ETH News
All stories that have been tagged with D-USYS
Previously unknown compound in chloraminated drinking water identified
News
Since the 1980s, its been known that a mysterious contaminant forms in chloraminated drinking water, but only now has a Swiss-American research team been able to identify the unknown product in US drinking water systems.
Eight SNSF Starting Grants for ETH researchers
News
Four women and four men successfully applied for Starting Grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation via ETH Zurich.
ETH Zurich team takes home a quarter million in biodiversity prize
Homehero
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.
“Geoengineering will not solve the problem of climate change”
News
A team led by ETH climate researcher Sandro Vattioni has shown that diamond dust released in the atmosphere could be a good way to cool the climate. However, it is still not a sustainable solution to climate change, says Vattioni in an interview with ETH News.
The road to Net Zero is rocky, but feasible
- News
- Zukunftsblog
A sustainable transition to a climate-friendly and biodiversity-rich Switzerland is only possible if we tackle the energy transition, climate change mitigation and biodiversity loss together. This will not be easy, but it is worthwhile and ultimately indispensable, says Reto Knutti.
Crop forecasting from space
News
ETH spin-off Terensis is able to forecast the harvest yield and climate risks such as droughts and frost with the help of satellites. This not only helps farmers to plan. Authorities and insurance companies can also predict damage more efficiently.
How an ETH alumnus ended up growing coffee in Zambia
- News
- Homehero
- Globe magazine
ETH agronomist Fridolin Stocker worked on Swiss farms before discovering his fascination for Africa. Today he manages a coffee farm in Zambia.
Fifteen professors appointed
News
At its meeting of 18 and 19 September 2024 and upon application of Jo?l Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed fifteen professors. The Board also awarded the title of "Professor of Practice" once.
The state of biodiversity is not a matter of opinion
- News
- Zukunftsblog
Ahead of the vote on the biodiversity initiative, basic insights on the state of biodiversity and habitats in Switzerland are being discussed controversially. Lo?c Pellissier counters by holding up the scientific consensus.
Millions of years for plants to recover from global warming
News
Catastrophic volcanic eruptions that warmed the planet millions of years ago shed new light on how plants evolve and regulate climate. Researchers reveal the long-term climate effects of disturbed natural ecosystems - its implications both in geological history and for today.
We should not underestimate the increasingly warm summer temperatures
- News
- Zukunftsblog
Despite a wet and grey June, summers in Switzerland are getting hotter than expected. The increased summer temperatures harbour risks that we are not well prepared for, says Dominik Schumacher.
Six professors appointed
News
At its meeting of 11 and 12 July 2024 and upon application of Jo?l Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed six professors. The Board also awarded the title of "Professor" two times and the title of "Professor of Practice" once.
Waging a war for land and soil
- News
- Zukunftsblog
The war in Ukraine is also a war for soil. Sebastian D?tterl, Professor for Soil Resources at ETH Zurich explains what makes Ukrainian soil so valuable and why it will become even more geopolitically significant.
When stones start rolling
- Homehero
- News
The landslide in Brienz (GR) in 2023 kept Switzerland on tenterhooks for weeks. Researchers from ETH Zurich, WSL and SLF used a model to provide a highly accurate blind prediction of where the sliding mass would come to rest. ETH Professor Johan Gaume explains how the model works and where its limitations lie.
Twelve professors appointed
News
At its meeting of 22 and 23 May 2024 and upon application of Jo?l Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed twelve professors. The Board also awarded the title of "Professor" four times and the title of "Professor of Practice" three times.
Thinking climate action, biodiversity and energy supply together
- Zukunftsblog
- News
Renewable energies are not the main driver of biodiversity loss. It is rather the other way round: renewables can limit climate change in order to preserve biodiversity. Cyril Brunner contextualises the trade-offs from a scientific perspective.
Mosaic grassland landscapes are the most beneficial
Like forests, grassland provides numerous ecological, economic and social benefits. Researchers have investigated ways to maintain and improve these benefits in the Swiss canton of Solothurn.
How the plant world shapes the climate cycle
News
In order to understand the Earth's resilience, researchers at ETH Zurich are modelling climate changes from times long past. And they show: Plants are not simply victims of circumstances, but have helped to shape climate conditions on Earth.
Tropical forests can't recover naturally without fruit eating birds
News
Natural forest regeneration is hailed as a cost-effective way to restore biodiversity and sequester carbon. However, the fragmentation of tropical forests has restricted the movement of large birds limiting their capacity to disperse seeds and restore healthy forests.
