The research magazine Horizons offers an overview of research activities in Switzerland. Horizons is published jointly by the SNSF and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. Four times a year it reports on the latest developments in all scientific disciplines: from biology, medicine and social and cultural sciences through to mathematics and the natural sciences.
Learn more about the fascinating and inspiring world of science: what are the drivers of progress in medical research? What sources of energy can we use? Which issues will preoccupy future generations?
What’s a country to do with a spare ten billion? Bid to host the Olympic Games, finance a new airport? Build a hydroelectric dam, commission an aircraft carrier? How about a state-of-the-art space telescope?
What’s a country to do with a spare ten billion? Bid to host the Olympic Games, finance a new airport? Build a hydroelectric dam, commission an aircraft carrier? How about a state-of-the-art space telescope?
Who owns the Swiss subsoil and how should it be used? The legislation is unclear. With underground usage subject to increased competition, it’s clear that a problem is emerging.
Who owns the Swiss subsoil and how should it be used? The legislation is unclear. With underground usage subject to increased competition, it’s clear that a problem is emerging.
It’s getting more and more difficult for experts to get their arguments across to a broad public. We investigate why and offer advanced instructions for imparting knowledge: getting scientists heard amidst the noise of fake news. Read more in the current issue of the science magazine "Horizons".
It’s getting more and more difficult for experts to get their arguments across to a broad public. We investigate why and offer advanced instructions for imparting knowledge: getting scientists heard amidst the noise of fake news. Read more in the current issue of the science magazine "Horizons".
They entertain, create digital pioneers and move science forward: Video games have to be taken seriously. Read more in the current issue of the science magazine "Horizons".
They entertain, create digital pioneers and move science forward: Video games have to be taken seriously. Read more in the current issue of the science magazine "Horizons".
Given the potentially catastrophic consequences, is it right for finance to carry on in this way? Just like aviation, economics is a science capable of advancement. It must progress first and foremost towards societal relevance, just as it must seriously render the economic system less fragile. The walls between schools of thought must be torn down, and the repeatedly exposed dogmas placed at arm’s length, in particular ‘efficient markets’ and Homo oeconomicus, neither of which actually exist.
Given the potentially catastrophic consequences, is it right for finance to carry on in this way? Just like aviation, economics is a science capable of advancement. It must progress first and foremost towards societal relevance, just as it must seriously render the economic system less fragile. The walls between schools of thought must be torn down, and the repeatedly exposed dogmas placed at arm’s length, in particular ‘efficient markets’ and Homo oeconomicus, neither of which actually exist.
Horizons takes a look at the automation of research: using robots to speed up laboratory work, artificial intelligence to process floods of data and algorithms to analyse the scientific literature. Does it work? And is it a good idea?
Horizons takes a look at the automation of research: using robots to speed up laboratory work, artificial intelligence to process floods of data and algorithms to analyse the scientific literature. Does it work? And is it a good idea?
Horizons is embracing impermanence and the inevitability of death. But when exactly does life end? How does our society deal with dying and death? And how much self-determination is there in a living will?
Horizons is embracing impermanence and the inevitability of death. But when exactly does life end? How does our society deal with dying and death? And how much self-determination is there in a living will?
Science is global. Many people assume this means prestigious research partnerships between Western universities, perhaps also involving Asian institutions. But that eliminates half the world from the equation.
Science is global. Many people assume this means prestigious research partnerships between Western universities, perhaps also involving Asian institutions. But that eliminates half the world from the equation.
Swiss legislators are currently debating dual-use goods, such as the kitchen knife, the perfect example of a product that is both utensil and weapon. They’re trying to find a solution to the inevitable moral issues that arise out of legislating the arms trade, in particular defining categories of military goods and of authorised export-destination countries.
Swiss legislators are currently debating dual-use goods, such as the kitchen knife, the perfect example of a product that is both utensil and weapon. They’re trying to find a solution to the inevitable moral issues that arise out of legislating the arms trade, in particular defining categories of military goods and of authorised export-destination countries.
These days, one scientific study out of twelve comes from China. The growth of scientific production in Asia is unprecedented, and it has already upset the world’s research scene.
These days, one scientific study out of twelve comes from China. The growth of scientific production in Asia is unprecedented, and it has already upset the world’s research scene.
Science is taking a hard look in the mirror, and it’s for the best. The problems it faces are increasingly clear: reproducibility, fraud and statistical bias, to name but a few. Back in 2013 the news magazine The Economist featured the front-page headline “How Science Goes Wrong”. For sure, it may be somewhat alarmist to talk about ‘a crisis of science’, but it does embody the idea behind the critical, unwavering view of the scientific community on the state of affairs in its own house.
