Science

In our science coverage, we look at where Swiss inno-vation touches the world. We focus especially on solutions to climate change and other areas where Swiss research contributes to global understanding and solutions.

EU backslides on AI rules – what does it mean for Switzerland?

Cartel protests against trump and big tech commission

This content was published on Dec 6, 2025 The European Commission wants to delay implementing parts of its new Artificial Intelligence Act, giving big tech companies more time to harness citizens’ data. The move could also affect Switzerland, whose digital policies often follow Brussels’ lead.

Climate solutions

A neighbourhood with residential buildings

Living within planetary limits: Zurich’s 2,000-watt experiment

This content was published on Dec 1, 2025 Zurich is home to a unique housing cooperative meant to model sustainable living. A decade on, some residents have found changing their habits to be more challenging than expected.

Switzerland joined other countries at COP30 in calling for a phase-out of fossil fuels. But before leaving Belém, Swiss Environment Minister Albert Rösti made clear that the current geopolitical context complicated matters.

What the US pullback means for Switzerland’s climate priorities

This content was published on Nov 28, 2025 For Switzerland, the absence of the United States has strengthened its stance on climate finance but limited progress toward phasing out fossil fuels.

Four Indonesian islanders take on Swiss cement giant Holcim

This content was published on Nov 26, 2025 A report from Pulau Pari, Indonesia, where four residents have vowed to fight a major Swiss company in one of the world’s most polluting industries.

The climate challenge – is there reason to hope?

This content was published on Nov 25, 2025 Despite a lacklustre COP30, this week’s Inside Geneva’s guests are surprisingly optimistic on climate change mitigation.

two hands hold in front of the cop30 sign

COP30 analysis: too little, but still worthwhile

This content was published on Nov 24, 2025 Climate protection was not decisively strengthened, but the fragile COP30 deal still has certain value, says Swiss public radio, SRF, reporter Christian von Burg.

COP30: Switzerland reinvigorates its climate offsetting plan

This content was published on Nov 22, 2025 At COP30, Switzerland announced the creation of an alliance of countries supporting a carbon offset scheme it pioneered.

How a global plan to preserve forests launched a carbon offset debate

This content was published on Nov 22, 2025 The journey of a UN-backed scheme to prevent deforestation through carbon offsets exposes the challenges of influencing climate-related practices from afar.

Aerial images of the community of Shintuya on the banks of the Alto Madre de Dios River. Shintuya, located in the Manu province and district of the Madre de Dios region, is the oldest native community that is part of the Amarakaeri Indigenous Reserve. It was founded on September 29, 1950, and is the first community of the Harakbut people.

Drug trade and land grabs threaten Amazon communities on climate front lines

This content was published on Nov 22, 2025 Drug trafficking, violence and weak state support overshadow Peru’s Amarakaeri reserve, where Indigenous communities are struggling to protect forests.

Ten years of Swiss climate votes since the Paris Agreement

This content was published on Nov 21, 2025 From Paris to the polls: in Switzerland, direct democracy means that climate policy is a public – and recurring – issue.

In 2023, transport accounted for 43% of Switzerland's CO2 emissions (not including aviation). Between 1990 and 2023, CO2 emissions from transport fell by 7%.

Switzerland climbs global climate ranking but progress is slow

This content was published on Nov 18, 2025 Switzerland has climbed seven places in an international climate ranking, but analysts say the country is still failing to cut emissions fast enough at home.

The introduction of more efficient and climate-friendly cookers is among the projects that industrialised states finance in developing countries to offset their emissions.

Emission reductions: the countries doing the ‘dirty work’ for Switzerland

This content was published on Nov 12, 2025 Switzerland has pioneered international carbon offsetting under the terms of the Paris Agreement. But the practice has generated fresh concerns and criticism.

Research frontiers

EU backslides on AI rules – what does it mean for Switzerland?