How micro- and nanoplastics are infiltrating the Arctic ice
News
Environmental scientist Alice Pradel cultivates ice cores in the lab to investigate the transport and accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics. Her aim in doing so is to better understand material flows in the Arctic ice.
Pesticide-free as a new pathway for agriculture
- News
- Zukunftsblog
We can transition to pesticide-free agriculture without converting to organic farming. Robert Finger outlines the advantages and challenges involved.
The man for freak events
News
Christoph Sch?r is one of the Swiss climate scientists who have shaped high-resolution climate modelling. He is now retiring after more than 35 years at ETH Zurich. In this portrait, he explains why he himself never tires of researching climate change.
For equitable access to urban green spaces
- News
- Zukunftsblog
Vacant land, community gardens and public parks are key resources for liveable cities. Fritz Kleinschroth calls on urban planners to focus on giving nature more space and on granting equitable access to green spaces.
A “cultivation battle” for legumes
- Zukunftsblog
- News
Achim Walter believes increased cultivation of legumes would bring major benefits. But how to persuade farmers in Switzerland to make the switch?
How ETH knowledge and local expertise are helping the reconstruction of Ukraine
Homehero
Two years ago, Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine. One direct consequence of the conflict is the destruction of buildings and infrastructure. Now an exhibition in the ETH Main Building entitled “ETH with Ukraine” is showing how buildings, facilities and the environment in Ukraine can be protected or restored.
Groundwater levels are sinking ever faster around the world
News
A global study shows that the world’s groundwater resources are dwindling: levels are falling sharply worldwide, and the decline has accelerated in the 21st century. Nevertheless, there is still reason for hope.
Hydrogen: handle with care
- News
- Zukunftsblog
For Anthony Patt, Europe’s ambitious plans for a hydrogen economy may be too ambitious, tipping the scales towards the interests of the fossil fuel industry, rather than energy consumers and the climate. Switzerland should be careful before jumping fully on board, he argues.
Let’s talk about solutions
- News
- Zukunftsblog
More and more people are afraid of climate change. For Cyril Brunner, this also has to do with how we talk about climate. We should focus less on problems and instead spend more time discussing solutions, suggests the climate researcher at the start of the year.
Twelve professors appointed
News
At its meeting of 6 and 7 December 2023 and upon application of Jo?l Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed twelve professors and awarded the title "Professor of Practice" once. ?
A forensic look at biodiversity
- Globe magazine
- Homehero
From the giant blue whale to minuscule microbes, all creatures on this earth continuously shed traces of their DNA. These clues help researchers to determine the degree of biological diversity.
These researchers have received Starting Grants
News
Of the 13 scientists receiving an SNSF Starting Grant for projects at ETH Zurich this year, 11 are women.
Natural coasts protect against tropical cyclones
News
People living on the in low-lying coastal areas will be at even greater risk from cyclones in the future. Natural ecosystems offer protection, but this protection has decreased in recent years and is expected to continue to decline. This is a finding of a model study by an international team of researchers led by ETH Zurich.
Diverse forests hold huge carbon potential, as long as we cut emissions
- Press release
- News
New study estimates that natural forest recovery could capture approximately 226 Gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon, but only if we also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving these results requires community-driven efforts to conserve and restore biodiversity.
Tackling water stress in the Swiss Alps
- News
- Zukunftsblog
The Alps are being increasingly affected by floods and droughts. According to Manuela Brunner, we can do something about this problem: use water more sparingly and think about hazard protection in broader terms.
ETH Zurich researchers study one of the world’s darkest rivers
News
They set out to study the Congo Basin’s carbon cycle and in the process have become aware of one of the world’s darkest blackwater rivers: the Ruki. In the first study on this major jungle river, an international research team led by ETH Zurich explains how this blackness comes about and what it says about the river system’s carbon balance.
Research that provides sustainable and nutritional benefits
News
ETH Zurich is present at the Olma trade fair in St Gallen. Using spin-offs and games, the ETH booth illustrates how research can contribute to making Swiss food and agriculture sustainable.
The seas are in extremis
- News
- Zukunftsblog
An extraordinary heat wave is assailing the world’s oceans with an intensity that is surprising climate researchers. Environmental physicist Nicolas Gruber provides some context.
Five professors appointed
News
At its meeting of 20 and 21 September 2023 and upon application of Jo?l Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed five professors and awarded the title of professor three times.
How Europe’s forests regenerate – without any human interference
News
Forests renew themselves naturally. There has been very little research into how exactly this happens – until now. Researchers at ETH Zurich and WSL have set themselves the task of solving this puzzle.
Ocean acidification in coloured stripes
News
Our oceans are acidifying rapidly. Climate researchers from ETH Zurich are now illustrating these chemical changes with colour-coded stripes. Global observations of ocean acidification over the last four decades serve as the basis.
