News

Researchers from ETH Zurich have demonstrated why only a small number of planets have the chemical requirements for life – and why the Earth is so fortunate. Their findings may have consequences for the search for life elsewhere in the universe. 

Five researchers will come to ETH Zurich via the short-term visitor programme this spring. Please contact the COPL managing office if you would like to schedule a 1-on-1 meeting with a visitor.

The Swiss federal government has approved funding for six new National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs). NCCR Genesis, one of the six Centres, is led by ETH Zurich in collaboration with the University of Lausanne.

At the recent COPL Colloquium, John Sutherland presented a compelling vision for unraveling one of science’s most profound mysteries: the origin of life. His talk emphasized that understanding life’s beginnings requires more than isolated experiments – it demands a holistic approach that bridges biology and chemistry. 

The Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life is pleased to announce the selection of three new research projects for financial support in 2025. These projects span topics from the deep origins of life to planetary habitability and engage teams from multiple disciplines.

In early October, the Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life at ETH Zurich welcomed the new NOMIS–ETH fellows, Dr. Thomas Drant and Dr. Antonin Affholder, who presented their ongoing research projects and visions for the years ahead. The event highlighted two complementary perspectives on the origins and evolution of life – from the chemistry of early Earth to the planetary conditions that shape biospheres.

Thirty years ago, Swiss physicist Didier Queloz discovered the first planet outside our solar system, revolutionising astrophysics. What the discovery has brought him and why he still hasn’t had enough.