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In the current issue of the journal Nature Physics, ETH physicists Oded Zilberberg and Sebastian Huber describe unexpected connections between physics and the mathematical field of topology. With their pieces they provide intriguing outlooks on two aspects of ‘topological matter’ — a field of great current interest, and one to which physicists at ETH Zurich have contributed substantially over the years.

The Swiss team was awarded one bronze medal and four honorable mentions at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2016, which took place in Zurich from 11 to 17 July. Some 400 students from 84 countries participated in the competition.

They started the second half of the year in the vast expanses of space. ETH-physicist Simon Birrer, Institute of Astrophysics, took the guests on an imaginary trip there.

Congratulations to the Swiss team on winning 3rd place at the 29th International Young Physicists' Tournament! Team leaders were two physics students of ETH Zurich.

Rudolf Wolf (1816–1893), astronomer and founder of the Eidgenössische Sternwarte (federal observatory), was born today 200 years ago. His broad academic interests, key discoveries, interdisciplinary exchange and diverse publishing and collecting activities still set him apart to this day.