News
The Earth formed from local building blocks
Planetary scientists at ETH Zurich have shown that the material that makes up the Earth originates exclusively from the inner solar system. This also sheds new light on the history of our planet’s formation.
“Why us? And why Earth?”: a planetologist’s fascination with celestial bodies
Paolo Sossi is fascinated by how celestial bodies form. Even so, he would think twice before embarking on a journey to another planet.
Deep in Earth’s mantle, melting begins the same way worldwide
Volcanoes are the surface expression of magmas that begin their journey at about 200 km depth. How these deep magmas form has now been investigated by a team of researchers from ETH Zurich and the Carnegie Institution for Science.
The Earth’s core is a huge hidden reservoir of hydrogen
Recent research from ETH Zurich has revealed that the Earth’s core contains significantly more hydrogen than previously believed. The analysis suggests that a substantial amount of hydrogen entered the core during the early stages of the Earth’s formation.
The Swiss underground contains numerous indications of critical raw materials
A re-evaluation of georesources data shows that there are indications of occurrences of numerous critical raw materials such as copper, rare earths elements and lithium in Switzerland. Could their exploration mining be worthwhile?
Why some volcanoes don’t explode
An international team of researchers including a scientist from ETH Zurich has shown that friction in magma leads to the formation of bubbles that influence whether a volcano erupts explosively or releases gently flowing lava.
Are we alone in the galaxy? Scientists propose a new science for humanity's deep future
If humanity is the galaxy's only technological civilisation, its survival becomes a cosmic responsibility. Researchers propose Future Dynamics, a new field to align civilisation with Earth's long-term planetary systems.
Ancient ocean crust found buried at the base of Earth's mantle
ETH Zurich researchers have discovered that slabs of ancient ocean floor lie buried near Earth's core, offering a ground-breaking explanation for mysterious, slow-moving regions deep inside our planet.
When nature turns petroleum into a resource for essential metals
Base metals such as zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) are essential elements for our economy. They are most commonly used for galvanizing protection for steel and the manufacture of batteries. Both metals are mostly mined from deposits hosted in ancient sedimentary rock formations.
Nine new professors appointed
Earth sciences and chemistry, computer and materials science, nutrition and architecture: the incoming professors work in a wide range of very timely research fields. Seven ETH professors will soon leave the university.