Archive – Science

Switzerland and Britain boost scientific ties

This content was published on Nov 19, 2004 The aim is to enhance the position of both countries as European and global leaders in such areas as bio- and nanotechnology. The agreement was signed on Friday by Switzerland’s State Secretary for Science, Charles Kleiber, and Britain’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, in the Swiss city of Lausanne. The Swiss Science Agency and…

Human dignity versus scientific freedom

This content was published on Nov 19, 2004 Theologian and ethicist Ruth Baumann-Hölzle told swissinfo that embryos have both rights and dignity and therefore shouldn’t be used for scientific purposes. The vote, due to take place next Sunday, is highly controversial. Scientists argue that stem-cell research is vital to help combat incurable diseases such as Alzheimer’s. In Geneva, researcher Marisa Jaconi has already…

The ethical dilemma of stem-cell research

This content was published on Nov 19, 2004 Marisa Jaconi, the first Swiss researcher with a mandate to study human embryonic stem cells in Switzerland, told swissinfo that the potential medical benefits cannot be ignored. Research on stem cells taken from human embryos is highly controversial. In the United States, it was an issue in the presidential election campaign, while in Switzerland new…

Swiss teenagers are Europe’s top joint smokers

This content was published on Nov 19, 2004 The findings, published on Thursday, revealed that one in three Swiss 15-year-olds has lit up a joint within the past year. According to the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Addiction, the number of teenagers regularly smoking or getting drunk rose by ten per cent between 1998 and 2002. “For a large…

Irish beat Swiss to top quality of life survey

This content was published on Nov 18, 2004 Ireland topped the poll, which rated more than 100 countries based on criteria including income, health, unemployment, climate and political stability. According to the survey’s authors, Ireland is officially the best place to live in the world. But Switzerland also scores well, coming in ahead of Norway, Luxembourg and Sweden. Zimbabwe brought up the rear…

More and more species face extinction

This content was published on Nov 17, 2004 The question of how to halt that decline is the main focus of the union’s congress in Bangkok, which is being attended by delegates from around the world including Switzerland. According to the IUCN, which has its headquarters in Gland in Switzerland, more than 15,000 species of plant and animal are in danger of becoming…

New mysteries for Interlaken theme park

This content was published on Nov 17, 2004 The speakers took part in the World Mystery Forum that coincided with the opening of a new exhibition, “Unsolved Mysteries”, at the Interlaken theme park. “I wanted to create a place where scientists and laymen – as long as they are reasonable and not crackpots – can come to inform the public about their discoveries…

Swiss tap into the grey market

This content was published on Nov 12, 2004 With the number of pensioners expected to rise substantially in Switzerland, the older age group is now considered an important market for companies. The grey market and how best to serve it was the subject of a recent conference held in Lausanne by the government’s Innovation and Promotion Agency. It followed the launch of the…

Novartis tackles malaria drug supply problems

This content was published on Nov 10, 2004 The reassurance came after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that it would not be able to provide all countries with the quantities of Coartem that they require. Novartis, which provides Coartem to WHO at cost price, had earlier reported that its Chinese suppliers were unable to provide sufficient quantities of artemisinin – a key…

Lessons drawn from hurricane Lothar

This content was published on Nov 9, 2004 That’s according to the Federal Environment Office, which says more has to be done to protect Switzerland’s forests and help them return to their natural state. Dubbed “the hurricane of the century”, Lothar struck on December 26, 1999, with winds gusting up to 180 kilometres per hour. The storm caused enormous damage, felling 13 million…

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