Bern (ots) - Persistent pain often has no clear cause. However, studies show measurable differences in the structure and activity of the brains of those affected. This might explain why they experience chronic pain. "Many of our study participants were grateful that someone was taking their symptoms seriously and conducting research into them," says neuroscientist ...
Bern (ots) - Over the past few millennia, there have been mysterious, prolonged cold periods. Connecting data on volcanic activity and glacier growth provides a new explanation: Eruptions altered the climate for centuries. For around 12,000 years, the Earth has been in the Holocene epoch, a warmer period following a glacial period. During this epoch, however, there have been around 22 abrupt cold phases, each lasting up ...
Bern (ots) - The National Research Programme "Digital Transformation" (NRP 77) has presented its results. The digital transformation offers opportunities - but they can only be harnessed if policymakers, business and society work together. The digital transformation is fundamentally changing society. The Federal Council launched the National Research Programme "Digital ...
Bern (ots) - There is little scientific evidence about how substances such as medications cross the placenta to the baby. A publication co-funded by the SNSF presents a realistic model to help understand this. At least half of all women take medications during pregnancy, for example to treat a chronic condition or to manage complications. Many are concerned that ...
Bern (ots) - Last year, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) invested 1.2 billion Swiss francs in 2,400 new research projects. Due to high demand and budget cuts, it is having to adjust its funding. How can brain function be made visible without harmful radiation? Researchers funded by the SNSF are developing dye molecules to observe brain processes using ...
Bern (ots) - The threat of sanctions to be imposed in the event of an invasion might have averted the war in Ukraine. This is the hypothesis of a computer model developed by researchers in economics and political science. Could Europe and the United States have prevented the war in Ukraine by threatening economic sanctions against Russia earlier? The question will no doubt remain impossible to settle definitively. But ...
Bern (ots) - When it comes to the development of its product range and sustainability, the pot and pan manufacturer Kuhn Rikon relies on its close connection to basic research. Without it, nothing would work, says CEO Tobias Gerfin. Tobias Gerfin actually had planned to pursue an academic career. After graduating with a degree in chemistry, he applied for a research grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). His application was rejected, and Gerfin went into ...
Bern (ots) - Knowledge is one of Switzerland's most important resources. But it alone does not create prosperity. Value is only created when scientific knowledge is transformed into marketable innovations. This is the mission of the ABB Group in Baden. Until a few years ago, diesel locomotives with hybrid engines that could also run on electricity were just a visionary concept. Now, such hybrids are operating in Europe, ...
Bern (ots) - Bacteria in the bloodstream can result in life-threatening complications for burn victims. Women are more susceptible to this than men, according to the unexpected results of a study funded by the SNSF. The skin forms a natural barrier that prevents bacteria entering the body. Severe burns stop this pro-tective function from working properly, and germs can ...
Bern (ots) - The Vaud-based company BOBST designs cutting-edge technologies for printing and converting packaging and labels. The productive dynamic linking research and industry relies on the Swiss academic ecosystem. The factory in Mex, near Lausanne, exudes precision. In the brightly lit halls, steel frames, cables and meticulous fine-tuning are part of everyday life. But beneath the noise of the presses, another scenario is unfolding: that of a discreet science guiding ...
Bern (ots) - Open floor plans with atriums or galleries and the ability to mentally map the surroundings help with wayfinding in complex buildings. This is the finding from a study supported by the SNSF involving a virtual shopping trip. Who hasn't gone round and round in circles in a shopping centre looking for a particular store? Or had trouble finding their way back ...
Bern (ots) - To design some of the best performing skis on the market, Stöckli combines craftsmanship, competition and basic research. The Swiss academic ecosystem is proving to be a strategic ally in this adventure. In the workshops in Malters, near Lucerne, wood, fibres and resins are layered with the precision of a musical phrase. Switzerland's last remaining ski manufacturer skilfully combines a strong heritage of ...
Bern (ots) - Every summer, a special wave travels around Lake Geneva. The phenomenon has only been discovered now, even though the currents are among the strongest in the lake and influence biogeochemical cycles in the nearshore zones. Those going for a swim in Lake Geneva have no idea what is going on under their feet. Waves do not only form on the lake surface. Wave-like currents - known as internal waves - also flow ...
Bern (ots) - Trade between China and Switzerland has been characterised by pragmatism and vigilance since the 1970s. With the support of the SNSF, an anthropologist and a historian have analysed these relations. China is Switzerland's third largest trading partner after the European Union and the United States. And Switzerland is one of the few countries in Europe - ...
Bern (ots) - The SNSF rejects the massive budget cuts planned by the Federal Council from 2027. At the same time, it is preparing itself. After close dialogue with all partners, it has decided to cut costs across several funding schemes. The SNSF supports research in Switzerland on behalf of and with funding from the Confederation. As part of relief package 27, the Federal Council is planning to reduce the SNSF's funding ...
Bern (ots) - Patients often push their doctors to prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily, increasing bacterial resistance. More trust in patients could help here. This is the surprising outcome of a study supported by the SNSF. Five million people die each year from bacterial infections because the pathogens are resistant to anti-biotics. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), this figure will double by 2050. ...
Bern (ots) - Nuts account for around a quarter of all food allergies. Recently, cashew nuts have been causing a particularly high number of severe reactions in children. This is probably because of increased consumption. Whether as a savoury snack or disguised in gluten-free flour and vegan milk, cashew nuts, which originally come from Brazil, are very much in demand. They are rich in protein but contain less fat and ...
Bern (ots) - Rapidly identifying certain bacteria allows antibiotic treatments to be optimised. A team from the University of Zurich, supported by the SNSF, has developed molecules to detect and capture certain species. The discovery of antibiotics revolutionised medicine in the 20th century, saving countless lives. However, the emergence of resistant bacteria has quickly become a new challenge. One key factor in tackling ...