At the end of May, the final meeting of the “Horizon 2020” project “GasOn” with the EU Commission took place in Brussels. The aim of this EU project was the further development of gas engines for cars and vans. Around 20 partners participated, including ETH Zurich and Empa as well as four European automobile manufacturers Read more about Record efficiency for a gas engine[…]
Cellulose obtained from wood has amazing material properties. Empa researchers are now equipping the biodegradable material with additional functionalities to produce implants for cartilage diseases using 3D printing. It all starts with an ear. Empa researcher Michael Hausmann removes the object shaped like a human ear from the 3D printer and explains: «In viscous state Read more about Bioplotter for novel implants[…]
Laughter is the best medicine, says medical research. But how are patients supposed to feel like smiling if the faces of the nursing staff and even their beloved ones are covered with masks? Researchers from Empa and EPFL are currently developing a novel face mask, which offers an unobstructed view of the wearer’s facial expressions. Read more about Novel protective mask for medical personnel[…]
A new building material developed at Empa is about to be launched on the market: “memory-steel” can not only be used to reinforce new, but also existing concrete structures. When the material is heated (one-time), prestressing occurs automatically. The Empa spin-off re-fer AG is now presenting the material with shape memory in a series of Read more about Development of memory-steel brings new opportunities for old buildings[…]
Drug-releasing textiles could, for instance, be used to treat skin wounds. Empa researchers are currently developing polymer fibers that can be equipped with drugs. The smart fibers recognize the need for therapy all by themselves and dose the active ingredients with precision and accuracy. For the «Self Care Materials» project, fibers are produced from biodegradable Read more about Smart textiles will be used to treat skin wounds[…]
Reactive nano-multilayers are considered to be a revolution in joining technology. They are envisaged for joining heat-sensitive materials that would otherwise be damaged or even destroyed upon conventional soldering. But soldering with reactive foils proves to be tricky due to the volatile nature of the reactive foils. Empa researchers have now succeeded in refining the Read more about Joining process with reactive nano-multilayers[…]
As soon as algorithms influence our voting habits or design school curricula, it is up to politics to limit the damage. A new study on the opportunities and risks of AI is now being conducted on behalf of TA-Swiss. Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just about the irritatingly charming face of a “humanoid robot” gazing Read more about Artificial Intelligence is set to trigger a major transformation in society[…]
The one ideal asphalt for all conditions does not exist: climatic conditions, traffic frequencies and loads place different demands on the pavement. Another challenge: preparing old asphalt so that it can be used for new pavements. Thanks to Empa researchers, the design of the ideal asphalt for every type of road has finally become easier. Read more about Step by step to the perfect and sustainable pavement[…]
Summer. Blue sky. Sunshine. But you don’t notice much of it in the office or in your home, because the blinds block the view so that the heat stays outside. This scenario could soon be a thing of the past: EPFL researchers are working with Empa on a window glass that keeps out the heat Read more about Window glass that transmits light optimally but keeps the heat outside: a dream of many architects[…]
What services does it offer? Which fuels can be refueled there and where do they come from? Possible answers to these questions can be found at the stand of the of Swiss Oil Industry Association (Erdöl-Vereinigung) at the Geneva Motor Show. The stand in Hall 6 is run in cooperation with Empa and Hyundai. In Read more about What could a “gas station of the future” look like?[…]
To keep the body warm and dry during winter sports, high-performance clothing is a must. The demands on these textiles are high, as a person sweats up to one liter per hour on his upper body alone when skiing. A new technology, co-developed by a team of Empa scientists, helps athletes sweating by actively transporting Read more about Electro-osmotic textiles for athletes[…]
E-cigarettes often draw their energy from lithium-ion batteries of the type 18650, but these batteries are extremely dangerous without a protective cover. Empa scientist Marcel Held demonstrates this fact with an experiment on the program «Kassensturz» of Swiss television SRF. The take-home message: Whoever carries such batteries loose in his pocket lives dangerously. The SRF Read more about Hazardous industrial batteries in e-cigarettes[…]