News archive 2003
8.12.2003
New drug campaign launched for World AIDS Day
Nature (01/12/03) reports the World Health Organization (WHO) is marking this year's World AIDS Day by launching a commitment to get antiviral drugs to three million people with HIV by the end of the 2005.
8.12.2003
'Radar' can detect birth problems
New Scientist (06/12/03) reports technology used to detect enemy targets on military radar is being used to help doctors spot problems during labour.
8.12.2003
Scientists develop a novel strategy to help prevent transplant rejection
Redirecting the body's immune response instead of suppressing it can help prevent organ rejection, Imperial researchers have reported.
5.12.2003
International team of experts recommends ETH department based in Basle
A new ETH Department of Systems Biology in Basle offers great opportunities for Switzerland as a scientific location. It makes it possible for the strengths of Basle in biomedicine and nanotechnology to combine with the competencies of ETH Zurich, and the Life Sciences of the University of Zurich. An international team of experts has come to this conclusion after evaluating the concept of 'Systems Biology Switzerland'.
5.12.2003
ETH Zurich receives a shared university research grant.
The Group for Data Bank Research at ETH Zurich has received a shared university research grant jointly support ed IBM and ETHZ data bank research.
5.12.2003
Riddles of the most powerful explosions in the universe
Polarimetric measurements with the Very Large Telescope on the Cerro Paranal in Chile have solved riddles of the most powerful explosions in the universe.
5.12.2003
New prices for hydroelectric resources
The Centre for Energy Policy and Economics of ETH Zurich (CEPE) has completed a study on the fee structure for hydroelectric energy in Switzerland.
5.12.2003
Heavy metals in watercourses
A researcher at ETH Zurich investigated nano particle flakes in the effluent from mining operations. The televised science magazine 'nano' reported his results.
5.12.2003
Thermal insulation in residential buildings pays
Studies by the CEPE show that an investment in thermal insulation is worth the price.
5.12.2003
Alumnus receives prize
On Wednesday 26 November 2003, TU Delft alumnus Eduard Meijer received the Else Kooi Award for his PhD research project.
5.12.2003
Modelling earthquake risk of gas fields
In recent months, three light earthquakes have hit the province of Groningen. Geologists agree that the quakes are related to gas extraction. It is possible to use historical statistical data to predict the future.
17.11.2003
EAWAG Director Alexander Zehnder is president-elect of the ETH-Board
Last week Switzerland's Federal Council confirmed the appointment of EAWAG Director Alexander Zehnder as the new president of the ETH-Board.
13.11.2003
The exhibition "In.cho.ate_works" opened.
ETH-Professor Marc Angélil invites visitors to experience the educational methods he uses in his first year course in architecture by viewing a selection of students' works of the last seven years.
10.11.2003
Russia and the United States hold the key to Kyoto
Global responses to climate change are approaching their most critical hour since George Bush rejected the Kyoto protocol, Professor Michael Grubb of the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at Imperial told an audience at the Royal Institute of International Affairs last week.
10.11.2003
Fat busters find hope
Imperial scientists have identified one of the first genes for obesity in the general population.
5.11.2003
Student team wins Solar race
On Wednesday 22 October Dutch students finished first in the World Solar Challenge.
5.11.2003
A glass a day keeps the doctor away
Imperial scientists have found that red wine can protect against the harmful effects of smoking.
5.11.2003
Doctors fear strokes are on the increase
Doctors believe people are now more at risk of suffering from a stroke than a heart attack, according to a recent survey by the World Heart Federation.
28.10.2003
Imperial researcher is named as citation superstar
Asthma researcher, Professor Peter Barnes of Imperial's NHLI Division has been named amongst the 50 scientists whose work has been most influential over the past 20 years.
28.10.2003
Expert explains the secrets meteorites can reveal
Dr Phil Bland of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial explained his latest research on tracking the origins of meteorites that fall to Earth, on Australian radio last week.
28.10.2003
New energy source found in tap water
In the UK, the Guardian reported that scientists have discovered the first new way of generating electricity for 160 years.
28.10.2003
Imperial scientists develop jab to treat flu
As this year's flu season kicks off, a team of Imperial scientists last week reported an effective treatment for the virus could be in the pipeline.
13.10.2003
Nobel Prize recognises superconductor breakthrough
This week's award of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics ...
6.10.2003
Over-use threatens antibiotic effectiveness
Over-prescribing by doctors could result in antibiotics becoming unable to treat many illnesses by 2015.
6.10.2003
Mad dogs may signal impending earthquake
Japanese doctor Kiyoshi Shimamura has suggested that strange behaviour in dogs may be a sign of an impending earthquake.
23.9.2003
Jupiter vaporises spacecraft
NASA spacecraft Galileo went out with a bang this weekend when it was put on a collision course with Jupiter to end its 14-year mission.
23.9.2003
Imperial is honoured with two 'America's Nobels'
Two Imperial researchers have been awarded the prestigious Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research.
