Explore every episode of the podcast The Swiss Connection
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI diagnostics are solving problems, but they're also creating new ones | 01 sept. 2026 | 00:26:21 | |
AI is changing so much in the world of healthcare, including diagnosing illnesses. The technology means this can be done much faster and more accurately than ever before. Between a lack of funding and a shortage of pathology expertise, nearly half of the global population is currently missing out on accessing proper diagnostics. It’s a problem that AI can help with, and in this episode of the Swiss Connection science podcast, we will find out how. Journalists: Aylin Elçi SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Synthetic fuel can cut emissions without new engines: what's the catch? | 18 août 2026 | 00:21:14 | |
What if we told you there was a way to cut emissions from your car and it didn’t involve any changes to the engine? A Swiss chemical engineer is developing a synthetic, “drop‑in” fuel that works with existing vehicle and aircraft parts and infrastructure. Journalist: Simon Bradley SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| AI for everyone: how to open up public debate | 28 juil. 2026 | 00:18:44 | |
Who does AI really serve in the end? Is it the people? The companies that profit from this technology? Or is the truth more nuanced? On this episode of the Swiss Connection podcast, Swissinfo science journalist Sara Ibrahim talks to Tammy Mackenzie, co-founder of The Aula Fellowship, a think tank and NGO with the mission to ensure that everyone can access the conversation on how AI is being implemented in society. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Life without Big Tech: a Swiss experiment | 14 juil. 2026 | 00:25:33 | |
Switzerland wants greater digital sovereignty. But how easy is it to break free from Google, Apple and Microsoft? Two Swissinfo journalists attempted to replace Big Tech services with Swiss and other European alternatives. Their experiment revealed the hidden dependencies, frustrations and surprising freedoms of life without the tech giants. Journalists: Sara Ibrahim, Kristian Foss Brandt SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Are court cases a way to tackle climate change? | 07 juil. 2026 | 00:20:08 | |
In this episode host Jo Fahy talks to swissinfo.ch journalist Luigi Jorio about how ordinary people have been using the legal system to hold companies to account over their alleged contributions to climate change. We find out how islanders from an Indonesian archipelago have challenged Swiss cement company Holcim in a court in Switzerland. Christina Voigt, one of the world’s leading experts in environmental law and climate litigation, joins us to explain why the courts are being used in this way and how effective it’s proving. Journalist: Luigi Jorio SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Building a Swiss FabLab: the future of Switzerland’s semiconductor strategy | 24 mars 2026 | 00:17:39 | |
In this episode of The Swiss Connection science podcast, we're digging into the push to create a Swiss FabLab, a shared chip fabrication laboratory that brings public research and private industry together under the Swiss Chip Alliance. Our host Jo Fahy is joined by swissinfo.ch's business and tech specialist Matthew Allen to unpack what’s being proposed near Zurich, why it’s still at the conceptual phase, and what it could mean for Switzerland's semiconductor industry as global investment surges. You can read more about the Swiss semiconductor industry here. Journalist: Matthew Allen SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| How Bangladesh adapts to erosion, floods, and rising seas | 17 mars 2026 | 00:24:06 | |
Where do people go when the water takes their land? Guided by a three-year ETH Zurich study and first-hand voices, we trace a pattern that defies the headlines: most climate migration is short and local, driven by community ties, scarce resources, and the will to stay near what remains. If you would like to find out more about the climate challenges in Bangladesh and read the collection on climate solutions, and more stories, please visit Swissinfo Science. Journalist: Giannis Mavris Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor: Michele Andina SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| How does Switzerland deal with the food waste problem? | 10 mars 2026 | 00:15:09 | |
A bin bag can tell you a lot about a country. We follow the trail of rubbish from Swiss kitchen cupboards and discover why one of Europe’s wealthiest nations still throws away so much edible food. With fresh data, on‑the‑ground auditing, and candid insights from practitioners, we break down the gap between lofty goals and everyday habits, and why households remain the biggest lever for climate impact. If you would like to see a video and read about the topic of the food waste in Switzerland and read the collection on climate solutions, and more stories, please visit Swissinfo Science. Jounalist: Kristian Foss Brandt Video journalist: Vera Leysinger SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| A Swiss community living on 2,000 watts | 03 mars 2026 | 00:23:59 | |
What does a good life look like when you cap your energy use at 2,000 watts? We take you inside Zurich’s "Hunziker Areal", a car‑free, cooperative neighbourhood turning a bold climate target into liveable daily routines. From shared workshops and tool libraries to efficient buildings and smart mobility, we unpack how design and community can shrink environmental impact while expanding comfort, connection, and choice. If you would like to see the a video of the Hunziker Areal and read the collection on climate solutions, or to discover more stories, please visit Swissinfo Science. Jounalist: Kristian Foss Brandt Video journalist: Vera Leysinger SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| What does Antarctic ice reveal about CO2 and climate shifts? | 24 févr. 2026 | 00:26:33 | |
We follow the 2,800-meter Antarctic ice core from Little Dome C to a -50°C lab in University of Bern, tracing how scientists extract ancient air to probe the Mid-Pleistocene transition and the limits of abrupt climate change. The story links field grit, laser sublimation, and CO2 records to the risks facing modern societies. If you would like to see the Antarctic ice in a video and read the collection on this topic, and more stories, please visit Swissinfo Science.
SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Invasive Quagga mussel Is Rewriting Switzerland’s Waterscape | 17 févr. 2026 | 00:13:31 | |
A fingernail‑sized invader is transforming Swiss lakes and the cost of clean water. In this episode, we track the quagga mussel from its arrival in the Rhine to its rapid spread through deep Swiss basins—stripping plankton, stressing fisheries, and clogging water infrastructure. Researchers from Eawag and the University of Konstanz explain the biology behind its takeover and what global case studies reveal about long‑term impacts. read more on this story on Quagga mussels and science from SWI swissinfo Journalist: Julie Hunt Host: Jo Fahy SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Bonus Episode - The Trends Shaping the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2026 | 03 févr. 2026 | 00:16:09 | |
Join host, Jo Fahy, and pharmaceuticals and healthcare reporter, Jessica Davis Pluss, to weigh up the forces shaping pharma in 2026. From AI’s real gains in clinics and labs, to the case for inclusive data, we also discuss the politics of who funds innovation, and why rare diseases and antibiotics deserve our focus. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Bonus Episode - Inside Switzerland’s Quiet Rise as a Longevity Hub | 27 janv. 2026 | 00:26:03 | |
How did longevity go from a social media trend to a focus of serious science? SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Special announcement: Season wrap for longevity, please try out Lost Cells | 16 déc. 2025 | 00:03:33 | |
Lost cells on Apple, Spotify and any where you listen to your podcasts. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Rethinking Aging: Science, Society, And The Stories We Tell | 02 déc. 2025 | 00:20:16 | |
Want a longer life that still feels like yours? We sit down with psychologist Christina Röcke of the University of Zurich’s Healthy Longevity Center to unpack what actually fuels healthy aging—and what’s just marketing noise. From blue-zone myths to AI-driven biohacking, we trace why the longevity boom exploded and where the evidence really points: consistent movement, quality relationships, realistic stress strategies, and communities that make healthy choices simple. Join Swissinfo for a debate on this topic or read more of our science stories, by visiting our website swisinfo.ch. You can help other people to find our podcast by leaving us a five-star review. Journalist: Jessica Davis Plüss SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| How Michael Hall’s TOR Discovery Reframed Longevity Science | 25 nov. 2025 | 00:18:12 | |
We trace how a soil-derived drug led to the discovery of mTOR, why growth control sits at the core of aging biology, and where evidence ends for humans. Michael Hall’s quiet breakthroughs explain fasting, autophagy, and rapamycin without the hype. To read more about this topic and for more science stories, visit our website swisinfo.ch. You can help other people to find our podcast by leaving us a five-star review. Journalist: Jessica Davis Plüss SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Big Pharma steps up race for AI-discovered drugs | 18 nov. 2025 | 00:16:07 | |
What if the most valuable drug candidates aren’t found but designed on demand? We follow a chemist’s journey from a pencil-and-paper notebook to generative algorithms that propose novel, IP-free molecules tailored to specific targets, and we open the door to how Swiss pharma is rebuilding discovery around AI. To read more about this topic and for more science stories, visit our website swisinfo.ch. You can help other people to find our podcast by leaving us a five-star review. Journalist: Jessica Davis Plüss SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Women’s Health Meets Drug Design and Medical Research | 11 nov. 2025 | 00:18:19 | |
We trace how sex and gender shape drug development, from male-heavy mouse studies to the split results in Lecanemab’s Alzheimer’s trial. Experts explain why regulators should keep approvals moving while demanding smarter design, better reporting, and post-approval answers. Journalist: Jessica Davis Plüss SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Cracking the Alzheimer’s Code | 04 nov. 2025 | 00:21:03 | |
Alzheimer’s disease is more than age-related memory loss—it’s a serious brain disorder. In this episode of the Swiss Connection Science podcast, Swissinfo healthcare reporter Jessica Davis Pluess explores the science, hope, and controversy surrounding new Alzheimer’s drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla. With billions invested and global regulatory decisions diverging, what do these treatments mean for patients and healthcare systems? Visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more on this topic and a video on this story. Please come to SWI swissinfo.ch for more of our science stories from Switzerland. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Swiss Longevity clinics: modern-day snake oil or the key to healthy ageing? | 28 oct. 2025 | 00:21:39 | |
