Extreme nighttime pollution in New Delhi air explained In a major joint project with top Indian scientists, PSI researchers have determined why smog forms at night in the Indian capital New Delhi, contrary to all the rules of atmospheric chemistry. Their results have now been published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
Intuitive robot programming to help the watch industry Luminous paints make it possible to tell the time on analogue timepieces even in the dark. These compounds are still applied manually, as conventional automation solutions are not suitable for this task. That’s why researchers from Idiap and Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH are developing a flexible robot system that can be programmed by showing it what to do.
Bern’s Interstellar Head Chef Maria Drozdovskaya searches for recipes every day. But not for balanced main courses or fine desserts, but for comets, stars, and planets. In her research, she investigates how astrochemical processes form celestial bodies from dust grains, gases, and ices – and perhaps also life.
From vision to mission The European Space Agency’s Juice space mission is scheduled to start its journey to Jupiter on April 13, 2023, where it will, among other things, search for traces of life on three of Jupiter’s icy moons. The University of Bern is strongly involved in this project. “uniaktuell” introduces some of the local researchers who are working hard on accomplishing the Juice mission.
Farmers in Ukraine need confidence to produce for Africa Improving global food security is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine shows how trade insecurity can destroy food security. The Word Trade Institute (WTI) at the University of Bern has been monitoring Ukraine’s grain exports, which are so important for Africa, since February. Now it is formulating demands.
Solving climate puzzles on the roof of the world Bernese geologist Hendrik Vogel is the driving force behind a large-scale project investigating life 400 meters below a Tibetan lake. One of the aims is to better predict the possible effects of climate change on the water supply for a third of the world's population. (only available in German)
The University of Bern flies to Jupiter The JUICE space mission of the European Space Agency ESA is scheduled to fly to Jupiter in spring 2023 where it is to look for traces of life in three icy moons. The University of Bern is involved in this endeavor as well, amongst others with the NIM mass spectrometer, which is presented in a video.
Media event on new flood modelling tool The Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks at the University of Bern shows that far greater floods are possible in Switzerland than previously assumed. These extreme events underline the importance of supra-regional emergency planning. A new modelling tool is now to support the management of large floods. It will be presented to the media on 2 June 2022. (only available in German)
From the beginning and the end of the universe On 2022/05/25 at 18:30 , a lecture as part of the lecture series of the Collegium generale of the University of Bern will focus on the end of the universe. Michele Weber, Professor of Experimental Particle Physics at the University of Bern, researches the Big Bang and knows which processes shape both the birth and the eventual death of our universe. (only available in German)
Bernese researcher receives Prix Schläfli 2022 for best chemistry dissertation The Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) awards the Prix Schläfli 2022 to the four most important insights of young researchers at Swiss universities. Philippe Schwaller receives the prize for his findings as part of his dissertation in chemistry at the University of Bern and the IBM Research Center Zurich. (only available in German)
New insights into the global cooling of 1627 BC. An interdisciplinary study, in which the University of Bern played a major role, sheds new light on two extreme volcanic events and a subsequent global cooling in antiquity. With the help of a highly precise analysis of volcanic ash and sulphur in ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica, it became clear that the global cooling around 1627 BC was not attributable to the Thera volcano in Santorini, as previously assumed, but to a volcano in distant Alaska. (only available in German)
May 17 – Day against Homo-, Bi-, Inter-, and Transphobia On May 17, the University of Bern celebrates the International Day against Homo-, Bi-, Inter-, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). Beside various activities, the main focus is a public event on the topic of “LGBTIQ+ at the University of Bern” at the center of the day. LGBTIQ+-members of the University of Bern are especially invited. (only available in German)
Critical perspectives on digitalisation The event series "Critical Perspectives on Digitisation" offers alternating lectures, conferences and workshops. The series sees itself as a format for reflection that promotes a critical approach to digitalisation. (only available in german)
Greenhouse gas report The University of Bern publishes an annual greenhouse gas report in which it shows its greenhouse gas emissions and their development. The first university greenhouse gas report was created for 2019. (only available in german)
The man with the instruments in space Nicolas Thomas wants to understand Mars, comets and the icy moons of Jupiter. To do this, he builds instruments that fly through space on board space probes. (only available in german)
World Food: Ukraine War as Momentum for Change? Political scientist Lukas Fesenfeld is intensively engaged in the political feasibility of a transformative climate and food policy. Because Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine can drastically damage the food situation in the global South, Fesenfeld has initiated an appeal to politicians. (Text only available in German)
Bernese astrophysicist soars to new heights A great success for Audrey Vorburger: she was elected to an expert committee of the European Space Agency (ESA), which will define the scientific goals of the ESA's next major space mission. In an interview, the astrophysicist tells us how it came about and why Uranus is her favourite planet. Interview: Brigit Bucher (Text only available in German)
"We are looking for creative and innovative students" With the Master in Precision Engineering, the University of Bern and the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH are jointly offering a completely new degree programme in the field of precision engineering from the autumn semester of 2022. Director of Studies Jürgen Burger tells us what students can expect. Interview: Ivo Schmucki (Text only available in German)
News Archive In our archive you will find news about research and studies of members of the Faculty of Science, which are already a little older.