Archive – Science

Swiss students major in sport

This content was published on Dec 4, 2001 The report, carried out by the University of Bern’s Institute for Sport and Sports Science (ISS), showed that around 96 per cent of university students in Switzerland are regularly engaged in some form of sporting activity. “Encouraging” “I think the findings are very encouraging,” institute director professor Kurt Egger told swissinfo. “Basically, around 60 per…

English, but not as we know it

This content was published on Dec 4, 2001 English-speakers in Switzerland rapidly become aware that their language is widely spoken in their adoptive country, but that it has taken on a life of its own. The Swiss have invented a whole series of “English” words that would baffle a native-speaker, or they use existing words in an idiosyncratic way: “handy”, for example, does…

Robot offers hope for fighting tunnel fires

This content was published on Dec 3, 2001 The Luf 60, which is essentially a cross between a traditional snow cannon and a robot, can climb stairs and navigate obstacle. It comes equipped with heat sensors. According to Bruno Walter, co-owner of Rechner’s Biegesysteme, its greatest attribute is that it can fight fires, allowing emergency workers to stay out of harm’s way. “In…

Swiss firms urged to find new partners

This content was published on Nov 26, 2001 The survey says Swiss firms must forge new partnerships if they don’t want to lag being their international competitors. Some 1200 managers from all sectors worldwide took part in the survey, and 69 per cent said they planned to strengthen their business alliances. More than half said business partnerships were highly significant for their company,…

Swiss genomics gets shot in the arm

This content was published on Nov 24, 2001 The Leenards foundation and the Louis-Jeantet medical foundation have agreed to give SFr 10 million to ensure the expansion of the Functional Genomics Pole, a flagship project involving the Universities of Geneva and Lausanne and the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). The Leenaards and Louis-Jeantet foundations will each give SFr 5 million. The…

Could fireproof concrete have prevented Gotthard collapse?

This content was published on Nov 23, 2001 The technology was used for the first time just four weeks ago in a small section of the Gotthard tunnel – where Wednesday’s crash and deadly fire occurred. Parts of the roof need not have collapsed when temperatures reached 1,000 degrees Celsius, said mining engineer, Volker Wetzig, head of research and development at Hagerbach test…

EU slaps record fine on Roche for price fixing

This content was published on Nov 21, 2001 The European Commission announced a record fine of €855 million for eight price fixing cartels in vitamin products. The two largest fines were the €462 million for Switzerland’s Roche and €296 million for German drug giant BASF for fixing the price of vitamins, costing European consumers billions of euros. Roche said the fine was covered…

ABB Switzerland to close plant, losing 270 jobs

This content was published on Nov 20, 2001 ABB Switzerland said in a statement on Tuesday that production would end in the middle of next year because operations of the division were no longer viable. The closure means the loss of 270 jobs. The company decided to stop production after negotiations with possible purchasers failed. It is looking for a solution for the…

Swiss soil to remain GM free

This content was published on Nov 20, 2001 The Federal Office for the Environment on Tuesday rejected a request from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich to plant genetically modified wheat, saying it was impossible to assess the risks of such an experiment. Philippe Roch, director of the environment office, said he had no choice but to reject the institute’s request. “Man…

Spirit of Bike: environment-friendly transport

This content was published on Nov 20, 2001 The “Intellibike” is an environment friendly means of transport, and its creators in Biel hope it will encourage physical fitness and spur the development of cleaner technologies. “It’s not just an experimental vehicle, but a platform for promoting innovative transport technology,” explains August Pfluger, a spokesman for the project. The aim is to encourage technological…

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