Science is taking a hard look in the mirror, and it’s for the best. The problems it faces are increasingly clear: reproducibility, fraud and statistical bias, to name but a few. Back in 2013 the news magazine The Economist featured the front-page headline “How Science Goes Wrong”. For sure, it may be somewhat alarmist to talk about ‘a crisis of science’, but it does embody the idea behind the critical, unwavering view of the scientific community on the state of affairs in its own house.
Governments are ever more dependent on scientific expertise, but many researchers hesitate to become politically active themselves. Horizons offers three perspectives on this complex relationship, including an interview with the politician and physician Felix Gutzwiller, who argues in favour of having more researchers in parliament. Other articles analyse independence-seeking parties in Europe, explore the world’s largest underwater caves, examine the history of crime in the US and explain how Switzerland assumed a central role in the fight against Ebola.
Governments are ever more dependent on scientific expertise, but many researchers hesitate to become politically active themselves. Horizons offers three perspectives on this complex relationship, including an interview with the politician and physician Felix Gutzwiller, who argues in favour of having more researchers in parliament. Other articles analyse independence-seeking parties in Europe, explore the world’s largest underwater caves, examine the history of crime in the US and explain how Switzerland assumed a central role in the fight against Ebola.
This edition focuses on the subject "The boundaries of science". Do we know what we can't know? Boundaries we've crossed - and boundaries we haven't yet - The ethical and legal boundaries of science
This edition focuses on the subject "The boundaries of science". Do we know what we can't know? Boundaries we've crossed - and boundaries we haven't yet - The ethical and legal boundaries of science
Stress is a socio-psychological concept. It’s something humans have in common with rats. It makes us sick and violent, but it’s also supposed to be healthy. So what is stress?
Stress is a socio-psychological concept. It’s something humans have in common with rats. It makes us sick and violent, but it’s also supposed to be healthy. So what is stress?
Experten: Unterschätzt, überschätzt? - Goldrute: Wie invasive Pflanzen einander bekämpfen - Merlin: Der mittelalterliche Blick in die Zukunft - Jubiläum: Was der Latsis-Preis bewirkt hat
Experten: Unterschätzt, überschätzt? - Goldrute: Wie invasive Pflanzen einander bekämpfen - Merlin: Der mittelalterliche Blick in die Zukunft - Jubiläum: Was der Latsis-Preis bewirkt hat
Akten: Zwiespältige Papierberge - Grundwasser: Böden ausgepresst wie eine Zitrone - Parasitenkiller: Zucker als Waffe gegen Malaria - Spitze? Wie der Forschungsplatz Europa attraktiver wird
Akten: Zwiespältige Papierberge - Grundwasser: Böden ausgepresst wie eine Zitrone - Parasitenkiller: Zucker als Waffe gegen Malaria - Spitze? Wie der Forschungsplatz Europa attraktiver wird
Biologie: les secrets de l'horloge interne - Charpentes en acier: comment les rendre plis sûres - Résistance aux maladies: voici la pomme cisgénique - Famille: priorité à la protection des droits de l'enfant
Biologie: les secrets de l'horloge interne - Charpentes en acier: comment les rendre plis sûres - Résistance aux maladies: voici la pomme cisgénique - Famille: priorité à la protection des droits de l'enfant
Rumänien: Altlasten machen Kinder krank - Spitalhygiene: Für Patienten überlebenswichtig - Bald Erster? China investiert massiv in die Forschung - Die Letzten: Seltene Tiere werden neu gezählt
Rumänien: Altlasten machen Kinder krank - Spitalhygiene: Für Patienten überlebenswichtig - Bald Erster? China investiert massiv in die Forschung - Die Letzten: Seltene Tiere werden neu gezählt
Ausländer: Politisch unsichtbar - Tuberkulose: Ansätze für neue Therapien - Tropenholz: Geeignet für nachhaltigen Brückenbau - Bodenspuren: Was sie über Mord und Totschlag verraten
Ausländer: Politisch unsichtbar - Tuberkulose: Ansätze für neue Therapien - Tropenholz: Geeignet für nachhaltigen Brückenbau - Bodenspuren: Was sie über Mord und Totschlag verraten
Ängste: Wie man sie heilen kann - Gletscherschmelze: die Folgen fürs Wasserreservoir Alpen - Massgeschneidert: Lebensmittel aus dem Labor - Erstes Relief: Veränderter Blick auf die Schweiz
Ängste: Wie man sie heilen kann - Gletscherschmelze: die Folgen fürs Wasserreservoir Alpen - Massgeschneidert: Lebensmittel aus dem Labor - Erstes Relief: Veränderter Blick auf die Schweiz
Bergauf: Klettern für die Forschung - Bauernhöfe: Zwischen Kachelofen und Billigmöbeln - Organmangel: Xenotransplantation bleibt Thema - Kernfusion: Saubere Energie in 30 Jahren?
