Dec 23, 2014 | EmpaNews 47 published
Using adhesive tape and graphite as it is found in pencil lead, two physicists proved that graphene, the “miracle material of the future”, actually exists – and won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work only a few...
Dec 19, 2014 | Cantonal Fire Insurers Association takes over Fire Technology Laboratory
At the beginning of this year Empa announced that it was seeking a new source of financial support for the future operation of its Fire Technology Laboratory. The Swiss Association of Cantonal Fire Insurance Underwriters...
Dec 16, 2014 | Materials for the building industry
When the frame of a pair of glasses is bent out of shape, it's not that easy to return it to its original form. If, however, your spectacles are made of a shape memory alloy then you don't have a problem. Just place the...
Dec 10, 2014 | Sustainable innovations using nanotechnology: info for companies
The LICARA guidelines are geared towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from all branches of industry, and help weigh up the pros and cons of nanomaterials and make decisions on their use. The guidelines also...
Nov 27, 2014 | Package of measures to increase energy efficiency presented
The ETH Domain - to which Empa belongs to - is actively embracing its function as a role model for implementing the Energy Strategy 2050.
Nov 18, 2014 | Award for moth-eye solar cells
The US journal Foreign Policy has named Empa researchers Artur Braun, Florent Boudoire, Rita Toth and Jakob Heier, and Edwin Constable from the University of Basel in the innovation category on the list of 100 Leading...
Nov 13, 2014 | Swiss scientific community against isolationism
Swiss scientists are taking a stand: The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences have issued a warning about the Ecopop initiative and its impact on Switzerland as a centre for research. Adoption of the initiative would...
Nov 6, 2014 | Consequences of climate change
As glaciers increasingly melt in the wake of climate change, it is not only the landscape that is affected. Thawing glaciers also release many industrial pollutants stored in the ice into the environment. Now, within the...
Oct 29, 2014 | Nanosafety research – there’s room for improvement
Empa toxicologist Harald Krug has lambasted his colleagues in the journal Angewandte Chemie. He evaluated several thousand studies on the risks associated with nanoparticles and discovered no end of shortcomings: poorly...
Oct 27, 2014 | Color trail shows quickest route to destination
Empa scientists teamed up with colleagues from Hungary, Japan and Scotland to develop a chemical “processor” which reliably shows the fastest way through a City maze. As the method is basically faster than a satnav...
Oct 23, 2014 | Light sensitive membranes deliver medication
Empa researchers have developed a UV-activated membrane which releases a gentle dose of medication to the skin of a patient. In future those who fear injections will be able to sleep soundly, as will premature babies...
Oct 9, 2014 | EmpaNews 46 published
CFCs are still harming the ozone layer; industrial gases with a high greenhouse potential heat up the atmosphere. The polluters don't go undiscovered, though. Empa scientists are tracking the trace gases with highly...
08.10.2014 | Information an der Empa
Bundesrat Johann N. Schneider-Ammann besuchte am 6. Oktober an der Empa in Dübendorf ein Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research (SCCER). Er informierte sich über die Arbeiten im Rahmen des Aktionsplans...
Sep 30, 2014 | High performance ceramics for cars
An ambitious project is taking shape at Empa’s Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics: ceramic brake disks for compact cars. Empa scientists have teamed up with partners from Italy, Spain and Liechtenstein to develop...
25.09.2014 | Ausgezeichnetes Unternehmen
Die Empa wurde vom Kanton Zürich mit dem «Prix BalanceZH» ausgezeichnet. Laut Jury ermöglicht die Empa ihren Mitarbeitenden auf beispielhafte Art die Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Privatleben.
Sep 19, 2014 | Senior Management positions within the ETH Domain
The ETH Board appointed Urs Leemann as a new member of the Board of Directors. The appointment was made on application of Empa CEO, Gian-Luca Bona. As of 1 October 2014Leemann will succeed Roland Knechtle who retired at...
Sep 11, 2014 | Ozone report of the United Nations
The production and consumption of chemical substances threatening the ozone layer has been regulated since 1987 in the Montreal Protocol. Eight international expert reports have since been published, which examine the...
09.09.2014 | Empa Technology & Innovation Forum 2014
Seit Jahren führt die Schweiz den Global Innovation Index und ähnliche Innovations-Rankings an – trotz hoher Arbeitskosten, starkem Franken und sich wirtschaftlich rasch entwickelnden Schwellenländern. Was ist notwendig,...
Sep 5, 2014 | Material development on the nanoscale
Graphene is a semiconductor when prepared as an ultra-narrow ribbon – although the material is actually a conductive material. Researchers from Empa and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have now developed a...
03.09.2014 | Die Empa-Abteilung «Akustik/Lärmminderung» feiert Jubiläum
Die Abteilung «Akustik/Lärmminderung» an der Empa feiert Jubiläum. Seit 50 Jahren tragen die Forscherinnen und Forscher zu Innovationen in Sachen Lärmschutz und -forschung bei. Das wurde mit einem Anlass am letzten...