Science
Eliminating errors in quantum computing
January 12, 2012 - Quantum computers, should they be realized one day, will inevitably make errors. Therefore, they need special error correcting mechanisms. The most important part of it, a so-called Toffoli gate, has now been realized by ETH scientists with superconducting circuits
CP2K – a computer program for the future
October 20, 2011 - With CP2K researchers can, amongst other things, simulate new materials and their molecular properties. The molecular scientist Jürg Hutter began developing CP2K about ten years ago in collaboration with the research group led by Michele Parrinello.
CH2011 - climate development in Switzerland
September 30, 2011 - Climate scientist Christoph Schär provides information about the current climate scenarios in Switzerland. They were presented at ETH Zurich with the publication of the “CH2011” report.
It is getting warmer in Switzerland and dryer in summer, and climate change will also affect the frequency and character of extreme events. In an interview, Christoph Schär provides information about the new climate scenarios for Switzerland. These are based on a comprehensive assessment conducted by Swiss scientists.
How diamonds emerge from graphite
September 20, 2011 - Scientists have used a new method to precisely simulate the phase transition from graphite to diamond for the first time. Instead of happening concerted, all at once, the conversion evidently takes place in a step by step process involving the formation of a diamond seed in the graphite, which is then transformed completely at high pressure.
First glimpse into birth of the Milky Way
August 25, 2011 - For almost 20 years astrophysicists have been trying to recreate the formation of spiral galaxies such as our Milky Way realistically. Now astrophysicists from the University of Zurich present the world’s first realistic simulation of the formation of our home galaxy together with astronomers from the University of California at Santa Cruz. The new results were partly calculated on the computer of the Swiss National Supercomputing Center (CSCS) and show, for instance, that there has to be stars on the outer edge of the Milky Way.
Will Quantum Knowledge Cool Supercomputers?
June 1, 2011 - Whether data is processed or deleted in computers, both consume energy. The energy is released as heat. A study has now shown that the heat forming can be avoided, and, in an extreme case, cold can be created – a glimmer of hope for supercomputer centres.
Bacteria with “force sensors”
December 8, 2010 - If connective tissue fibres are under tension, bacteria do not bind to them so well. However, if the fibres are severed and slackened by a cut, the bacterial adhesion molecules recognise this and attach themselves, which enables them to cause infections
October 7, 2010 - 25 years ago two budding scientists, Roberto Car and Michele Parrinello, used their expert knowledge, coupled with enthusiasm and a healthy dose of naivety, to develop a groundbreaking method for computer simulation.
September 2, 2010 - The Swiss platform for High-Performance and High-Productivity Computing (HP2C) is the world’s first and only project with the aim of developing optimized scientific simulations for high-performance computers. Seismologists from ETH Zurich are also involved, namely in the «Petaquake» project.