wire - news in brief

New EPFL research has found that the exchange of comments between members and non-members of fringe communities (fringe-interactions) on mainstream online platforms attracts new members to these groups. It has also suggested potential ways to curtail this growth. Fringe communities promoting conspiracy theories and extremist ideologies have thrived on mainstream online platforms, consistently raising the question on how this growth is fueled.

"La Suisse de A(rbon) à Z(oug): Portrait en 12 villes", a new book published by EPFL Press, eschews the traditional focus on major conurbations.

In future, teenagers and young adults with learning difficulties should be given the opportunity to find out about the body, love and sexuality independently or with support of their own choosing.

A French-Swiss team has highlighted the long-term impact of socioeconomic inequalities on the quality of life of women who have had breast cancer.

The study by a researcher from the University of Bern provides extraordinary insights into the networks of Islamist accomplices in the USA. These are characterized by common socio-cultural features, geographical proximity and ideological affiliation. In particular, the results could well contribute to the fight against terror networks at a local level.

Efforts to tackle false information through fact-checking or media literacy initiatives increases the public's skepticism toward "fake news". However, they also breed distrust in genuine, fact-based news sources, a UZH-led study using online survey experiments in the US, Poland and Hong Kong shows. Studies have shown that few people actually come across false information in their day-to-day lives.

A research report by the Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies (IZFG) at the University of Bern reveals unequal treatment of women and men in healthcare in Switzerland.

Whenever a child behaves aggressively at school, a lack of parenting is often assumed. This overlooks the possibility of underlying mental health problems.

The issue of housing shortages is not disappearing from the headlines. According to housing researcher Miriam Meuth, the displacement of certain sections of the population from their homes and neighborhoods is not discussed enough.

A Europe-wide research project shows where and how "anti-gender" policies manifest themselves in different countries. It also exists in Switzerland, as a partial study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, the University of Lausanne and the University of Fribourg shows. 'Anti-gender' policy refers to efforts aimed at restricting sexual and gender diversity and gender equality.

New article on immigrant political participation in Europe and Swiss cantons published online Comparative Migration Studies Immigrants are increasingly participating in politics, publicizing their political concerns and contributions.

The "SCNAT knowledge" web portal provides guidance. The Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and its network report the state of knowledge, based on sound scientific findings and in regards to Switzerland - for the attention of politics, administration, business, science and practice.

18% of Ukraine's scientists have fled due to the war and research capacity is down 20%, according to researchers in a study where they urge stakeholders to plan future policies to ensure the return of talent for rebuilding Ukraine.

In an international study, the Gallup AG Switzerland polling institute and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts examined the legitimacy of 25 primary care organizations in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

Work psychologist Petra Schmid studies the effects of social power. She favours an interdisciplinary approach that includes both lab experiments and surveys.

A sociological study by the University of Zurich confirms that a considerable proportion of employees perceive their work as socially useless. Employees in financial, sales and management occupations are more likely to conclude that their jobs are of little use to society. In recent years, research showed that many professionals consider their work to be socially useless.

EPFL, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), the Geneva Graduate Institute and the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform have announced the launch of a PeaceTech Alliance.

A new home-based midwife care model has shown promise in improving the well-being of women in vulnerable family situations and preventing early chronic childhood stress according to a new study published recently in BMC Health Services Research.

The sociological study Moving Market Places focuses on the daily life of those who run stalls in mobile markets in four countries (Spain, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Switzerland).

Inclusive social norms and nationals' positive intergroup orientations toward refugees: The moderating role of initial prejudice and intergroup contact Research on the interplay between inclusive norms and intergroup contact on improving intergroup orientations has yielded conflicting results, suggesting either that an experience of personal contact is necessary to have a positive effect of inclusive norms or that such personal experience is not always necessary.

Efforts to restore degraded ecosystems have so far fallen short of meeting global targets. Sound restoration must better incorporate social processes promoting equity in order to effectively benefit people, climate and biodiversity, says Sara Löfqvist. The United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal closed this past December with an unprecedented agreement to place 30 percent of global degraded landscapes under protection by 2030, especially emphasizing the need to respect indigenous and local communities rights in the process.

Many women and men still work in sex-typed occupations. One important reason for this is that men are selectively leaving occupations that are increasingly taken up by women, a recent study from the University of Zurich has shown. This could explain swings in the sex compositions of jobs and why some specializations within occupations become female or male-dominated.

The challenges facing the global community today are complex and manifold: climate crisis, war, poverty, inequality, digitalization, a new political world order.

Evaluation of research conducted by academic institutions was one of the topics addressed during the fourth REHES workshop, Research on Higher Education and Science in Switzerland, which brought toge

The SOPHYA study (Swiss Children's Objectively Measured Physical Activity), conducted by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) in collaboration with the Università della Svizzera

The SOPHYA study of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) investigated the physical activity and sports behaviour of children and adolescents throughout Switzerland over a period of five years. Physical activity did not decrease during the COVID 19 pandemic. Results show that the living environment and physical activity of the parents have a significant influence on physical activity behaviour during childhood and thus have a long-term impact on the health of children and later adults.