Archive – Science

Light pollution threatens night sky

This content was published on Sep 12, 2003 The symposium attracted astronomers, ornithologists and even health experts. Scientists estimate that a fifth of the world’s population can no longer see the Milky Way galaxy and several of the 12 constellations featured in horoscopes have become completely invisible in light-polluted areas. Organisers from the International Dark Sky Association say their priority is effective outdoor…

Disabled organisation withdraws sex project

This content was published on Sep 11, 2003 Pro Infirmis says it decided to end its direct involvement in the project after suffering a sharp fall in donations. The pilot scheme was unveiled in April by Pro Infirmis’ Zurich branch, which wanted to train 12 professional “touchers”. The successful applicants were then expected to offer sexual and emotional relief to Zurich’s disabled community.…

Nano everywhere at Swiss Nanofair

This content was published on Sep 8, 2003 It is the foundation for new industrial products as well as a major theme of research at Switzerland higher institutes of education. One of the demonstrations expected will be a new benchtop-sized “nanofactory” from the Losone-based companies, Agie and Mecartex. The two worked with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology’s Laboratoire de Systèmes Robotiques (LSRO)…

Controversial stimulant used to treat drug addicts

This content was published on Sep 8, 2003 Sixty heroin and cocaine users from Basel and Bern will be given the drug over a three-month period. Doctors say that the group, who are already registered on heroin withdrawal programmes, have proved a headache to treat because of their joint use of cocaine (a stimulant) and heroin (an analgesic). Christopher Bürki from Bern’s Koda…

Swiss unearth giant dinosaur bone

This content was published on Sep 8, 2003 The 1.75-metre-long shoulder blade, which was found in the American state of Wyoming, is believed to be part of the 35-metre-long skeleton of a seismosaurus. The seismosaurus was a 30-ton plant-eater which lived during the Jurassic period around 150 million years ago. The “earth-shaking lizard” could grow up to 50 metres in length. The team…

Gay fathers club together

This content was published on Sep 7, 2003 That was the question that led to the setting up in Zurich of a “Gay Fathers” group. Now in its eighth year, the organisation was founded by three gay fathers who found that their specific problems were largely overlooked by the homosexual community. The group provides support, counselling and practical advice for men who have…

Birds “divorce” to boost social status

This content was published on Sep 5, 2003 They say that eight per cent of oystercatchers – mainly females – dump a mate in order to move up in the world. “Females try to improve their social status,” ornithologist Dik Heg told swissinfo. Researchers found that females living in poor nesting spots were particularly likely to initiate a split and snap up a…

Bark beetles ravage Swiss forests

This content was published on Sep 5, 2003 This summer’s record temperatures and lack of rain has meant tree defences are down, leaving the country’s spruces particularly vulnerable to the destructive bark beetle. The ips typographus or bark beetle has a soft spot for spruce trees, which is bad news for cantons like Bern where spruces account for about 50 per cent of…

More Swiss seek professional careers advice

This content was published on Sep 3, 2003 Last year in Switzerland around 125,000 people sought advice – almost a five per cent increase over the previous year. This week the Swiss capital is playing host to an international conference on careers guidance, with the focus on how professional counselling can help people find work in an ever-changing job market. More than 750…

Life sciences boost for Basel

This content was published on Sep 2, 2003 The cantons of Basel City and Basel Country have offered to kick-start the project to the tune of SFr20 million ($14 million). The Federal Institute has welcomed the scheme but made its support conditional on its own budget being increased over the next four years. “This is a project that Switzerland needs,” Ulrich Suter, vice…

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