15.9.2003
European border-crossing scholarship scheme launched for postgraduates
The IDEA League today announces the launch of the IDEA League scholarships
9.9.2003
Natural hormone could fight obesity
A naturally occurring hormone could be the key to tackling obesity
9.9.2003
Study links sleep disorder to brain damage
Evidence of a link between the disorder apnoea and brain damage has been uncovered at Imperial
1.9.2003
Infrared telescope launched to trace the birth of stars
Nasa this week launched the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, the world's most advanced infrared space telescope.
1.9.2003
London blackout exposes network failures
An electricity blackout in London which brought the transport system to a halt has provoked criticism of the UK's power infrastructure.
1.9.2003
Whale hunting 'is good for marine environment'
Iceland's decision to resume the hunting of minke whales has won support from Trond Bjorndal of Imperial's Department of Environmental Science and Technology.
1.9.2003
New light shed on ocean bacterium that helps control greenhouse gases
Research led by Jim Barber of the Department of Biological Sciences at Imperial College London published in this week's Nature magazine has shed new light on the role played by an ocean bound bacterium in controlling the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
26.8.2003
Patients to trial cannabis pain relief effect
Imperial researchers are to lead a government-funded trial that aims to find out whether cannabis really can help to relieve pain.
26.8.2003
Questions asked over US power cuts
With half of the US east coast plunged into darkness last Thursday, why does a global superpower have a Third World electricity grid?
26.8.2003
Space observatory will probe the Universe's history
NASA is set to launch a space observatory this weekend that will allow astronomers to probe the deep history of our universe.
26.8.2003
Tracking viruses
A new technique of tracking viruses could reveal where they hide in the body.
18.8.2003
Heart monitor may save babies
A high-tech heart monitor that can accurately decipher an unborn baby's heartbeat is being developed by Imperial scientists.
18.8.2003
Will Athens be ready for the 2004 Olympics?
Professor Chris Wise of the Department Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial has been monitoring whether Athens will be ready to stage the Olympic Games in 2004.
18.8.2003
Lasers could make nuclear waste safer
Imperial scientists have developed a new way of transforming a major by-product of nuclear power generation into a safer form that can be disposed of in an hour.
11.8.2003
Human metabolism is like a pinball game
Human metabolism is more like a Japanese pinball game than a well-oiled and highly regulated machine Imperial scientists report this week.
4.8.2003
A molecular 'ferry' is visualised for the first time
A tiny molecule that helps ferry essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals into cells has been visualised for the first time
4.8.2003
Scientists develop better guide to nuclear exposure risk
Almost 58 years to the day after the Hiroshima bomb was dropped, scientists think they have all the answers they will ever get about events that day
4.8.2003
Fieldwork at the glacier
When glaciers recede, pioneer organisms enter and colonise the newly accessible areas. Microbiologists from ETH Zürich are carrying out investigations to show how micro-organisms do this. At Göscheneralp - not very far from Gotthard Pass - at the snout of the Gamma glacier, they are eager to study the process.
28.7.2003
Neurofeedback refines musical talent
Imperial scientists reported promising results last week in improving musical performance using neurofeedback.
28.7.2003
Soundwaves help unlock the secrets at the centre of our solar system
Sound waves are providing fascinating evidence of what's actually going on inside the sun.
20.6.2003
Microsoft launches the first German innovation centre in Aachen
close cooperation with RWTH
20.6.2003
Swiss Archives of Contemporary History makes unique collection of refugee-files accessible
Within the framework of a multi-year project the Swiss Archives of Contemporary History at ETH Zurich has opened up one of the most important archive of its kind...
20.6.2003
Chaperone protein could help treat neuro-degenerative conditions
New research led by Imperial has found a special class of chaperone proteins could be used to protect against neuro-degenerative conditions
20.6.2003
Imperial academics challenge link between asthma and swimming pools
New research findings that suggest the chlorine used to clean indoor swimming pools has led to a surge in childhood asthma over the past 30 years have been challenged by Imperial academics.
20.6.2003
Health effects of dioxins questioned
The debate surrounding the adverse health effect of dioxins was rekindled this week
20.6.2003
Smoking during pregnancy comes under the spotlight again
Smoking during pregnancy is comparable to taking illegal drugs, reports BBC Online (02/06/03).
20.6.2003
Wolf in sheep's clothing
It seems in nature there may be some truth in the old fable, a wolf in sheep's clothing.
20.6.2003
Creating fuels of the future
Imperial is leading the way in the development of a new energy-saving technology to generate electrical power for our homes and cars.
20.6.2003
Universities celebrate alliance with ultimate frisbee
Imperial this week hosted the third annual IDEA League Sports Event
20.6.2003
ETH-Nanotechnology Center ?FIRST Lab? is active
FIRST stands for "Frontiers In Research: Space and Time". The name highlights the technological challenges that plaster the route leading to all kinds of ever smaller, ever quicker construction elements. The aim of this 30 million Swiss francs project is to give ETH a platform that conforms to the very latest standards of technology for research and development in the micro and nanosciences. Since its inauguration in summer 2002 (1) the lion?s share of work hours has been invested in the installation, testing and starting up of new equipment. Now it is active in actual research.
