Archive – Science

Switzerland’s nuclear family

This content was published on May 17, 2003 swissinfo’s Faryal Mirza went to meet a family in northern Switzerland who have a nuclear power plant on their doorstep. The village of Full in canton Aargau sits neatly on the banks of the river Rhine near the border with Germany. It’s here that the Meier-Ulrich family have their organic farm, Bio-Meier, which has produced…

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Swiss scientists to unlock Costa Rica’s potential

This content was published on May 17, 2003 They say the fair set-up of the project should counter criticism that western experts are plundering the biological resources of developing countries. Zurich’s Federal Institute of Technology says the partnership with Costa Rica’s National Institute of Biodiversity (INBio) – a non-governmental organisation – places both parties on an equal footing and seeks to redress the…

Nuclear debate reaches critical point

This content was published on May 16, 2003 They face two proposals – one to extend the ban on building new plants and another to close down the industry altogether. Nuclear power currently provides around 40 per cent of Switzerland’s electricity production – the remaining 60 per cent comes from hydropower. But Greenpeace, which is one of the environmental groups spearheading the campaign…

Scenic village reveals its murky side

This content was published on May 15, 2003 But residents and local officials are less concerned about the weak and crumbling foundations than the primitive plumbing. Sewage flows untreated into the lake. Gandria’s cheery pastel buildings clinging vertically to the shore are reminiscent of the Italian Riviera. It is a spectacular setting that attracts throngs of tourists each year. Much has been written…

CSEM spin-off finds venture capital

This content was published on May 15, 2003 The company announced on Thursday it has raised $5.5 million (SFr7.25 million) in venture capital. Vision Capital led the investment round this year, bringing back existing investors, such as Intel Capital, Viventures, the CSEM, as well as two new investors: Venture Incubator from Switzerland and Germany’s innotech. This amount was significantly down from what it…

Work-related stress takes its toll

This content was published on May 12, 2003 Redundancies in many firms are adding to the strain on those who remain, and even bosses and staff working in personnel departments are feeling the pinch. A study conducted three years ago showed that the Swiss economy loses SFr4.2 billion ($3.2 billion) annually from stress-related illness. The situation has deteriorated in recent years: the number…

GM lobby goes on charm offensive

This content was published on May 12, 2003 Scientists are hoping to use the occasion to ease Swiss fears of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Polls have repeatedly shown that the average Swiss is against GMOs, and politicians have been forced to take notice of public opinion. Last week, the House of Representatives voted in favour of a five-year moratorium on the use of…

Illegal immigrants miss out on medical care

This content was published on May 11, 2003 Those attending hospitals are often refused emergency treatment because they don’t have medical insurance. This is despite a Swiss law that obliges hospitals to treat all emergency cases, regardless of whether or not the patient is covered. According to the Contact Centre for Immigrants in Switzerland, hospital authorities sometimes report illegal immigrants, deterring others from…

Gay animals come out of the closet

This content was published on May 10, 2003 As part of the city’s “Warm May” festival, the zoo is offering guided tours dealing with homosexuality among animals. The crowd that gathered for the first tour comprised a predictable mix of homosexual humans and their curious heterosexual counterparts. “I have kids at school who think that homosexuality is unnatural,” one young teacher told swissinfo,…

Novartis clinches key purchases in US

This content was published on May 9, 2003 The Swiss company has bought an incontinence drug from its American rival Pfizer and purchased a majority stake in biotechnology firm Idenix Pharmaceuticals. Novartis will pay $225 million (SFr295 million) for Pfizer’s Enablex, which should reach markets in the United States and the European Union in 2004, if regulators give the go-ahead. It is estimated…

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Archive – Science

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Switzerland’s nuclear family

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Swiss scientists to unlock Costa Rica’s potential

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Nuclear debate reaches critical point

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Scenic village reveals its murky side

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CSEM spin-off finds venture capital

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Work-related stress takes its toll

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GM lobby goes on charm offensive

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Illegal immigrants miss out on medical care

More

Gay animals come out of the closet

More

Novartis clinches key purchases in US

Popular Stories

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