wire - news in brief

An architecture PhD candidate at ETH Zurich has developed a simple solution for building concrete floors in a more climate-friendly way.

Researchers from ETH Zurich and ZHAW Winterthur are simulating in a new study how the future Swiss power system could be structured to withstand a drastic fall in gas and electricity imports.

An international team of researchers has examined the environmental, social, economic and legal aspects of wind energy. In this interview, Russell McKenna, an expert in energy system analysis, explains where he sees the greatest need for action to further develop wind energy. ETH News: What is the study about, and what is its core message? Russell McKenna: The study looks at the impacts of wind energy on the systems in which it is embedded; whether environmental and climate systems, socio-economic, techno-economic, or political-legal systems.

The fourth Antarctic campaign of the -Beyond EPICA - Oldest Iceproject, funded by the European Commission, has achieved a historic milestone for climate science.

Until now, contraception has been the method of choice for zoos to avoid surplus animals.

Earth-observation satellites deliver data for a wealth of applications - from monitoring climate change and documenting war crimes to planning disaster relief and assessing snow depth.

Cambridge University Press has published the volume "An Introduction to Energy Economics and Policy", written by Prof. Massimo Filippini, Full Professor at USI Faculty of Economics and Dr Suchita Srinivasan (ETH).

Deep geothermal energy is climate-friendly and base-load capable - but how can this heat be tapped safely? researchers are working on minimizing the earthquake risk and developing completely new systems, for example with closed CO2 cycles.

Today, over 60 experts from research, federal and cantonal administration, the police, politics and hospitals are meeting to discuss the current status and future of wastewater monitoring in Switzerland.

Earth-observation satellites deliver data for a wealth of applications - from monitoring climate change and documenting war crimes to planning disaster relief and assessing snow depth.

How can we ensure that as many Swiss households as possible adopt not only solar panels, but also their own battery to store solar energy, a heat pump, and an electric car? Researchers at the Universities of Basel and Geneva have looked into just this question. Climate protection and the energy revolution must continue to make progress, and Swiss households could make a significant contribution to this goal if they would use environmentally friendly technologies such as solar panels, electric vehicles, and heat pumps.

By granting loans to companies and private individuals, Swiss banks indirectly influence the greenhouse gas emissions of the companies and properties they finance.

In view of biodiversity loss, it is important that early-career researchers get involved not only in science but also contribute to biodiversity policy. The Blue-Green Biodiversity research initiative of Eawag and WSL organised a workshop to facilitate cooperation between science, practice and politics.

In view of biodiversity loss, it is important that early-career researchers get involved not only in science but also contribute to biodiversity policy. The Blue-Green Biodiversity research initiative of Eawag and WSL organised a workshop to facilitate cooperation between science, practice and politics.

Traditional building materials such as wood and clay are climate-friendly and perfectly complement each other.

A new European research project, TIMBERHAUS, aiming at promoting timber construction in Europe, was launched in Copenhagen in early November.

A new television, a laptop or a vacuum cleaner' Many people go bargain hunting on Black Friday. HSLU economist Thomas Wozniak knows which psychological tricks retailers use and how we can recognize them.

The XPRIZE Rainforest competition acknowledged ETH Zurich-led team for its development and deployment of novel, autonomous technologies that enable near real-time insights about biodiversity.

Curbing new-build construction, renovating existing buildings at pace and rethinking how we use them: according to Philippe Thalmann, an urban and environmental economics professor at EPFL, these are

But what role do these systems play in the transport transition' Our SFOE research project POTEBS is investigating their sustainability and integration into multimodal mobility.

After years of rapid growth, sustainable funds are currently facing headwinds. Not so in Switzerland, where retail banks in particular are focusing on green products.