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Scientists discovered a new mechanism involved in blood pressure regulation, opening the door to novel therapeutic approaches. Hypertension affects nearly one in three adults worldwide and is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Previous studies suggest that the junctional protein paracingulin plays a role in the development of hypertension, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Why do some people do more for the community than others? A new study from the University of Zurich now shows that personality traits such as extraversion and agreeableness correlate with volunteering and charitable giving. People's willingness to do volunteer work or give to charity differs greatly.

It is hardly surprising that green spaces in noisy cities offer people respite from stress. However, a comprehensive study by Empa and WSL shows for the first time for Switzerland how much these recreational spaces actually affect physical and mental stress management. More and more people are moving to cities, which means more traffic, denser living and less space for parks or other green areas.

Iron-rich hematite, commonly found in rocks and soil, turns out to have magnetic properties that make it a promising material for ultrafast next-generation computing. In 2023, researchers succeeded in sending and storing data using charge-free magnetic waves called spin waves, rather than traditional electron flows.

An international team led by researchers from Empa and EPFL has explored how in future aerial robots could process construction materials precisely in the air - an approach with great potential for difficult-to-access locations or work at great heights.

A team from the University of Geneva has identified a single gene behind the corn snake's skin pattern diversity. In many animals, skin colouration and its patterns play a crucial role in camouflage, communication, or thermoregulation. In the corn snake, some morphs display red, yellow, or pink blotches, and their dorsal spots can merge or turn into stripes.

Researchers have developed a method that makes AI responses increasingly reliable. Their algorithm specifically selects data relevant to the question. In addition, even AI models up to 40 times smaller achieve the same output performance as the best large AI models. ChatGPT and alike often amaze us with the accuracy of their answers, but unfortunately, they also repeatedly give us cause for doubt.

Researchers have developed the first AI model of language in the brain that captures both how neurons are arranged and how they function. Our brain is a very organized place. Neurons - the nerve cells responsible for transmitting electrical and chemical signals throughout the body - are organized on tissue, tending to cluster together in groups according to how they function.

Runny nose, itchy eyes: even a small concentration of pollen in the air can trigger a reaction in allergy sufferers. Researchers from the University of Basel and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute have now investigated whether allergic reactions such as these influence cognitive performance.

A new study led by the University of Zurich has shown that evidence of genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia can be found in the retina. This finding could help improve the early detection of the disorder. The retina is part of the central nervous system and therefore a direct extension of the brain.

Researchers have developed a flexible auditory brainstem implant (ABI) that closely conforms to the curved surface of the brainstem. The technology has been successfully demonstrated high-resolution "prosthetic hearing" in macaques. Over the last couple of decades, many people have regained hearing functionality with the most successful neurotech device to date: the cochlear implant.

Scientists at EPFL have made a breakthrough in designing arrays of resonators, the basic components that power quantum technologies. This innovation could create smaller, more precise quantum devices. Qubits, or quantum bits, are mostly known for their role in quantum computing, but they are also used in analog quantum simulation, which uses one well-controlled quantum system to simulate another, more complex one.

An international team led by UNIGE has discovered a massive, Milky Way-like spiral galaxy that formed just 1 billion years after the Big Bang, revealing an unexpectedly mature structure in the An international team led by the University of Geneva has discovered the most distant spiral galaxy candidate known to date.

Most people generally are more concerned about the immediate risks of artificial intelligence than they are about a theoretical future in which AI threatens humanity. A new study by the University of Zurich reveals that respondents draw clear distinctions between abstract scenarios and specific tangible problems and particularly take the latter very seriously.

Growing cells in the laboratory is an art that humans have mastered decades ago. Recreating entire three-dimensional tissues is much more challenging. researchers are developing a new hydrogel-based material that makes it possible to engineer artificial skin tissues, which can serve as living three-dimensional models of human skin for better understanding and treating skin diseases.

Scientists at EPFL have developed a scalable method to produce porous graphene membranes that efficiently separate carbon dioxide. The breakthrough could significantly reduce the cost and footprint of carbon capture technology. Capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial emissions is crucial in the fight against climate change.

Scientists identified a brain circuit where lies the origin the social difficulties experienced by people with autism spectrum disorders. From birth, human survival depends on the ability to engage with others. This ability, which is essential for development, seems to be impaired very early on in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), who show limited interest in social stimuli from their first year of life.

A team from the University of Geneva has shown that customized training can reveal and enhance the socio-emotional skills of individuals with multiple disabilities.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have unravelled the complex network that cells use to repair their genetic material. By examining thousands upon thousands of genetic interactions, the team has discovered new vulnerabilities in cancer cells that could be exploited therapeutically in the future. The DNA of human cells consists of a sequence of about 3.1 billion building blocks.

A team from the University of Bern and the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS has developed a machine learning model that predicts potential planetary systems with Earth-like planets. The model could significantly accelerate and thus revolutionize the future search for habitable planets in the universe.