Storys aus Bern

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Switzerland's influence on European energy policy continues to decline

Bern (ots) - What would be the consequences of failed negotiations over an electricity agreement between Switzerland and the EU? Researchers from EPFL and the University of St. Gallen have investigated this question within the scope of the "National Research Programme Energy", shining a light on how it will affect the Swiss electricity sector, overall economic ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Big Data makes intensive care better

Bern (ots) - Patient safety in intensive care units could be significantly improved if false alarms could be greatly reduced and critical complications such as epileptic seizures could be predicted. This is where the "ICU Cockpit" project of the National Research Programme "Big Data" (NRP 75) comes in: The large amounts of data from intensive care medicine will be used to develop procedures for early warning systems and ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

The 2020 SNSF Scientific Image Competition is underway

Bern (ots) - Capturing the beauty of science: the Swiss National Science Foundation is once again holding its photo and short video competition in 2020. Nadine Wietlisbach, director of the Fotomuseum Winterthur, will chair the jury. The images will be exhibited for the first time at the Biel/Bienne Photography Festival in May and will be freely available to the public and the media. The 2020 edition of the SNSF Scientific ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Latsis Prize 2019: Dominik Hangartner's research brings cool-headed analysis to the heated debate on migration

Bern (ots) - Political scientist Dominik Hangartner (ETH Zurich) analyses the effects of migration policies and proposes improvements. In recognition of his work, the Swiss National Science Foundation has awarded him the National Latsis Prize 2019. "We bring cool-headed analysis to a heated debate. Using data and ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Building renovation needs to be speeded up

Bern (ots) - Only one out of a hundred houses per year are renovated to make them more energy efficient - less than half the number needed to achieve the goals of the Energy Strategy 2050 for buildings. The National Research Programme "Energy" shows that the necessary technologies are available, but there is a lack of appropriate planning, building and energy laws, as well as of expertise. Approximately half of the energy ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

"Green peas" provide clues to the early days of the universe

Bern (ots) - It is probable that primordial galaxies triggered the period in the history of the universe known as"cosmic reionisation". The Geneva-based astronomer Anne Verhamme has succeeded in demonstrating this by studying green pea galaxies. In recognition of this work, the SNSF will award her this year's Marie Heim-Vögtlin prize on 16 September 2019. Following the Big Bang some 14 billion years ago, the universe ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Sex education: Why school and parents should work together

Bern (ots) - There is an ongoing debate in society about sex education. Now a study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation suggests that the best approach is a combination of parents and school. And that using friends and the internet as main sources of information on sexuality can cause problems. Sex education in school remains a controversial subject. That's why Yara Barrense-Dias, researcher on adolescent ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Graphene nanoflakes: a new tool for precision medicine

Bern (ots) - Chemists funded by the SNSF have created a new compound for flexible drug delivery that specifically targets prostate cancer cells. Incorporating four different molecules, the compound prevents tumour cells from multiplying, can be detected by medical imaging and has staying power in the bloodstream. Usually, a drug is administered indiscriminately and most of it does not reach the diseased tissues. The goal ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Trade agreements only partly shift environmental burden onto poorer countries

Bern (ots) - Is trade liberalisation shifting environmental burden from industrialised countries to poorer ones? This question was investigated by a research team at ETH Zurich led by Thomas Bernauer. In particular, they analysed whether, and if so how, commerce driven by free trade agreements is transferring environmental impacts from industrialised countries to ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Work capability assessments: making them more consistent

Bern (ots) - On behalf of social security institutions, psychiatrists assess to what extent people with mental health problems are still able to work. However, the work capability assessments tend to be far too dissimilar. A new training course, conducted within the scope of an SNSF-funded study, has helped to reduce the differences. People who cannot work full-time anymore because of mental health problems are entitled ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Sediments in Lake Geneva reflect the 2008 financial crisis

Bern (ots) - An analysis of sediment transport in the Rhône Valley yields surprising results: melting glaciers overcompensated for the effect of the increased number of hydropower plants. A reduction in construction activities due to the 2008 financial crisis could also be seen in the data. This comprehensive study, the first of its kind in Europe, brings important new knowledge, in particular for flood prevention. Water ...

