Conspiracy theories are a response to people’s fears and offer a way to make sense of the world in times of crisis, say media researcher Brigitte Frizzoni and communications scientist Mike Schäfer. We sat down with them to talk about dangerous claims, good storytelling and world views that are immune to reason. More …

High-speed highways don’t just facilitate transport and mobility. They can cut through communities, disadvantage people and arouse false hopes. A team of social anthropologists have been studying China’s massive Silk Road project. More …

Economist David Dorn is one of the most prominent representatives of his profession. He owes his rise to fame to his analysis of trade with China. More …

Since the first test-tube baby was born in 1978, reproductive medicine has made great strides. Although many couples with fertility problems have benefitted, the ability to have a child is still not guaranteed. More …

Jan Fehr and his team have set up the first reference vaccination center for the canton of Zurich. Vaccinations started on Monday. In our interview, the head of UZH’s Public and Global Health Department talks about some of the personnel and logistical challenges involved in establishing the new center. More …

Christmas is just around the corner, which of course means that fir trees and Christmassy floral displays are once again finding their way into our homes. We spoke with Peter Enz, director of UZH’s Botanical Garden, and asked him about the ideal Christmas tree and what poinsettias have to do with Advent. The UZH News team wishes you happy holidays! More …

Stroke of fate or heart’s desire – thanks to advances in reproductive medicine, people who in the past may have remained childless can now have children. The new UZH Magazin takes a look at the possibilities opened up by medical progress and the accompanying technical, ethical and legal boundaries. And in our brand new German-language podcast to accompany the magazine, we talk to three researchers whose research focuses on these topics. More …