News

Simulations conducted by researchers at ETH Zurich suggest a strong likelihood that Venus’s rift valleys are still geologically active rather than being mere relics of a bygone era, as had been previously believed. This finding reshapes our understanding of Earth’s sister planet and will influence future missions to Venus. 

The Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life is pleased to announce the
selection of three new research projects for financial support in 2026.

The Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life is pleased to announce the 2026 cohort of NOMIS-ETH Fellows. Between April and September, two postdoctoral fellows will join the COPL, thanks to the generous support of the NOMIS Foundation.

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.

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.