factors must work together for this effect to occur: Both the number of siblings present during early life and the quality of their interactions with them are crucial.

It is not easy to bring new technologies from the laboratory to market. Researchers and companies face very different demands for new developments and do not always find common ground. Scientists at Empa and other institutions have analyzed two emerging solar cell technologies to identify the greatest risks.

Researchers at the University of Bern have been able to show that simple measures to promote biodiversity, such as the installation of branch and stone piles, boost stoat populations in agricultural areas in Switzerland. This is particularly true if the measures are professionally supervised, planned and coordinated.

A team of scientists from EPFL and Alaska Pacific University has developed an AI program that can recognize individual bears in the wild, despite the substantial changes that occur in their appearance over the summer season.

Seventy percent of soils in Europe are contaminated with pesticides. A Europe-wide study co-led by researchers of the University of Zurich now shows that their effects on soil life are substantial, as pesticides suppress various beneficial soil organisms. To protect soil biodiversity, the findings should be taken into account in current pesticide regulations.

Aquatic ecosystems are fragile. But just how fragile they are has been revealed in a new study by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) and the University of Zurich. Researchers investigated how climate change is affecting amphipods by shifting the timing of leaf fall in autumn.

Which vinegrowing practices should be adopted to anticipate climate change? A team from the University of Geneva and Agroscope provides clues using climate analogues. What will the climate of a given region be like in 20, 30 or 50 years? Climate analogues provide a robust methodological framework to address this question by identifying regions whose current climate matches the future climate of another area.

A new study led by researchers at ETH Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI in collaboration with African partners shows that electric vehicles could be economically competitive in many African countries before 2040 - just as long as charging infrastructure is developed and geared specifically towards solar powered off-grid systems.

The fight against plastic pollution requires accurate, regional data on the origin of waste. A new study from the Vietnamese province of Phu Yen provides precisely this data. The study shows that most of the plastic waste that ends up in the region's waters comes from uncollected waste and leakage during collection and transport.

Modeling the formation and distribution of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the atmosphere In collaboration with the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FoeN) and the University of Bern, researchers have investigated how trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), the smallest of the PFAS molecules, is formed in the atmosphere and enters water bodies via precipitation.

How much longer will glaciers survive? A new study from researchers offers the first detailed projection of how many glaciers could vanish by 2100 due to global warming - and why regions such as Switzerland will be most affected. This approach could also help policymakers, the tourism industry and natural hazard management plan for the future.

Carbon capture is becoming essential for industries that still depend on fossil fuels, including the cement and steel industries. Natural-gas power plants, coal plants, and cement factories all release large amounts of CO2, and reducing those emissions is difficult without dedicated capture systems.

In some regions in Africa, large herbivores struggle to get enough sodium. As many of the continent's protected areas are in regions where salt levels are low, this scarcity may also affect conservation efforts, according to researchers. Herbivores require a steady intake of sodium to keep their metabolism running smoothly.

To date, CO2 emissions in urban areas were typically monitored using emissions inventories. In the city of Zurich, they can now also be determined reliably based on atmospheric measurements. As part of the Europe-wide research project ICOS Cities, researchers tested this new approach and achieved results that were very close to the values calculated beforehand.

Researchers are using machine learning to map nitrate pollution in Swiss groundwater. This allows gaps in the measurement network to be filled and the causes of excessive values to be identified. The study is part of a larger project analysing the nitrogen cycle in Switzerland. Nitrate levels in groundwater exceed the limit of 25 milligrams per litre at 15 percent of all measuring points in Switzerland.

Researchers from Empa, EPFL and CSEM have developed a green smart sensing tag that measures temperature and humidity in real time - and can also detect whether a temperature threshold has been exceeded. In future, this could be used to monitor sensitive shipments such as medicines or food. The sensor tag itself is completely biodegradable.

A new combination of data and statistical algorithms makes it possible for the first time to precisely track the movements of animals deep underwater. An initial study of flapper skate on the seabed around Scotland will help to develop targeted measures to conserve these Critically Endangered animals and designate suitable protected areas.

When the forever chemicals known as PFAS enter the environment, they remain there for generations and can harm humans and nature. Despite increasing bans, many PFAS are still in circulation - including on Swiss ski slopes and cross-country trails, where the toxins enter the environment through abrasion from ski wax.

Many species benefit from the habitats that beavers create by building dams - and not just aquatic life. A new study by the WSL and Eawag research institutes shows that more bats hunt in beaver territories than outside of them. In the 19th century, beavers were extinct in large parts of Europe, with only a few thousand animals remaining.