The search for the elixir of life has been going on since time immemorial – and Switzerland has played a key role. Although scientists have yet to come up with a winning formula, the Alpine nation has a booming market for treatments, pills and gadgets that claim to slow ageing and help us live healthier, longer lives. Visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more on this topic and a video on this story. Please come to SWI swissinfo.ch for more of our science stories from Switzerland. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Listen again: Herwig Schopper, Former CERN head has served science and peace for 100 years | 21 août 2025 | 00:17:18 | |
We’ve received the sad news that former CERN director and experimental physicist Herwig Schopper has passed away at the age of 101. He was considered the grandfather of the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, helped promote peace through a Middle Eastern science hub, and voiced his concerns about the Nobel Prize. In 2024, just before his 100th birthday, we had the chance to visit him at his home on Lake Geneva. We spoke with him about some of the highlights of his career and his personal thoughts on research and its potential to contribute to peacebuilding. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Lost Cells, Ep.6: The Canaries | 01 avr. 2025 | 00:42:46 | |
This is the final episode of 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. In our series finale, the Lost Cells team digs deeper into the international standards of the cord blood banking industry. Antoine confronts the Swiss authorities for answers. Tatiana and Ratko vow to go public and warn parents all over the world with everything they’ve learned about cord blood banking. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Lost Cells, Ep.5: In Limbo | 25 mars 2025 | 00:28:22 | |
Over the next two episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Lost Cells, Ep.4: The Hunt | 18 mars 2025 | 00:28:47 | |
Over the next three episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Lost Cells, Ep.3: The Program | 11 mars 2025 | 00:17:24 | |
Over the next four episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Lost Cells, Ep.2: Seeds of Hope | 04 mars 2025 | 00:21:12 | |
Over the next five episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Lost Cells, Ep.1: The Promise | 25 févr. 2025 | 00:27:03 | |
Over the next six episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche and Studio Ochenta. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Lost Cells is out now! | 18 févr. 2025 | 00:03:35 | |
Please sign up for the latest episode Listen to this new podcast in English // French // Spanish SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Unveiling Ancient Life: Microorganisms in Melting Glaciers in Swiss Alps | 10 déc. 2024 | 00:16:46 | |
This episode takes listeners to the Rhone glacier in the Alps, which is rapidly melting and releasing ancient microorganisms. These microorganisms, which have been trapped in the ice for thousands of years, are now being studied by scientists from the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape (WSL). SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Climate solution for the future: How to keep cities cool during heatwaves | 03 déc. 2024 | 00:17:32 | |
Cities tend to get hotter than the countryside when a heatwave hits. What can be done about these urban heat traps? How can hot summers be made more tolerable for city dwellers? SWI swissinfo.ch asked an expert at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Turning concrete into a carbon sink: an innovative Swiss approach to decarbonizing the construction industry | 26 nov. 2024 | 00:13:59 | |
This episode explores a groundbreaking Swiss innovation that could revolutionise the construction industry. Join us as we delve into Neustark's pioneering method of turning concrete waste into a carbon sink, permanently removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Discover how this technology not only helps decarbonise the concrete industry but also increases the strength of concrete. We'll discuss the science behind the mineralisation process, the impact of Neustark's 22 operational plants in Switzerland and Germany, and their ambitious plans to scale up globally. Tune in to find out how Swiss ingenuity is paving the way for a more sustainable future in construction. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Young Swiss scientists boost rocket research | 19 nov. 2024 | 00:14:22 | |
Swiss students are propelling the future of space travel with innovative reusable rocket technology, putting Switzerland on the map in the global space race. SWI swissinfo.ch took a closer look at their projects in northern and western Switzerland. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Why Swiss scientists want to find ice on comets | 12 nov. 2024 | 00:13:29 | |