Woman at the computer in front of a car, in a workshop

Swiss AI shows bias despite transparency efforts

This content was published on Dec 3, 2025 The Swiss AI model Apertus reproduces the biases already present in large commercial systems, showing how difficult it is to make AI truly fair.

Your questions answered: Are there alternatives to antibiotics?

This content was published on Nov 20, 2025 Readers asked us a host of questions about rising resistance to antibiotics. We have some answers.

Around 75% of companies in Switzerland mainly use AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Copilot for tasks like text generation, coding and data analysis.

‘Switzerland must not give in to the Big Tech narrative’

This content was published on Nov 12, 2025 Switzerland can be more independent from tech giants like Microsoft when it comes to artificial intelligence, says a leading digital sovereignty expert.

Switzerland’s uphill climb to AI sovereignty

This content was published on Nov 7, 2025 Switzerland has invested millions to reduce its dependence on American tech giants. But for many, true sovereignty in artificial intelligence (AI) remains out of reach.

AI in healthcare and machine learning in medicine

Major new initiative aims to bring AI to cancer treatment in Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 30, 2025 Despite the buzz around AI in medicine, cancer patients in Switzerland rarely encounter it. A national project aims to change this.

Companies all over the world are competing to bring AI closer to human intelligence.

Switzerland aspires to build ‘human’ artificial intelligence

This content was published on Oct 29, 2025 Swiss developers aim to overtake global competitors in the race to develop an AI that can ‘think’ like humans. How close is it to the goal?

Since its launch in early September, much has been said and written about the Swiss AI model Apertus. What is true and what is false?

Fact and fiction about the Swiss AI model Apertus

This content was published on Oct 6, 2025 A look at what’s behind the most frequent claims about the new Swiss technology.

Opinion

Bias isn’t just in algorithms but in the words we choose

This content was published on Oct 6, 2025 The launch of Switzerland’s Apertus model highlights how even a Latin ending can carry centuries of cultural weight, argues inclusive communication specialist Claudia Vaccarone.

Is AI for sign language promising or futile?

This content was published on Oct 2, 2025 Labs and start-ups in Switzerland are working on using AI to advance sign language interpretation, but they face many challenges.

Scientist Florian Krauss with ice core sample

Frozen clues: how Antarctic ice reveals our climate past

This content was published on Oct 1, 2025 Researchers in Bern study 1.2-million-year-old Antarctic ice. Discover how ancient air bubbles reveal the secrets of Earth’s climate history.

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Science

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EU backslides on AI rules – what does it mean for Switzerland?

More

Living within planetary limits: Zurich’s 2,000-watt experiment

More

What the US pullback means for Switzerland’s climate priorities

More

Four Indonesian islanders take on Swiss cement giant Holcim

More

The climate challenge – is there reason to hope?

More

COP30 analysis: too little, but still worthwhile

More

COP30: Switzerland reinvigorates its climate offsetting plan

More

How a global plan to preserve forests launched a carbon offset debate

More

Drug trade and land grabs threaten Amazon communities on climate front lines

More

Ten years of Swiss climate votes since the Paris Agreement

More

Switzerland climbs global climate ranking but progress is slow

More

Emission reductions: the countries doing the ‘dirty work’ for Switzerland

More

EU backslides on AI rules – what does it mean for Switzerland?

More

Swiss AI shows bias despite transparency efforts

More

Your questions answered: Are there alternatives to antibiotics?

More

‘Switzerland must not give in to the Big Tech narrative’

More

Switzerland’s uphill climb to AI sovereignty

More

Major new initiative aims to bring AI to cancer treatment in Switzerland

More

Switzerland aspires to build ‘human’ artificial intelligence

More

Fact and fiction about the Swiss AI model Apertus

More

Bias isn’t just in algorithms but in the words we choose

More

Is AI for sign language promising or futile?

More

Frozen clues: how Antarctic ice reveals our climate past

Listen to our science podcast

Community corner: latest debates and surveys on science

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