ETH Zurich

When modern humans build a structure, it usually works like this: they dig a pit, transport the excavated material away in a lorry and deliver tonnes of sand, gravel and cement in its place. This is mixed with water to create concrete, which is used to build the foundations and the house. The latter is then fitted out primarily with complex building technologies to compensate for any losses in comfort.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a lattice structure capable of absorbing a wide range of vibrations while also being useful as a load-bearing component – for example, in propellers, rotors and rockets. It can absorb vibrations in the audible range, which are the most undesirable in engineering applications. Vibrations from a bus engine can sometimes be felt uncomfortably strongly through the seats.

ETH researchers have produced a thin film and extremely fine pillars from a new class of alloys made of multiple finely distributed elements. The material is resistant to extreme pressures and temperatures.