Archive – Science

Infant drugs company struggles

This content was published on Nov 9, 2000 But the management said the figures were in line with expectations. The company has yet to launch its first product. It expects to begin selling the hypertension drug, Tracleer, in the second half of next year pending approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration. Actelion is listed on the high-tech SWX New Market…

CERN shuts down machine used to explore origins of the universe

This content was published on Nov 8, 2000 In a statement on Wednesday, the director-general, Luciano Maiani, said the Large Electron-Proton Collider (LEP) had been switched off “for the last time”. The announcement comes less than a week after the LEP was shut down after 11 years of service. The machine had been used to chase an elusive subatomic particle known as the…

Ecology professor wins prestigious prize

This content was published on Nov 8, 2000 Keller will receive the prize, worth SFr100,000 ($56,500), at a ceremony in Bern next January. The 39-year-old director of Lausanne’s Institute for Ecology has won respect in the scientific world for his research on ant colonies. His observations enabled him to show that colonies of ants are not always as efficient and harmonious as was…

Bern leads way in gene therapy for lung cancer

This content was published on Nov 8, 2000 The therapy was first developed at the University of Texas’ MD Anderson medical centre, and is being taking a step further in Bern and Barcelona. Healthy cells are programmed to die naturally, but thoracic oncologists – lung cancer specialists – have noticed a common phenomenon in tumours: gene mutation. Rather than dying, the mutant version…

CERN festival combats physics image problem

This content was published on Nov 7, 2000 The event, which coincides with European Science and Technology week, is being jointly organised by the three biggest physics research institutions in Europe: CERN, the European Space Agency and the European Southern Observatory. It is the first time they have worked together so closely. The catalyst has been the brain drain away from physics. “One…

Unemployment holding steady at nine-year low

This content was published on Nov 7, 2000 Figures from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs in Bern show that 62,953 people are jobless, 624 more than at the end of September. Worst affected is canton Geneva where unemployment is 4.1 per cent. Joblessness is also above the national average in the other French-speaking cantons (except Fribourg and Jura), and in Italian-speaking Ticino.…

Bad weather continues in Swiss Alps

This content was published on Nov 6, 2000 The high winds damaged buildings, knocked over trees and electricity pylons while heavy snow also halted traffic through the Alps on Monday. No injuries were reported in the Swiss storms, where the wind speed increased after moist air from the Mediterranean was blown north and forced over the mountains. In the Swiss canton of Valais,…

Electrosmog draws renewed fire ahead of UMTS auction

This content was published on Nov 6, 2000 At a news conference on Monday in Bern, the organisations said radiation levels from antennae should be reduced to a tenth of the current permitted level of six volts per metre. The groups represented include: Doctors for the Environment, the Swiss Energy Foundation, Pro Natura, the Swiss Foundation for the Protection and Planning of the…

The final frontiers of space are crossed in Lucerne

This content was published on Nov 6, 2000 The “Crystal Moon Express” takes up to 30 passengers at a time on a virtual voyage towards a mysterious asteroid at the end of this century. Accompanying them are the human shuttle commander, Tex the robot and an onboard computer called Krishna. Their destination is the Crystal Moon Hotel, from which they can observe a…

Higgs boson sighting re-ignites LEP closure debate

This content was published on Nov 3, 2000 The Large Electron Positron (LEP) was closed after the expiry of a one-month stay of execution granted in September after researchers detected what they hoped was evidence of the particle believed to be responsible for all the mass in the Universe, the Higgs Boson. But further sightings of the particle’s shadow over the past month…

Archive – Science

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Archive – Science

More

Infant drugs company struggles

More

CERN shuts down machine used to explore origins of the universe

More

Ecology professor wins prestigious prize

More

Bern leads way in gene therapy for lung cancer

More

CERN festival combats physics image problem

More

Unemployment holding steady at nine-year low

More

Bad weather continues in Swiss Alps

More

Electrosmog draws renewed fire ahead of UMTS auction

More

The final frontiers of space are crossed in Lucerne

More

Higgs boson sighting re-ignites LEP closure debate

Popular Stories

Most Discussed