news 2026

There is more than just graphene: In an interdisciplinary project, researchers have focused on a new class of two-dimensional materials known as MXenes. This versatile group of materials is suitable for a wide range of applications, from energy storage to medicine. Two-dimensional materials consisting of a single layer of atoms are currently the subject of intense research.

How does a tiny cluster of cells become an embryo with a head, trunk, and tail? And how do thousands of genes coordinate this development? A new imaging method makes it possible to visualize the activity of thousands of genes simultaneously throughout the entire zebrafish embryo. Using this technology, a research team at the University of Basel has created an atlas of all genes and cells involved in turning a cluster of cells into an embryo.

A bone-like composite developed at EPFL uses naturally occurring enzymes to accelerate mineralization through an energy-efficient, room-temperature process. The strong, lightweight material shows promise for bone repair applications. Inspired by the resilient and self-repairing mechanical properties of bone, scientists have been developing synthetic materials using one of bone's main components: a mineral called hydroxyapatite (HA).

A UNIGE study shows that connected devices can gather valuable data to help prevent neurological and mental disorders. Can smartphones or smartwatches help detect early signs of neurological or mental illness? Researchers at the University of Geneva monitored a group of participants wearing connected devices, and used artificial intelligence to analyse data such as heart rate, physical activity, sleep and air pollution.

Chemists from ETH Zurich have found a way to produce poorly soluble proteins by caging a uniquely reactive boron compound.

Humans often adapt their behavior to that of other people with lightning speed. A new study by the University of Zurich reveals what brain networks govern social mentalization and adaptation, making it possible to predict how flexibly one person reacts to others. The findings of the study could provide new approaches to gaining a better understanding of social disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder or borderline personality disorder.

Many people find it difficult to take their medication correctly as prescribed. This has significant health implications and economic consequences. Digital health apps are designed to help people take their medication correctly. However, a study by the University of Basel shows that digital assistants do not replace the need for personalized professional support.

Why do many people say they are so exhausted in the spring? Researchers at the Center for Chronobiology at the University of Basel, the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK) and the Inselspital in Bern investigated this question. The study reveals that spring fatigue appears to be more of a cultural phenomenon than a measurable biological one.

A team from the University of Geneva and the HUG reviewed 900 scientific articles to better understand the impact of viruses on memory, attention, and concentration. What impact does a viral infection have on our memory, attention, and concentration? The COVID-19 pandemic has reignited interest in this question, which has now been extended to other infections such as HIV, herpes, and hepatitis.

Solid-state batteries do not use flammable liquid electrolytes and are therefore safer than conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Methanol is a key starting material for chemical products. Researchers from ETH Zurich can now produce this precursor from CO2 and hydrogen with high efficiency by using isolated metal atoms as catalysts. Every chemical reaction faces a barrier: for substances to react with one another, it is first necessary to supply energy.

Researchers at ETH Zurich aim to use a jelly-like to produce implants for rock-hard bones. How do they plan to accomplish this?  Bones broken in a (skiing) accident usually heal on their own. But if the break is too severe or a bone tumour needs to be removed, surgeons insert an implant that enables the bone to grow back together.

Researchers have developed preclinical models for invasive lobular carcinoma and trialed a new drug. It slows tumor growth effectively by targeting specific features of the disease and opening the door to future clinical trials. Breast cancer is not a single disease. Some types of carcinoma do not form distinct masses but spread in a string-like pattern, making them difficult to detect.

Researchers at the University of Bern have investigated the influence of siblings on the development of lifelong social competence in African cichlids. In an experiment, they show for the first time that two factors must work together for this effect to occur: Both the number of siblings present during early life and the quality of their interactions with them are crucial.

Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a gene therapy that could potentially treat a rare and currently fatal muscle disease in children. The study shows in animal models that a single treatment is sufficient to stabilize muscles and nerves and to halt disease progression. The challenge now is to bring this promising therapy into the clinic.

Lasers cut precisely and without contact - ideal for surgery. The problem is that, in hard tissues such as bone, they are too slow and do not cut deep enough. Researchers at the University of Basel have now demonstrated a way to cut much deeper and faster with a surgical laser than with previous laser systems.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have identified hundreds of microbial species living among corals. These microbes produce a variety of substances with untapped potential for medicine and biotechnology, making the reef ecosystem even more valuable than previously recognised. Coral reefs are teeming with life: they are home to over a third of all marine animal and plant species on Earth, despite covering less than one percent of the ocean floor.

A research group at the University of Lausanne has identified a new mechanism that exposes the vulnerability of tumor cells when they are deprived of vitamin B7. The ability of cells to adapt to fluctuations in nutrient availability is essential to life. Yet, some cells become highly dependent on glutamine, an amino acid that plays a central role in cellular metabolism.

The 'Swiss 100' study has identified 37 proteins in centenarians' blood whose profile appears linked to slower ageing.

An artificial ear that feels just like the real thing: in laboratory experiments, researchers have produced ear cartilage that remains form-stable in animal models. Only one element is missing to make the tissue as elastic as a natural ear. For over 30 years, researchers have sought to produce an ear in a laboratory from a patient's living cellular material.