science wire

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) Endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) play an important role in the brain and immune system. Bern researchers from the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "TransCure" have now found a new way to influence the endocannabinoid system.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) After 60 hours of non-stop work, researchers at the University of Bern being part of an international team reached their hoped-for goal: They were the first to measure the orbital period for the outermost planet of the famous TRAPPIST-1 system which made headlines worldwide.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) The sediments of Lake Van in Eastern Anatolia (Turkey) are a valuable climate archive.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) A new technique makes it possible to cost-effectively analyse genetic material from fossil plant and animal remains. Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL and the universities of Lausanne and Bern have used this technique to examine the DNA of silver fir needles found in lake sediment in Ticino.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) The people in Switzerland were on the move in the High Alps and running alpine pastures 7,000 years ago and therefore much earlier than previously assumed. A study by the University of Bern that combines archaeological knowledge with findings from palaeoecology comes to this conclusion.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) A species of unicellular ciliate has found a special trick to make use of the cellular machinery in seemingly impossible ways.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) Scientists at the Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern have developed an in vitro stem cell-based bio

An international team of astronomers has discovered a compact analogue of our inner solar system about 40 light-years away. Brice-Olivier Demory of the Center of Space and Habitability at the University of Bern, analysed the data collected with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and calculated that the newly detected exoplanets all have masses less or similar to the Earth.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) With new methods of reconstruction, climate researchers in Bern have been able to demonstrate that some 9,000 to 5,000 years ago, the Mediterranean climate was considerably warmer than previous studies had suggested. Among other things, previous concerns regarding the reliability of climate models could thus be dispelled.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) The State Council of the Canton of Bern has elected a new Vice-Rector to the Executive Board of the University.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) The first clinical studies for a new type of immunotherapy for leukaemia are beginning at Bern's University Hospital and the Department of Clinical Research (DCR) of the University of Bern. Antibodies discovered in the laboratory should inhibit the growth of tumour cells.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) Peter Messerli, Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Bern, has been selected as co-chair to lead

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) In the course of the 'reproducibility crisis' in biomedical research, scientific rigor in animal reserach, and thus the ethical justification of animal experiments, has also been questioned. Commissioned by the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), researchers from the University of Bern have assessed scientific rigor in animal experimentation in Switzerland.

MRI data are essential in the treatment of neurological illnesses. Self-learning software from Bern respectively evaluates them so that the imaging of brain tumours, strokes and now also multiple sclerosis can profit from it.

Rosetta's mission is over: After the last signal at 13:20, the spacecraft was crash-landed on comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, with the ROSINA instrument from Bern taking measurements right until the very end.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) The more it swarms, crawls and flies the better for humans, who benefit from the varied services provided for free by nature. This is the finding of a study by more than 60 researchers from a number of universities, including the Institute of Plant Sciences at the University of Bern and the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, in Germany.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) The Swiss Polar Institute with articipation of the University of Bern will study the Earth's poles and extreme environments.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) Children in Switzerland and all over Europe made thousands of imaginative drawings of stars, planets, rockets, satellites, and aliens.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) The Executive Council of the Canton of Bern has elected two new Vice-Rectors to serve in the Executive Board of the University of Bern.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) The Paris Agreement of the UN climate change conference is deemed a historic step for climate protection, but its success depends on rapid implementations.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) Scientists from Bern have discovered a mechanism which is responsible for the degeneration of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum in a neurodegenerative disease called Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. The results of their study open up new avenues for the future treatment of cerebellum associated degenerative disorders.

Media releases, information for representatives of the media Media Relations (E) Dandelions are troublesome weeds that are detested by most gardeners. Yet dandelions also have many insect enemies in nature. However, they are able to protect themselves with their latex, a milky, bitter-tasting sap. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, and the University of Bern, Switzerland, have now demonstrated that a single compound in the latex protects dandelion roots against voracious cockchafer larvae.

The FASTER software developed in Bern can detect within minutes the areas of the brain that will be left with long-term damage following a stroke.

A team of researchers at the University of Bern has managed to considerably prolong the lifespan of flies by activating a gene which destroys unhealthy cells. The results could also open new possibilities in human anti ageing research. Immortality has long been a dream for humans. For example, in many ancient mythologies, immortality is one of the traits that distinguishes humans from the gods.