A change of perspective
Globe magazine
Strategy games developed by ETH ecologists bring different stakeholders to the table. By shifting people’s perspectives, they create a win-win situation for environmental protection.
Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and more deadly
News
The risk of fatal heatwaves has risen sharply over the past 20 years. In the future, such extreme weather will become more frequent and heat-related excess mortality will increase. Europe will be particularly affected, as ETH Zurich researchers show.
Biodiversity protects against invasions of non-native tree species
News
For the first time, researchers combined human and ecological factors to analyse the global scale of non-native tree species invasions. Human activity in hotspots of global trade, such as maritime ports, is linked to an increased likelihood of non-native tree species invasions. However, a high diversity of native tree species can help to curb the intensity of such invasions.
Using drones to monitor rainforest biodiversity
News
A team led by researchers from ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) advances to the finals of the competition "XPRIZE Rainforest". The international competition aims to promote the development of autonomous technologies for collecting data on biodiversity.
Ten professors appointed
News
At its meeting of 12 and 13 July 2023 and upon application of Jo?l Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed ten professors.
Global warming accelerates CO2 emissions from soil microbes
News
When microorganisms break down organic material in the soil, they actively release CO2 into the atmosphere. This process is called heterotrophic respiration. A novel model shows that these emissions could surge by up to 40 percent by the end of the century – most significantly in the polar regions.
Traces in the water
- Globe magazine
- News
- Homehero
How we are contaminating our waters with microplastics and a multitude of chemicals.
A world in flux
- Globe magazine
- News
Heavier rain, longer droughts, melting glaciers: climate change has a dramatic impact on the global water cycle.
Can Switzerland transition to a secure renewables-based energy system? Absolutely!
- Zukunftsblog
- News
Gabriela Hug – an expert in power transmission networks – argues that securing an affordable energy supply from renewable sources is not a utopian ideal for Switzerland, but rather a practical and feasible necessity.
Droughts increasingly reduce CO2 uptake in the tropics
- News
- Homehero
ETH Zurich researchers have found that droughts and land water variability have had an increasing effect on the carbon cycle in the tropics over the last sixty years. Most climate models fail to capture this observation. This could mean that terrestrial ecosystems could absorb less CO2 than expected in their role as carbon sinks in the future.
Nine professors appointed
News
At its meeting of 24 and 25 May 2023 and upon application of Jo?l Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed nine professors and awarded the title of professor twice. At the same time, the Board also bid farewell to nine professors and thanked them for their service.
Why we need electricity trade
- News
- Zukunftsblog
To decarbonize our economy, electricity will replace oil and natural gas as the primary energy carrier. Where should that power come from? Many people argue that all of it should be produced domestically. Careful analysis suggests some share of it should be imported, says Anthony Patt.
A survey of genetic diversity among native Swiss living organisms
- News
- Homehero
Switzerland is monitoring its biological diversity as part of a global effort to understand its changes and prevent further biodiversity loss. Researchers from ETH Zurich are working on a pioneering pilot study that includes the analysis of genetic diversity of native species.
Why we are taking a stand on the Swiss Climate Protection Law
- Zukunftsblog
- News
- Homepage
Political debate is vital for a functioning democracy. And when it comes to complex issues such as climate change, scientists should be able to share their expertise and help shape opinion, says Reto Knutti.
Why are forests turning brown in summer?
- News
- Homepage
Increasing summer heat and drought are affecting European forests – some years, trees brown prematurely and some even start to die back. Researchers from ETH Zurich and the WSL are showing how exceptional weather conditions over several years are turning forests brown.
Following the water cycle in the forest
News
In the Forest Laboratory "Waldlabor" on H?nggerberg, ETH Zurich researchers investigate the storage and transport processes of water in the forest. Recently they showed that forest-floor litter and deadwood have a far larger influence on the forest water balance than expected.
The complex interplay behind great heat
- News
- Homepage
Many regions have suffered from heatwaves in recent years. But exactly how these form is still a matter of debate. Two researchers at ETH Zurich have now found a nuanced answer.
An atmospheric researcher with his feet firmly on the ground
- News
- Homepage
Atmospheric chemist Thomas Peter retired at the end of January. A profile of a man who taught us about the properties and processes of suspended particles and helped shape the second-largest department at ETH Zurich.
Restoring nature equitably
- News
- Homepage
- Zukunftsblog
Efforts to restore degraded ecosystems have so far fallen short of meeting global targets. Sound restoration must better incorporate social processes promoting equity in order to effectively benefit people, climate and biodiversity, says Sara L?fqvist.
