Archive – Science

India launches Switzerland’s first satellite

This content was published on Sep 23, 2009 The mission of the gift box-sized device is to map airglow, the faint bands of green and mauve light caused when the sun’s high-energy radiation collides with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere. “Mission accomplished,” said an emotional Muriel Noca, project coordinator at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). “I can’t believe…

Research head steps down over fake data

This content was published on Sep 21, 2009 A panel of experts concluded that scientific data in two publications and a doctoral thesis from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich were falsified in 1999 and 2000. However, it is not known for certain who is responsible. Peter Chen acknowledged his responsibility as head of research and has stepped down, a statement from…

New planet is small, fast and hot

This content was published on Sep 16, 2009 An international team led by Geneva University’s Didier Queloz, says that the planet is made of rock, just like the Earth, although its radius is 80 per cent larger. It is five times heavier. It is the first rocky exosolar planet. Queloz describes the planet as “Dante’s Inferno”. Its hot side is nearly 2,000 Celsius…

Ships to power up with giant kites

This content was published on Sep 13, 2009 The Arc Engineering College in western Switzerland is one of nine European universities and partners working on the three-year KitVes venture, launched last year, to generate electricity on board ships. Unlike a previous concept announced in 2008, which uses kites to harness wind power to supplement ships’ propulsion systems, the KitVes project generates electricity to…

Award puts solar scientist in the spotlight

This content was published on Sep 12, 2009 Swiss professor Aldo Steinfeld has been especially inventive. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) recently honoured his work by presenting him with the biannual Yellott Award. Steinfeld is the head of the Solar Technology Laboratory at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen as well as professor of renewable energy carriers at the Federal Institute…

“Flying boat” speed record confirmed

This content was published on Sep 7, 2009 Hydroptère, a hydrofoil vessel created by Frenchman Alain Thébault, sailing enthusiast Thierry Lombard and the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), last year broke through the speed barrier for the first time at up to 56.3 knots (104 km/h). The boat needed to repeat the attempt again in 2009 in order to claim the…

Switzerland’s Nobel boom – bust?

This content was published on Sep 7, 2009 Since 1901, when the first prizes were awarded for physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace, 24 Swiss have been honoured – a fact not lost on politicians and business leaders. And according to the Lausanne “talent incubator” IMD, Switzerland boasts 1.111 Nobel Prizes per million inhabitants, awarded between 1950 and 2001 for physics,…

Orphaned panda raised by hand at zoo in eastern Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 3, 2009

Google Street View triggers legal action

This content was published on Sep 3, 2009 “It’s all about clarifying whether in future everyone will have to reckon on finding themselves pictured on the internet,” said federal data protection officer Hanspeter Thür on Wednesday. The Swiss version of Street View, which allows users to take virtual strolls around seven Swiss towns, went online on August 17. Five days later Thür said…

World class brains

This content was published on Aug 31, 2009

Archive – Science

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Archive – Science

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India launches Switzerland’s first satellite

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Research head steps down over fake data

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New planet is small, fast and hot

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Ships to power up with giant kites

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Award puts solar scientist in the spotlight

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“Flying boat” speed record confirmed

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Switzerland’s Nobel boom – bust?

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Orphaned panda raised by hand at zoo in eastern Switzerland

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Google Street View triggers legal action

More

World class brains

Popular Stories

Most Discussed