The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology or Empa (German acronym for "Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt") is an interdisciplinary Swiss research and service institution for applied materials sciences and technology. As part of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Domain ("ETH-Bereich") it is an institution of the Swiss federation. For the longest time since its foundation in 1880, it concentrated on classical materials testing. Since the late 1980s it has developed into a modern research and development institute.
Computer Sciences
It is often a nuisance for residents living near railroad lines—and such a multi-faceted challenge for experts that there should be more than one word for "railroad noise." Sounds from steel wheels on rough or smoother ...
Sep 21, 2023
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Energy & Green Tech
In spring, not only snowdrops and crocuses sprout, but also construction sites on Swiss roads. Repair work, patching and renewal is everywhere. Some of the old asphalt from the Swiss road network is being recycled, but around ...
Sep 7, 2023
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Electronics & Semiconductors
For many years, Thomas Geiger has been conducting research in the field of cellulose fibrils—fine fibers that can be produced from wood pulp or agricultural waste, for example. Cellulose fibrils hold great potential for ...
Apr 25, 2023
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Robotics
Their task is to monitor the condition of ecosystems, for instance in the forest floor—and crumble to dust when their work is done: bio-gliders modeled on the Java cucumber, which sails its seeds dozens of meters through ...
Apr 18, 2023
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Energy & Green Tech
This weekend it happens once again: Europeans will put the clocks forward by one hour. With the start of daylight-saving time, discussions break out—as they do every year—about whether or not we should eliminate the time ...
Mar 21, 2023
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Engineering
"Our houses are crumbling!" reads a banner at a demonstration in Dublin. "100% reparation," reads T-shirts worn by participants—seen in a photo in the Nov. 15 online edition of the Irish Times.
Dec 20, 2022
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Energy & Green Tech
The idea is as straightforward as it is simple: If I can collect both direct sunlight as well as its reflection via the rear end of my solar cell, this should increase the yield of energy the cell produces. Potential applications ...
Dec 14, 2022
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Engineering
Research sometimes needs a sacrifice. Empa researcher Patrick Danner has just made one—and filmed it. "When I applied a good 2,000 volts to the sample, it caught fire," he reports drily in the debriefing. The mishap is ...
Nov 8, 2022
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Energy & Green Tech
Empa researchers have, once again, improved the efficiency of CIGS flexible solar cells. Independently certified measurements revealed a power conversion efficiency of 22.2% to convert light into electricity, an improvement ...
Oct 11, 2022
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Software
The approach to an airport runway is a real challenge for pilots: reducing speed, extending flaps and speed brakes and much more—all with as little noise and fuel consumption as possible. Moreover, air traffic control restricts ...
Oct 6, 2022
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