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko continues to reveal more of its secrets: Researchers in Bern have detected considerable variations in the gas escaping from the comet. This could amount to seasonal changes on the tiny celestial body. Meanwhile, the camera OSIRIS on board the Rosetta comet probe is revealing new details of the surface of «Chury».

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a congenital disease which causes muscle degeneration and eventual death in teenagers. Recently, researchers from Bern developed an active substance, which they together with an international team tested successfully. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a relatively rare congenital disease which only affects boys and which leads to irreversible muscle wasting.

The groin is the usual access point for investigating or treating the heart with a catheter, but using the wrist as access point reduces bleeding and lowers mortality. These findings are from an international study with major involvement from the University of Bern published today in the Lancet. About 46,000 cardiac catheterizations are carried out each year in Switzerland; about 22,000 of involve treatments of coronary vessels.

It is now definitely possible to earn a doctorate in Bern at the combined Graduate School of the Arts of the University of Bern and the Bern University of the Arts.

The Bernese climate physicist Hubertus Fischer is awarded a grant of 2. Million Euro by the European Research Council for research on polar ice cores.

Great honour for Nicolas Thomas from the University of Berne: The scientist was selected as part of the imaging team for NASA's Europa Clipper mission.

Rosetta's target «Chury» and other comets observed by space missions show common evidence of layered structures and bi-lobed shapes. With 3D computer simulations Martin Jutzi, astrophysicist at the University of Bern, was able to reconstruct the formation of these features as a result of gentle collisions and mergers.

Particulate matter from gasoline engines is harmful to our airways, regardless of whether the engines are a bit older or comply with recent EU standards. Fine dust particles allow pathogens to enter the lungs easier. Researchers at the University of Bern and the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have shown this conducting a realistic laboratory experiment.

Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko poses new riddles: Surface material measurements performed by the «Philae» landing module indicate that the near surface material might have changed since its formation. Up to now, many researchers had assumed that it has remained in virtually the same state since its formation about 4.5 billion years ago.

A vaccine against the Ebola virus, tested in West Africa for the first time in a field trial, has proved to be effective. People who had come into close with someone recently infected, and who are therefore at particularly high risk, were vaccinated. Investigators from the University of Bern were heavily involved in designing the World Health Organization (WHO) «Ebola ça Suffit» vaccine trial.

ESA's comet probe Rosetta has for the first time ever measured nitrogen gas at a comet, providing clues to the early stages of the formation of our solar system. The findings of the study, which was led by researchers at the University of Bern, have now been published in the journal «Science». MMolecular nitrogen, N2, is the major molecule in the atmosphere of Earth and is also present in the atmospheres and the surfaces of Pluto and Neptune's moon Triton.

A study by the University of Bern shows that East African cichlids that were exposed to a change of food in their nursery show significantly better cognitive performance as adults. The researchers were thus able to demonstrate experimentally for the first time that a single striking change in environmental conditions has positive effects on intelligence.

Bern - Universität Bern Der vom Menschen verursachte Klimawandel bewirkt eine zusätzliche Freisetzung des Treibhausgases CO" aus der Landbiosphäre und dem Ozean " dadurch wird die globale Erwärmung verstärkt.

Bern - Universität Bern Mit dem Ja zur Minarettverbots-Initiative wollten die Stimmbürger ein symbolisches Zeichen gegen die Verbreitung des Islams in der Schweiz setzen.

Bern - Universität Bern Die gelbe Farbe des Federkleides der Kohlmeisen ist eng gekoppelt an die Qualität ihrer Spermien: Die leuchtend gelbe Meise kann ihre Spermien besser vor Schäden schützen und ist fruchtbarer als die blasse.

Bern - Universität Bern Der Regierungsrat des Kantons Bern hat den Medizinprofessor Martin Täuber zum künftigen Rektor der Universität Bern gewählt.

Bern - Universität Bern Genetiker der Universität Bern haben eine Genmutation gefunden, die bei Schafen zur Kleinäugigkeit führt.