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Scientists at EPFL and AstraZeneca have developed a method to map the atomic-level structure of amorphous drugs, demonstrated on a GLP-1 receptor agonist candidate for diabetes and obesity treatment. One of the big hurdles in drug development is solubility. Many promising drug molecules just don't dissolve well enough in the body, making them tough to absorb-especially in pill form.

Researchers have discovered key 'units' in large AI models that seem to be important for language, mirroring the brain's language system. When these specific units were turned off, the models got much worse at language tasks. Large Language Models (LLMs) are not just good at understanding and using language, they can also reason or think logically, solve problems and some can even predict the thoughts, beliefs or emotions of people they interact with.

A study by EPFL and the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) has found that tire additives enter into and pass through the food chain. Further research is needed to establish the implications for human health. Traces of the additives typically used in tire manufacturing have been detected in all'of the most common types of fruits and vegetables eaten in Switzerland.

A study led by researchers from EPFL and the University of Vienna shows that concentrations of concerning chemicals as high as those by a busy road can be found in the air of bouldering gyms. Those who climb indoors are doing something for their health. But climbing shoes contain chemicals of concern that can enter the lungs of climbers through the abrasion of the soles.

Iron-rich hematite, commonly found in rocks and soil, turns out to have magnetic properties that make it a promising material for ultrafast next-generation computing. In 2023, researchers succeeded in sending and storing data using charge-free magnetic waves called spin waves, rather than traditional electron flows.

Researchers have developed the first AI model of language in the brain that captures both how neurons are arranged and how they function. Our brain is a very organized place. Neurons - the nerve cells responsible for transmitting electrical and chemical signals throughout the body - are organized on tissue, tending to cluster together in groups according to how they function.

Researchers have developed a flexible auditory brainstem implant (ABI) that closely conforms to the curved surface of the brainstem. The technology has been successfully demonstrated high-resolution "prosthetic hearing" in macaques. Over the last couple of decades, many people have regained hearing functionality with the most successful neurotech device to date: the cochlear implant.

Scientists at EPFL have made a breakthrough in designing arrays of resonators, the basic components that power quantum technologies. This innovation could create smaller, more precise quantum devices. Qubits, or quantum bits, are mostly known for their role in quantum computing, but they are also used in analog quantum simulation, which uses one well-controlled quantum system to simulate another, more complex one.

Scientists at EPFL have developed a scalable method to produce porous graphene membranes that efficiently separate carbon dioxide. The breakthrough could significantly reduce the cost and footprint of carbon capture technology. Capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial emissions is crucial in the fight against climate change.

Researchers at EPFL have found a way to dramatically reducing energy loss and boosting efficiency perovskite solar cells by incorporating rubidium using lattice strain-a slight deformation in the atomic structure that helps keep rubidium in place. Solar energy is one of the most promising solutions for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

A pioneering study has revealed how climate change is impacting glacier-fed streams and the essential microbiomes they contain - which could change radically by the end of this century. Climate change is causing the world's glaciers to disappear at an alarming rate. Scientists have been studying and modeling this process for years, but until now, no research group has specifically examined how glacier melt will affect glacier-fed streams and their ecosystems.

Scientists at EPFL and IBM Research have developed a compact optical amplifier based on a photonic chip that vastly outperforms traditional optical amplifiers in both bandwidth and efficiency. This breakthrough could reshape data center interconnects, AI accelerators, and high-performance computing.

Scientists have uncovered how a gut bacterium, Clostridium scindens, aids in healing intestinal injuries by restoring bile acid balance. Their findings could pave the way for new treatments for ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The human gut is home to trillions of bacteria that play vital roles in digestion, immunity, and overall health.

Researchers have achieved a remarkable result: capturing and studying phase changes in quantum hardware, which hold hold promise for next-generation technologies like quantum computing and ultra-sensitive sensors. Phase transitions, like water freezing into ice, are a familiar part of our world. But in quantum systems, they can behave even more dramatically, with quantum properties such as Heisenberg uncertainty playing a central role.

Scientists have identified previously unknown neural modules in the brain that control movement and adapt during skill learning. Their findings challenge long-held ideas about how the brain organizes movement. For nearly a century, scientists have known that different parts of the human brain's cortex control different body movements.

Scientists at EPFL have revealed how quantum interference and symmetry dictate molecular behavior in collisions with gold surfaces, offering new insights into molecular interactions. The findings can have important implications for chemistry and materials science. The quantum rules shaping molecular collisions are now coming into focus, offering fresh insights for chemistry and materials science.

A bioinspired robot developed at EPFL can change shape to alter its own physical properties in response to its environment, resulting in a robust and efficient autonomous vehicle as well as a fresh approach to robotic locomotion. From mountain goats that run up near-vertical rock faces to armadillos that roll into a protective ball, animals have evolved to adapt effortlessly to changes in their environment.

EPFL engineers have developed a versatile swimming robot that nimbly navigates cluttered water surfaces. Inspired by marine flatworms, the innovative device offers new possibilities for environmental monitoring and ecological research. Swimming robots play a crucial role in mapping pollution, studying aquatic ecosystems, and monitoring water quality in sensitive areas such as coral reefs or lake shores.

A recent study examines the effectiveness of environmental strains for the production of biocement. The study's lead author, Dimitrios Terzis, is an EPFL senior scientist and a co-founder of Medusoil, a company that produces organic binders and that opened a production plant in Vaud in 2024. "For me, it's essential to keep conducting fundamental research," says Terzis, a civil engineer at EPFL's Soil Mechanics Laboratory.

Scientists have developed a geometric deep learning method that can create a coherent picture of neuronal population activity during cognitive and motor tasks across experimental subjects and conditions. In the parable of the blind men and the elephant, several blind men each describe a different part of an elephant they are touching - a sharp tusk, a flexible trunk, or a broad leg - and disagree about the animal's true nature.