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Researchers at EPFL, Heidelberg University and Roche have built a human mini-bladder to show how urine composition weakens bladder tissue, helping infections recur even after antibiotics. The bladder is not just a static storage bag; its lining stretches, relaxes, and stays in constant contact with urine whose composition changes with hydration, diet, and disease.

In infectious disease research, disrupting bacterial communication is widely considered beneficial. A study by UNIGE and NTU Singapore shows this is not always true. Is blocking bacterial communication always beneficial? A team from the University of Geneva and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) challenges a widely held assumption in infectious disease research.

Researchers at the Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and the University of Bern have, for the first time, directly measured how the human brain exchanges probing signals when asleep and when awake. Using electrodes temporarily implanted in the brain for clinical reasons, they were able to track the flow of signals between deep brain regions and the cerebral cortex with millisecond accuracy over a period of 24 hours.

An international research team, with participation of the University of Bern, has conducted the world's first comprehensive genetic study of cancer in domestic cats. The study shows that some of the genetic changes in cat tumors closely resemble those found in human cancers. These parallels open up new perspectives for developing targeted cancer therapies, particularly for breast cancer.

A nanodevice developed at EPFL produces an autonomous, stable current from evaporating saltwater by using heat and light to control the movement of ions and electrons. In 2024, researchers in the Laboratory of Nanoscience for Energy Technology ( LNET ) in EPFL's School of Engineering reported a platform for studying the hydrovoltaic (HV) effect - a phenomenon that allows electricity to be harvested when fluid is passed over the charged surface of a nanodevice.

Some bacteria are miniature masters of navigation: A built-in "compass" made of magnetic nanoparticles helps them to reliably find the optimal habitat. Researchers at the University of Basel have now unlocked the magnetic properties of individual bacteria - an important step toward harnessing the potential for technology, environmental research and medical applications.

For decades, scientists have searched the skies for signs of extraterrestrial technology. A study from EPFL asks a sharp question: if alien signals have already reached Earth without us noticing, what should we realistically expect to detect today? Since the first SETI experiment in 1960, astronomers have scanned the Milky Way for signs of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations.

Scientists at the University of Lausanne have identified a novel mechanism by which the immune system identifies endotoxin, a key molecule present in the membrane of certain bacteria. Published in the scientific journal Immunity, this discovery opens up promising prospects for the management of severe infections and the prevention of septic shock.

Researchers have shown theoretically that, in highly ordered materials, heat can flow toward warmer regions without violating the laws of thermodynamics. Their work could help design electronics that minimize heat loss. To understand how heat normally flows, you could study the second law of thermodynamics - or wrap your hands around a hot mug of coffee.

In rural regions of Africa, high blood pressure often goes untreated because health centres are far away and there is a shortage of health professionals. A study in Lesotho shows that, with the help of a tablet app, villagers who have received training achieve better blood pressure control in their village community compared to normal treatment in healthcare facilities.

Recent research from ETH Zurich has revealed that the Earth's core contains significantly more hydrogen than previously believed. The analysis suggests that a substantial amount of hydrogen entered the core during the early stages of the Earth's formation. For decades, scientists have been debating the amount of hydrogen (H) present in the Earth's core and how it got there.

First the rocky planets, very close to their star, then the gas giants: this is the order in which scientists have hitherto conceived of the hierarchy of planets. A conception that corresponds to our Solar System but also to most of the planetary systems identified to date. However, the recent discovery of a new planet around the star LHS 1903 by the CHEOPS space telescope is now challenging this theory.

EPFL roboticists have shown that when a modular robot shares power, sensing, and communication resources among its individual units, it is significantly more resistant to failure than traditional robotic systems, where the breakdown of one element often means a loss of functionality. If the goal of a robot is to perform a function, then minimizing the possibility of failure is a top priority when it comes to robotic design.

Scientists report that briefly switching on three "reprogramming" genes in a small set of memory-trace neurons restored memory in aged mice and in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease to level of healthy young animals. Age-related memory decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's are often thought of as irreversible.

For the first time, researchers at the University of Bern and Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, have shown that temperature signals from the skin are processed in the brain, influencing REM sleep and sleep-related disorders. These new findings enhance our understanding of brain-body interactions that regulate sleep and provide novel therapeutic strategies for sleep-wake rhythm disorders, such as narcolepsy.

A team from the University of Geneva has shown that certain antibodies to seasonal flu can also target avian flu. Stimulating these antibodies could strengthen protection in the event of a pandemic. Are seasonal flu antibodies also effective against avian flu? A team from the University of Geneva has shown that a specific type of antibody associated with the former virus-already present throughout the population-may offer baseline protection against the latter.

Cancer cells that have detached from the original tumor often spread to other organs. There they can either form metastases or remain 'dormant' for years until they wake up. A team of scientists at the University of Freiburg has discovered a mechanism by which cancer cells can be kept dormant by stimulating the immune response.

Researchers have demonstrated why only a small number of planets have the chemical requirements for life - and why the Earth is so fortunate.

Researchers at the University of Bern have been able to show that simple measures to promote biodiversity, such as the installation of branch and stone piles, boost stoat populations in agricultural areas in Switzerland. This is particularly true if the measures are professionally supervised, planned and coordinated.

Physicists have found a way to measure the time involved in quantum events and found it depends on the symmetry of the material. "The concept of time has troubled philosophers and physicists for thousands of years, and the advent of quantum mechanics has not simplified the problem," says Professor Hugo Dil , a physicist at EPFL.