Using a new type of instrument, two astrophysicists from the University of Bern hope to get a little closer to unravelling the mystery of the solar system's origins. They believe the key to this lies in the ice that can occur in a dust layer on comets. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Herwig Schopper, Former CERN head has served science and peace for 100 years | 05 nov. 2024 | 00:17:30 | |
Swissinfo talks to Herwig Schopper, former CERN director, the grandfather of the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, who helped promote peace through a Middle Eastern science hub and has his qualms about the Nobel Prize. If Herwig Schopper has learned anything during his 100 years on Earth, it’s that breakthroughs only happen when we work together. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Switzerland and Silicon Valley: EP6 Sherry Wong ‘Living in a society where capital is strong and the welfare state is weak‘ | 20 août 2024 | 00:23:38 | |
For artist and researcher Şerife (Sherry) Wong the popular image of visionary geniuses who change the world from their garages is an illusion. “We are idealising the myth of the inventor, the American dream of the man who, from nothing, becomes super rich and changes the world for the better, but...for whom?” asks Wong, who studies the social implications of emerging technologies. She is also an affiliate research scientist at the University of California, Berkeley.
Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor / Video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Switzerland and Silicon Valley: EP5 Fred Turner ‘The dream of tech companies serving humanity has turned into a nightmare‘ | 13 août 2024 | 00:18:58 | |
In this episode, we talk to Stanford University professor Fred Turner, who’s been studying the impact of new media technologies on American culture for decades. Turner is also among those most vocal in denouncing the injustices faced by people living and working in Silicon Valley. You can find more written content about this story on SWI swissinfo.ch:
Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor / Video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Switzerland and Silicon Valley: EP4 Pamela Munster ‘From cancer doctor to cancer patient and back again’ | 06 août 2024 | 00:19:41 | |
Pamela Munster, a world-renowned oncologist, has been working in San Francisco for 15 years. In this episode, she recounts her battle against breast cancer. Journalist: Marc-André Miserez Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/Video: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| What Switzerland can learn from Silicon Valley: EP3 Connected through Innovation | 30 juil. 2024 | 00:13:34 | |
In this episode, SWI swissinfo.ch sat down with Claude Zellweger, Google's in-house design guru. We discussed the role of designers in tech innovation, AI, and the future of education. He also shared his thoughts on the challenges facing the tech industry and how we can overcome them by putting people first. Journalist: Marc-André Miserez
Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/Video: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. It publishes independent news and information in 10 languages about Switzerland for a global audience. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern Switzerland. It publishes independent news and information in 10 languages about Switzerland for a global audience. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| What Switzerland can learn from Silicon Valley: EP2 Swiss start-ups in California | 23 juil. 2024 | 00:14:55 | |
More than 150 Swiss start-ups have received a boost from California entrepreneurship, and three of them are already worth $1 billion. This is a source of pride for Swissnex in San Francisco and its CEO, Emilia Pasquier. Hear what she has to say about Swiss innovation in this episode. You can find more written and video content about this story on SWI swissinfo.ch: Journalist: Marc-André Miserez Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/Video: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. It publishes independent news and information in 10 languages about Switzerland for a global audience. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| What Switzerland can learn from Silicon Valley and Hippies: EP1 The potential of human beings | 16 juil. 2024 | 00:19:16 | |
In his 50 years in the USA, St. Gallen psychologist and consultant Herman Gyr has never lost faith in human ingenuity, the ability to learn and adapt to even the most adverse circumstances. This is despite the fact that climate change is his biggest concern. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Why Are leading Swiss Pharmaceutical Companies Investing in Slovenia? | 23 avr. 2024 | 00:16:24 | |
