news 2024

An international team of researchers involving the University of Bern has investigated the consequences of deforestation and degradation of tropical forests. They were able to show that there are "winner" and "loser" species, whereby the displacement of the "losers" can lead to a decline in the ecological functions of tropical forests.

For millennia humans have been inspired by the stars but this may soon be a thing of the past due to a significant increase in the numbers of satellites, potentially limiting our view of the night sky.

In a paper published today in the journal Nature , the CLOUD collaboration at CERN reveals a new source of atmospheric aerosol particles that could help scientists to refine climate models. Aerosols are microscopic particles suspended in the atmosphere that arise from both natural sources and human activities.

A research team led by scientists has developed a system that provides key insight into the relationship between sea spray aerosols, sea state and atmospheric conditions. The system was mounted on an icebreaker and carried across vast regions of the Arctic to collect and analyze valuable data. Aerosols are tiny particles suspended in the air that play an important role in cloud formation, precipitation and the reflection of sunlight back into space.

Since the 1980s, its been known that a mysterious contaminant forms in chloraminated drinking water, but only now has a Swiss-American research team been able to identify the unknown product in US drinking water systems. A team of researchers from the United States and Switzerland have reported the discovery of a previously unknown compound in chloraminated drinking water.

In Sumatra, Indonesia, an international team of researchers has found an innovative way to restore native trees in oil palm plantations. Their method? Create small islands of trees within the plantation. In just six years, some of the local trees have grown to over 15 metres in height. Clara Zemp, Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Neuchâtel, co-authored a study describing these results, published in the journal Science .

The olive colobus, a discreet primate found in the forests of Côte d'Ivoire, is surprisingly proficient in vocal communication. According to a study by the University of Neuchâtel, despite its limited vocal repertoire, this little monkey is able to convey a variety of information by combining its calls according to precise rules.

Unlike oceans, lakes are major emitters of CO2. Why is this so, and what mechanisms are at work? Scientists at the University of Lausanne have succeeded in explaining the complete carbon cycle in Lake Geneva for the first time, generating a model that can be applied to several of the world's great lakes.

Researchers from Switzerland and Kenya have investigated how climate change, urbanization and malaria control measures affect the risk of malaria in Kenya. The results show that despite a general decline, the risk of malaria has increased significantly in some regions. Malaria, spread by Anopheles mosquitoes, is one of the deadliest diseases in the world.

Large parts of the potential habitats of freshwater fish in Switzerland are negatively affected by human activities. Researchers at the University of Bern have shown this in a new study using explainable artificial intelligence methods. Measures to protect biodiversity and potential fish habitats will be developed based on the study.

A new study shows that increasing plant diversity in agriculture can be used to improve the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural soils. As the agricultural sector strives to reduce its carbon footprint, promoting biodiversity in agricultural practices could be the key to more sustainable and climate-friendly food production systems.

Researchers at Eawag have complied and analysed a globally unique data set on the occurrence of various amphipods in groundwater. They were able to show that land use within a radius of up to one kilometre from the groundwater extraction site has an impact on these sensitive creatures. This could indicate that the current groundwater protection zones are not large enough.

More than 800,000 km2 of the Arctic were affected by human activity in 2013, according to an analysis of satellite-derived data on artificial light at night. On average, 85% of the light-polluted areas are due to industrial activities rather than urban development. According to the international team led by researchers, the results are crucial for sustainable development and nature conservation in this highly vulnerable region.

Tiny diatoms in the ocean are masters at capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the environment. They fix up to 20 percent of the Earth's CO2. A research team at the University of Basel has now discovered a protein shell in these algae that is necessary for efficient CO2 fixation. This groundbreaking discovery can provide ideas for bioengineering approaches to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.

Insects and spiders are important elements in the food webs of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. With declines in their biodiversity, the food supply for birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals is not only becoming scarcer, but also poorer in important fatty acids, as an international research team led by scientists from Eawag and WSL reports in the journal Science .

A new catalogue and database of over 17,000 European river catchments facilitates the work of researchers in the field of hydrology. The EStreams project, carried out at Eawag, provides hydrological and meteorological data as well as information on the landscape of the river regions. The records go back up to 120 years.

Biologists who worked for several years at the University of Neuchâtel report on induced plant resistance in a special multimedia dossier published today in the prestigious journal Frontiers in Science . The method is presented as a kind of vaccination, making it possible to reduce dependence on pesticides not only to combat crop diseases and pests, but also to ensure healthier, more sustainable harvests.

Researchers developed a rating system to evaluate the plausibility of climate model simulations in the IPCC's latest report, and show that models that lead to potentially catastrophic warming are to be taken seriously. What will the future climate be like? Scientists around the world are studying climate change, putting together models of the Earth's system and large observational datasets in the hopes of understanding - and predicting over the next 100 years - the planet's climate.

During heavy rainfall, sewage systems are frequently overloaded, leading to untreated wastewater being discharged into surface waters. Modelling techniques used by researchers now show that the volume of such combined sewer overflows could more than triple as a result of climate change However, these studies also reveal that this increase could be avoided through the use of Blue-Green Infrastructure, such as infiltration basins, retention ponds, and porous pavements.

Its preservation benefits many others: the umbrella species. This is the role played by the white-backed woodpecker for beetles that feed on dead wood. This rare bird is therefore an indirect indicator of biodiversity, as researchers at BFH-HAFL have shown. Deciduous or mixed forests with lots of dead wood - this is the preferred habitat of the White-backed Woodpecker.