Archive – Science

Expo entertains but fails to educate

This content was published on Oct 19, 2002 The five-month exhibition, spread around four lakeside sites, has cost the government SFr1.2 billion since its inception four years ago. Organisers say that by the time it closes its doors to the public on October 20, Expo.02 will have reached its target of about ten million visits. Despite eventually costing the taxpayer about SFr1 billion,…

Acid fog found to pollute forests

This content was published on Oct 19, 2002 That is the conclusion of a new survey funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and conducted by researchers at Bern University. For the past four years, scientists have been studying the effects of sulphur and nitrogen carried in fog on forest ecosystems in Germany and Switzerland. In Switzerland, they collected data from a hill…

Fears about crime wide of the mark

This content was published on Oct 18, 2002 Domestic violence is far more dangerous and widespread, according to seven-year research programme by the National Science Foundation. Some SFr8 million was spent on 31 research projects. Eighteen looked at violence in daily life, focusing on issues such as vandalism, racism and violence at school and among young people. The 13 others investigated different aspects…

More cash for nano-technology

This content was published on Oct 18, 2002 The Top Nano 21 programme, an initiative that began three years ago, has helped more than 200 projects get off the ground in Switzerland and abroad. The initiative – which brings together Swiss researchers from university and industry – has produced promising results, especially in the fields of alternative energy sources, new materials and coatings.…

Swiss see expanded role for environment body

This content was published on Oct 16, 2002 Switzerland said it would contribute SFr99 million to the Global Environment Facility, which provides money to help implement environmental conventions. On the first day of the meeting, delegations also agreed to extend the GEF’s mandate to include harmful chemicals and to combat deforestation and desertification – key Swiss objectives. Extending the mandate The GEF was…

Rural women lauded for achievements

This content was published on Oct 15, 2002 Two Swiss were among six winners of the women’s creativity in rural life prize, awarded by the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF). The prize, awarded annually by the Geneva-based WWSF, is given to women around the world who have found creative ways of improving the quality of life in rural communities. In this way, the…

Latsis prize goes to developer of telecoms laser

This content was published on Oct 15, 2002 The technology is expected to bring video phones and movies over the Internet a step closer to reality. The prize, which comes with a cheque of SFr100,000 ($67,200), is awarded by Switzerland’s National Science Foundation, and is aimed at encouraging young researchers. The Foundation chose Faist, 40, for his work in developing a “quantum cascade…

Swiss launch new search for BSE in humans

This content was published on Oct 11, 2002 The study, the first of its kind in continental Europe, has opened a debate about whether people found to be carrying the deadly illness should be told. Adriano Aguzzi, a neuropathologist at the University Hospital in Zurich, told swissinfo that doctors plan to collect at least 1,500 samples over the next five years. While Aguzzi…

Sport events urged to prove green credentials

This content was published on Oct 10, 2002 The Swiss Olympic Association and the Swiss Environment Agency have offered prize money of SFr50,000 for events which boost environmental protection and awareness. The Ecosport prize, launched in Bern on Thursday, will reward organisers who try to reduce the impact of traffic, economise on water and energy, and limit the amount of rubbish produced at…

Roche reports flat sales and surprise vitamins charge

This content was published on Oct 10, 2002 Roche also announced that it was putting aside unexpected new provisions to cover legal liabilities from price fixing at its vitamins division. In a statement from its Basel headquarters, Roche said that core sales were SFr19.27 billion, of which SFr13.903 billion were in the pharmaceuticals division and SFr5.367 billion in the diagnostics business. This is…

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