Bergauf: Klettern für die Forschung - Bauernhöfe: Zwischen Kachelofen und Billigmöbeln - Organmangel: Xenotransplantation bleibt Thema - Kernfusion: Saubere Energie in 30 Jahren?
Eugenik: Schweiz unter den Pionieren - Notfall: Schnell, aber nicht schnell genug - Smartes Material: Nerven wie Glasfasern - Handy-Strahlung: Forschung untersucht Gesundheitsrisiken
Eugenik: Schweiz unter den Pionieren - Notfall: Schnell, aber nicht schnell genug - Smartes Material: Nerven wie Glasfasern - Handy-Strahlung: Forschung untersucht Gesundheitsrisiken
Feinstaub: Massnahmen ungenügend - Dinosaurier: Keine plumpen Trampel - Einbürgerung: Von Gemeinde zu Gemeinde verschieden - Top of Europe: 75 Jahre Forschung auf dem Jungfraujoch
Feinstaub: Massnahmen ungenügend - Dinosaurier: Keine plumpen Trampel - Einbürgerung: Von Gemeinde zu Gemeinde verschieden - Top of Europe: 75 Jahre Forschung auf dem Jungfraujoch
How do global environmental change and particularly climate change influence migration patterns in develop- ing countries? This question is increasingly receiving at- tention up to the highest political levels. The present fact sheet summarises state-of-the-art scientific knowledge that can help to find answers, and it assesses how the issue affects Switzerland and its policies on migration, asylum, and development cooperation. Most studies’ findings suggest that Switzerland will not be flooded with masses of environmental refugees. Population movements that are triggered by climatic factors occur mainly across short distances – within states and, to a lesser degree, between neighbouring states. Switzerland’s main challenge is to provide as- sistance in the countries and regions affected.
How do global environmental change and particularly climate change influence migration patterns in develop- ing countries? This question is increasingly receiving at- tention up to the highest political levels. The present fact sheet summarises state-of-the-art scientific knowledge that can help to find answers, and it assesses how the issue affects Switzerland and its policies on migration, asylum, and development cooperation. Most studies’ findings suggest that Switzerland will not be flooded with masses of environmental refugees. Population movements that are triggered by climatic factors occur mainly across short distances – within states and, to a lesser degree, between neighbouring states. Switzerland’s main challenge is to provide as- sistance in the countries and regions affected.
Klima: Wie es unsere Vorfahren beeinflusste - CO2: Tropische Bäume und Kakteen fixieren das Treibhausgas - Dilemma: Wenn Juristen gegen ihr Gewissen handeln - Atomuhr: Das Ticken des Cäsiums neu modelliert
Klima: Wie es unsere Vorfahren beeinflusste - CO2: Tropische Bäume und Kakteen fixieren das Treibhausgas - Dilemma: Wenn Juristen gegen ihr Gewissen handeln - Atomuhr: Das Ticken des Cäsiums neu modelliert
Wozu: Der Nutzen der Forschung - Giftiger Strand: Minenabfälle als Umweltproblem - Wie Kinder wachsen: Bilanz der Zürcher Langzeitstudien - Neu entdeckt: Alte Schweizer Dokumentarfilme
Wozu: Der Nutzen der Forschung - Giftiger Strand: Minenabfälle als Umweltproblem - Wie Kinder wachsen: Bilanz der Zürcher Langzeitstudien - Neu entdeckt: Alte Schweizer Dokumentarfilme
IODP: Die Schweiz auf Tiefseemission - Musik: Erstaunliche Wirkung aufs Gemüt - Südafrika: Die Ursachen der Pflanzenvielfalt - Zickzack: Die wahre Struktur der DNA-Knäuel
IODP: Die Schweiz auf Tiefseemission - Musik: Erstaunliche Wirkung aufs Gemüt - Südafrika: Die Ursachen der Pflanzenvielfalt - Zickzack: Die wahre Struktur der DNA-Knäuel
Krebs: Ansätze für neue Therapien - Verdingkinder: Betroffene erzählen ihre Lebensläufe - Nano-Sensoren: Enormes Potential für die Diagnostik - Europa: Wie die Schweizer Forschung stark bleibt
Krebs: Ansätze für neue Therapien - Verdingkinder: Betroffene erzählen ihre Lebensläufe - Nano-Sensoren: Enormes Potential für die Diagnostik - Europa: Wie die Schweizer Forschung stark bleibt