Researching, learning and adapting
- News
- Homepage
One of the greatest unknowns in climate change is the question of how particulate matter affects clouds. Yu Wang is using machine learning and satellite data to investigate the surprising role of these tiny particles in the atmosphere.
Alien plant species are spreading rapidly in mountainous areas
- News
- Homepage
Until now, mountain regions have been largely spared from biological invasions. But a new monitoring study shows that alien plants are spreading rapidly to higher altitudes along transport routes worldwide.
Special drone collects environmental DNA from trees
News
Researchers at ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal research institute WSL have developed a flying device that can land on tree branches to take samples. This opens up a new dimension for scientists previously reserved for biodiversity researchers.
How grasses avoid inbreeding
News
ETH Zurich researchers have been able to show which genes inhibit self-fertilisation in grasses. Plant scientists can now use this mechanism in a more targeted way to breed new varieties of forage grasses as well as rice or barley.
Acids help against airborne viruses
News
A new study by various Swiss universities shows that aerosols in indoor air can vary in acidity. This acidity determines how long viruses remain infectious in the air – with profound implications for virus transmission and strategies to contain it.
Ecology as the guiding discipline of the future
- News
- Zukunftsblog
A nature-based economy that regenerates ecosystems and stops species extinction? Christoph Küffer believes this is possible if we strengthen ecology in research and education and make ecological expertise a basic skill for society. ?
Climate action: Methane is our most powerful lever
- News
- Zukunftsblog
While the insufficient measures increasingly argue against reaching the 1.5-degree target, we could still achieve it with a rapid reduction in methane emissions, writes Cyril Brunner.
Food security thanks to faeces and waste
News
Together with partners in Ethiopia, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa, ETH Zurich researchers are creating circular economies that use processed organic waste and human excreta as fertilizer or animal feed, resulting in higher crop yields and new jobs.
These are the ETH Zurich researchers cited most often
News
On the current list of Highly Cited Researchers, 21 have a connection to ETH Zurich. Four of these appear on the list for the first time.
A comprehensive view of the world food system
- News
- Zukunftsblog
Agriculture practices that preserve resources? Enough food to make sure that everyone can enjoy a healthy and balanced diet? We still are a long way from that, finds Robert Finger – and outlines the most important fields of action to make the food system more sustainable.
Brazil on the wrong track
News
To protect tropical forests in Brazil, commodities traders have made voluntary commitments to avoid buying soybeans grown in areas that have recently been deforested. Two new studies reveal just how inadequate these guidelines are in protecting Brazil from deforestation and assess the potential effect of implementing the commitments on a much larger scale.
Climate protection benefits the economy
- News
- Zukunftsblog
While the economic impacts of climate policy are generally perceived as costs, Anthony Patt proposes the opposite perspective. For Switzerland, converting the energy system and reaching the net-zero target may net benefit the economy, he finds.
Budding ideas for food and agriculture
News
ETH Zurich is at the Olma trade fair in St. Gallen until 23 October. Its exhibition “Where the future begins – research for sustainable agriculture” presents exciting ETH spin-offs and provides playful insights into modern agricultural sciences.
Accurately tracking how plastic biodegrades
News
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an approach to accurately record and fully track the biodegradation of plastics in soils. ?
A dry wake-up call
- Zukunftsblog
- News
The 2022 summer?has shown us again how climate is becoming more extreme year by year. Sticking to business-as-usual and counting on adaptation alone will not work. Only a rapid phase out of fossil fuels will prevent the worst, says Sonia Seneviratne. ?
?I don’t see interdisciplinarity as an end in itself.“
- Globe magazine
- News
For Sebastian Bonhoeffer, interdisciplinarity is all about taking the little intellectual detours that open up when exchanging ideas with colleagues from other fields.
In search of the origin of life
Press release
ETH Zurich is opening a new research and teaching centre with a focus on exploring the origin and prevalence of life on Earth and beyond. Under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Didier Queloz, more than 40 research groups from five departments will address the big questions posed by humankind.
Podcast series: Energy fact check
- News
- Podcast
Does nuclear power have a future? Are electric cars dirty? In a four-part series, the ETH Podcast takes a detailed look at popular theories about the future of energy.
Ozone depletion over North Pole produces weather anomalies
News
Researchers from ETH Zurich have established that the destruction of ozone over the Arctic in the spring causes abnormal weather throughout the northern hemisphere, with many places being warmer and drier than average – or too wet.
The beauty and benefits of biodiversity
- Globe magazine
- News
Biodiversity is beautiful, but it’s also vitally important. ETH researchers are getting to the heart of how species diversity and genetic diversity evolve – and why we must fight to preserve them.