European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA)

Keystone-SDA wins the EANA Award 2019

Bern (ots) - News agencies ANA-MPA (Greece), APA (Austria), ATA (Albania), Keystone-SDA (Switzerland) and TASS (Russia) have submitted applications for the EANA Award of Excellence in News Agency Quality 2019. During the debates in the EANA Board on the topic of the EANA Award, Peter Kropsch, EANA's President and CEO of dpa (Germany), mentioned that "the awarded project should solve a relevant problem in an innovative ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Lack of knowledge and experience are slowing implementation of Energy Strategy 2050

Bern (ots) - The National Research Programmes "Energy Turnaround" (NRP 70) and "Managing Energy Consumption" (NRP 71) have investigated the key factors influencing society's willingness to accept technology and behavioural change and distilled them into specific recommendations. The focal issue "Acceptance" ushers in the concluding phase of NRP 70 and 71. "The Swiss ...

Swissgas AG

Swissgas with new strategy

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Benefits of basic research

Bern (ots) - Research with open-ended results is of vital importance to our society. The SNSF is launching a campaign to promote basic research featuring various Instagram posts and a series of animated videos on Youtube. The core mission of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is to select and fund the best basic research projects. Its main goal: gaining new insights into humans and their environment - the basis for both technical and social innovation. Ultimately, ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

It's the idea that counts: Spark supports original research projects

Bern (ots) - The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is closing a gap in its research funding portfolio: its new funding scheme Spark focuses on promising or daring ideas that would otherwise fall between the cracks. With Spark, the SNSF aims to widen the existing range of scientific methods, theories and ideas. Grant holders are able to implement original ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Daily doses of vitamin D are unreachable during Swiss winter

Bern (ots) - A study funded by the SNSF shows that in winter, weak sunlight prevents the Swiss population from producing sufficient levels of vitamin D. Too much sun increases the risk of skin cancer. But moderate exposure is required to produce vitamin D. This substance is essential for bone health and may also play a role in preventing respiratory infections, autoimmune diseases and certain types of cancer. A new study ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Building-integrated photovoltaics: aesthetic, efficient and widely accepted

Bern (ots) - Within the scope of National Research Programme"Energy Turnaround" (NRP 70), researchers studied photovoltaic systems integrated into the roofs and façades (BIPV) of existing buildings from the point of view of aesthetic, ecological and economic criteria. Their findings: all developers and architects could use this technology for the renovation of ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

The SNSF funds 2000 international projects and fellowships abroad

Bern (ots) - Switzerland is among the frontrunners in global science also thanks to its strong outreach in Europe and the world. With its research funding schemes, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) again made a strong contribution to international collaboration in 2018. When Daniel Kienzler returned to Switzerland from his research stay in Boulder, Colorado, he was carrying a rucksack full of ideas. "As a ...

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

Photography: A fresh look at science

Bern (ots) - The 457 entries submitted to the third SNSF Scientific Image Competition jury are online. They offer a behind-the-scenes look at research through stunning images and intriguing videos. The international jury awarded prizes to 15 entries that will be exhibited at the Biel/Bienne Festival of Photography. Now in its third edition, the SNSF Scientific Image Competition has collected more than 1200 photographs and ...

Swiss Medtech

Medical technology sector suffers from legal uncertainty / Swiss Medtech gives recommendation to Swiss medical device manufacturers

European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA)

8

EANA discusses disinformation during Berlin Conference

Swiss Medtech

Security of supply and politics - a conflict? / Third national Swiss Medtech MDR&IVDR Conference

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds / Fonds national suisse

The deep Southern Ocean is key to more intense ice ages

Bern (ots) - Over the last million years, ice ages have intensified and lengthened. According to a study supported by the SNFS, this previously unexplained climate transition coincides with a diminution of the mixing between deep and surface waters in the Southern Ocean. The study confirms that the Antarctic region plays a crucial role during periods of climate change. An analysis of marine sediments collected at a depth ...