Pharmaceutical giant Novartis invested billions in Slovenia, helping turn the country into a global player in generic drug production. Now, as cheap Asian competitors increasingly dominate the market, Swiss drug companies see the tiny Balkan nation playing a key role in their shift to more complex, expensive medicines. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Swiss training for forensic scientists in Africa and Mexico | 16 avr. 2024 | 00:16:10 | |
Forensic science is critical in the search for justice and the fight against impunity. Africa suffers from a dearth of forensic pathologists and Switzerland is helping to boost their numbers with training. In Mexico, forensic scientists need support to help identify the tens of thousands of victims of Mexico's drugs war. The University Centre of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva (CURML) is developing tools to find graves. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Swiss Roman battle site reveals hidden secrets of historic clash | 09 avr. 2024 | 00:15:53 | |
Over the past two years, experts have unearthed thousands of Roman military artefacts littering a hillside in southeast Switzerland. The first Roman battle site ever discovered in the Alpine country offers clues about what happened there over 2,000 years ago. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| The Future of Aviation: Hypersonic plane powered Hydrogen designed in Switzerland | 02 avr. 2024 | 00:11:39 | |
It’s 20 years since Concorde made its final commercial flight, ending the first era of supersonic travel. A Swiss start-up is part of a new generation of aviation pioneers trying to re-introduce high-speed travel using clean hydrogen. But the road ahead is long and expensive. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Drones capture eDNA in cutting-edge biodiversity research in Zurich, Switzerland | 25 mars 2024 | 00:17:57 | |
Researchers in Zurich are using drones to collect environmental DNA (eDNA) in a technique combining robotics and genetics that could change our understanding of Earth’s biodiversity. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| What CERN’s next-generation particle collider could look like? | 12 mars 2024 | 00:16:18 | |
Scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva are taking the next steps towards creating a huge particle collider. With the Future Circular Collider (FCC), they want to search for new physics and answer fundamental questions about our universe. We visited the CERN sites to learn more about particle physics and their plans. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Exploring Science in Davos: EP6 Lab 42 AI lab decoding the human brain | 07 déc. 2023 | 00:12:27 | |
Artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT generate remarkably human-like results. But how intelligent is it really? SWI swissinfo.ch visits Lab42, a new AI lab in Davos, which is deploying playful techniques to better understand the fundamentals of human intelligence. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Exploring Science in Davos: EP5 Snow and avalanche research in Davos | 21 nov. 2023 | 00:11:17 | |
When and where the next avalanche will happen is hard to predict. In a special cold laboratory in Davos, researchers simulate the effects of wind on fresh snow to better understand the mechanisms that trigger avalanches.
SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Exploring Science in Davos: EP4 How solar cycles influence climate? | 14 nov. 2023 | 00:11:09 | |
Solar irradiance provides heat and light for life. It waxes and wanes with the cycle of solar activity, which currently cannot be predicted accurately. Solar storms can have a great impact on technology. In February 2022, a solar storm destroyed 40 Starlink satellites from Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. Researchers in Davos are collaborating on several space experiments to find out more about solar physics.
SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||
| Exploring Science in Davos: EP3 Why house dust mites, pollen and food additives cause allergies? | 07 nov. 2023 | 00:13:14 | |
The small city of Davos in southeastern Switzerland, located at an altitude of 1,560m above sea level in the Swiss Alps, attracted tuberculosis patients back in the 1800s and 1900s after scientists discovered that clean mountain air had a positive effect on their health. However, with the development of antibiotics, the sanatoriums eventually lost their purpose. Today that same clean Davos air, marked by the absence of tree pollen, such as birch, oak or alder, minimal air pollution and extremely low amounts of indoor dust mites – presumably because of the cooler and dryer climate – is a draw for asthma and allergy patients seeking treatment in the town’s clinics. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. | |||