Six ETH Zurich researchers receive Advanced Grants
News
The Swiss National Science Foundation has awarded Advanced Grants to make up for the loss of European support. Researchers at ETH Zurich did particularly well, with 6 of the 24 grants going to the university.
We need to simplify chemistry
Zukunftsblog
Making the chemical industry sustainable means reducing not only its dependence on fossil raw materials but also its toxicity footprint. This is achievable if the industry reduces its product range, explains Martin Scheringer.
When it comes to food, less is often more
- News
- Zukunftsblog
For Achim Walter, it’s time we take responsibility for what we eat. As consumers, we have a right to demand a food system that serves the environment, promotes health and protects those in less affluent circumstances.
A talk about how far food travels before reaching our plates
News
Before it reaches our plates, the food we eat usually has travelled a long way. In this episode of the ETH podcast, we talk about how far a breakfast travels and the resulting political and ecological significance. ?
An ecological turnaround can be achieved
Zukunftsblog
Nature is not a ‘nice to have’ – it’s our life support system. Dwindling biodiversity endangers the very foundation of our existence. A turnaround is possible, but only if we all want it, says Christoph Küffer.
Good science journalism has a cost
- News
- Zukunftsblog
Translating research results for society requires resources. Either we pay someone to make it work – or we pay as a society if it turns out not to work.
Environmental DNA reveals secret reef inhabitants
News
An international research team use a global sampling of seawater to reveal which tropical reef fish occur where. To identify species and families, they successfully used the residual DNA shed by the animals present in the water. But not all fish can be traced in this way.
We can curb climate change
Zukunftsblog
Anthony Patt has contributed to the new IPCC report on mitigation of climate change. Since the last report in 2014, the odds for phasing out fossil energy have changed; a net-zero world is achievable now, even if the way remains long.
Ten professors appointed
News
At its meeting of 9 and 10 March 2022 and upon application of Jo?l Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed ten professors and awarded the title of professor twice. ?
New research programme takes a close look at Greenland’s fjords
News
The Swiss Polar Institute has launched a four-year study led by EPFL in which researchers from several other Swiss institutions are investigating the impact of climate change on Greenland’s fjord ecosystems. Research groups from ETH Zurich are also involved. ?
When it comes to forecasts, politics fails more often than science
Zukunftsblog
Politicians and the media struggle with predictions. This is more a problem resulting from a poor understanding of uncertainties than from the reliability of models, argues Reto Knutti.
It all comes down to the first electron
All living organisms that respire have to get rid of electrons. In oxygen-free environments, microorganisms deploy special molecules which act as extracellular electron shuttles to transfer the electrons from cells to minerals. A group of researchers has now discovered what determines the electron transfer efficiency of these "cabs".
The secret drivers of tree growth
News
Most trees live in symbiosis with fungi. ETH Zurich researchers show just how important this partnership is for tree growth through the first-ever comprehensive data analysis compiled for European forests on a massive scale.
Huge influence of the largest emitters
News
Without stronger climate action, the five biggest emitters will double the number of countries regularly experiencing extreme hot years by 2030.
Compost for Kenya
Globe magazine
Manuel Mathis is doing an internship at a composting plant in Nairobi as part of his Master’s degree programme. He is now in charge of a 20-strong team of workers – and, thanks to his improvements, the business is back in profit.
“Oceans are one of the main driving forces of the Earth’s climate”
Globe magazine
Núria Casacuberta Arola studies water circulation using radionuclides to understand the role of the oceans in mitigating climate change.
Climate change is intensifying extremes also in the oceans
News
While much is known about extreme weather events on land, there has been little research into those that occur in the ocean. A study led by ETH Zurich uses models to show for the first time that marine heatwaves, and extremes with high acidity or low oxygen can also occur conjointly – with difficult to foresee consequences for marine life.
Hydrogen for ground transportation and heating is a bad idea
Zukunftsblog
Ambitions to make hydrogen a key energy carrier for a climate friendly future are misguided, says Anthony Patt. Wherever possible, including ground transportation and heating, we should replace fossil fuels with the direct use of renewable electricity.
17 highly cited researchers at ETH Zurich
World’s most highly cited scientists list includes 17 from ETH Zurich. Many of whom conduct cross-disciplinary research.
Scientists call for more ambition in climate negotiations
News
Climate scientists from around the world have just published an open letter on COP26.
Corona does not help climate change
Zukunftsblog
The CO2-reducing effect of the pandemic has fizzled out, as the Global Carbon Project confirms in its latest report on greenhouse gas emissions. Nicolas Gruber nevertheless identifies some bright spots.