Eawag test with fish cells replaces animal experiments
The OECD gives the green light to the fish cell line assay developed at Eawag. This paves the way for companies and authorities around the world to determine the environmental toxicology of chemicals without having to resort to animal testing.
The popular initiative against animal and human experimentation did not stand a chance in the summer session of parliament. Both the National Council and the Council of States rejected it without a dissenting vote. The Council of States also wants to discuss the role of science in a crisis in more detail. It has therefore referred a motion on the subject to its Science Committee.
EPFL engineers have developed a neural interface that disappears harmlessly in the body after several months and allows natural tissue to grow back. What’s more, it can be implanted in a patient’s blood vessel rather than inside the brain, thereby avoiding the need for invasive surgery.
It is a common misconception that trees grow in the daytime, when photosynthesis produces carbohydrates from CO2. However, growth not only requires carbohydrates, but also highly depends on tree water tension. A study led by WSL has now shown that tree growth takes place primarily in the dark, mainly because in daylight it is inhibited by dry air. This finding may change the way we look at the impact of climate change on forests.
ETH Zurich researchers examined chemicals in plastics worldwide. They found an unexpectedly high number of substances of potential concern intentionally used in everyday plastic products. A lack of transparency limits the management of these chemicals.
