Archive – Science

Switzerland’s scientists go on marketing offensive

This content was published on May 1, 2001 The “Science et Cité” festival will kick off on May 4 in Zurich when the city’s railway station will be turned into a giant laboratory. Scientists will be on hand to explain numerous cutting edge projects, including new research into BSE and attempts to store energy in zinc. The sponsors of the festival say there…

Roche employees await news of job cuts

This content was published on Apr 30, 2001 A report in the Financial Times newspaper said that between 5,000 and 8,000 jobs could be lost in a move designed to improve sinking margins in Roche’s pharmaceuticals division. That would represent between eight and 12 per cent of the total workforce of nearly 65,000. The paper quoted an analyst as saying that 1,500 job…

Roche scientists advance understanding of memory

This content was published on Apr 27, 2001 The scientists, who work for the Swiss pharmaceuticals giant, Roche, have been studying a common roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans. They found the worms learned better to find food in areas with a specific temperature if they were genetically modified to overproduce a calcium-sensing molecule called NCS-1. They saw that worms with excess NCS-1 “learn faster, have…

Ageing population poses challenges for Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 27, 2001 The study looked at possible scenarios of how the population might change between now and 2060, and concluded that there would be a dramatic increase in the number of people over the age of 65. Switzerland’s population is not ageing as fast as it is in Italy or Germany, largely because immigration to Switzerland, primarily…

Swiss tornado tracker has his hands full at home

This content was published on Apr 26, 2001 A tornado is a violently rotating column of air which can cause tremendous destruction and achieve wind speeds of more than 400 kilometres an hour. They are not normally a phenomenon associated with Switzerland but they are more common here than most people think, according to tornado researcher, Willi Schmid, of the Federal Institute of…

Novartis plans to develop new research facility

This content was published on Apr 25, 2001 A Novartis spokesman said the project was already in an advanced stage and that a firm decision would be taken within the next few months. The plan is to build a new research centre called the “Drug Discovery Centre” where researchers will conduct studies into new medicines. Their work will be based on genetic research.…

Swiss seek to attract new business at Hanover Fair

This content was published on Apr 23, 2001 More than 190 Swiss exhibitors are taking part in the annual event, which showcases the latest technological developments and innovations. In addition, the country is being represented by a delegation from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco). Executive board member, Barbara Rigassi, is leading the contingent, which was on Monday due give a presentation…

Novartis buys rights to cholesterol treatment

This content was published on Apr 23, 2001 The Basel-based company announced on Monday that it had purchased the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, currently in clinical phase II development, from French group, Hazal Finance, for an undisclosed amount. Hazal had licensed pitavastatin from Japan’s Kowa Company and Nissan Chemicals Industries. “We are really excited about having a ‘super-statin’ in our portfolio,” said Thomas Ebeling,…

Switzerland dons a white coat

This content was published on Apr 21, 2001 The poor weather conditions triggered a number of traffic accidents across the country, causing injuries but no deaths. Up to 10 centimetres of fresh snow fell in low-lying areas. German parts of the country, including Zurich, the Bernese Oberland and canton Graunbünden were particularly badly hit. A number of roads were closed, and drivers crossing…

Energy use reaches record levels

This content was published on Apr 20, 2001 Consumption rose by 2.3 per cent in 2000, after a 3.2 per cent increase the previous year, according to figures released by the energy ministry on Friday. The level of use by industry rose by more than three per cent, reflecting the improvement in the Swiss economy. Population growth also boosted consumption, and the fact…

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