Archive – Science

Preventive treatment key to fighting breast cancer

This content was published on Mar 12, 2003 The conference, which kicked off on Wednesday, comes at a time when the number of breast cancer cases in industrialised countries is on the rise, but mortality rates are dropping. Cancer experts say the main reason for the fall is the increased use of preventive medicine. Preventive treatment works in two ways: firstly, screening on…

Parliament backs stem cell research

This content was published on Mar 12, 2003 But, as expected, it refused to give the go-ahead for research on the embryos themselves until a new law is formulated. The proposals still need to be approved by the House of Representatives before they become law. A Senate commission had already made changes to the draft legislation – distinguishing between stem cell research and…

Experts explore mysteries of the brain

This content was published on Mar 11, 2003 International Brain Week – now in its sixth year – offers a unique opportunity for specialists to discover more about the brain and how it functions. A series of roundtable discussions, hosted by Geneva University, will allow experts to exchange information and research on a wide range of topics from Alzheimer’s disease to schizophrenia. Two…

A profligate kingdom

This content was published on Mar 6, 2003 However, with the advent of privatisation, current practices look set to change. “Use water wisely, please. It’s a precious commodity in the Emirates,” reads one advertisement in the arrivals hall at Dubai airport. But flying over the country, one could be mistaken for thinking that the message is simply aimed at tourists. Everywhere along the…

Life springs from Trümmelbach Falls

This content was published on Mar 6, 2003 The melt water does not cascade over the cliffs as the other waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, but are funnelled into the mountainside. Between April and June, about 20 cubic metres of water roars through the gorge every second. And it is estimated that the Trümmelbach carries about 20,000 tons of debris – mostly sand…

Swiss rivers allowed to flow freely

This content was published on Mar 6, 2003 One example of “re-naturalisation” – where a body of water is restored to its natural state – is the river Emme near Burgdorf in canton Bern. “For a while I thought I was a tourist guide,” Ruedi Mosimann, a water construction engineer with the Bern water authorities, told swissinfo, recalling times when delegations from all…

Doctors warn of future shortage

This content was published on Mar 5, 2003 Junior doctors are warning that a drop in medical students and a scarcity of doctors in other European countries will have telling consequences on the profession in Switzerland. The Bern branch of Switzerland’s Junior Doctors Association has launched a campaign to increase public awareness of an issue that it maintains could become a major problem…

Parents bank on umbilical cords

This content was published on Mar 3, 2003 However, researchers are still trying to answer the ethical and legal concerns surrounding the procedure. Two public banks in Basel and Geneva already hold about 600 samples. In 2002, the health authorities granted permission for the first private bank to operate in Switzerland. Other companies are now planning to break into the Swiss market. Lifeline…

Fantasy and aphrodisiacs spice up gardening fair

This content was published on Feb 20, 2003 The former was a horticultural flight of fancy while the latter seemed to attract an unusually large number of visitors, not all of them gardening enthusiasts. What’s been called the “Fireship” at Giardina was a stand featuring 25 aphrodisiac plants, subtly illuminated by green lighting and arranged along a passageway with a canvas ceiling. The…

Swiss move closer to decriminalisation of cannabis

This content was published on Feb 19, 2003 A parliamentary commission met on Wednesday to discuss the possible liberalisation of the drug in Switzerland. The Senate has already come out in favour of such a move. However, anti-decriminalisation sentiment is growing, with the staunchest opposition centred in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Opponents of liberalisation have stepped up pressure on parliamentarians, and one…

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Archive – Science

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Preventive treatment key to fighting breast cancer

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Parliament backs stem cell research

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Experts explore mysteries of the brain

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A profligate kingdom

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Life springs from Trümmelbach Falls

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Swiss rivers allowed to flow freely

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Doctors warn of future shortage

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Parents bank on umbilical cords

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Fantasy and aphrodisiacs spice up gardening fair

More

Swiss move closer to decriminalisation of cannabis

Popular Stories

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