Einstein’s Theory of Relativity Put to the Test
Using a set of extremely accurate atomic clocks in space, the ESA experiment ACES was launched into space last week and is expected to deliver data soon.
Archive All Articles 2025
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Personality Traits Shape Our Prosocial Behavior
Why do some people do more for the community than others? A new study now shows that personality traits such as extraversion and agreeableness correlate with volunteering and charitable giving. -
Navigating a Sea of Data
Processing, storing and ensuring access to large amounts of data is becoming increasingly important for many researchers. The Data Stewards Network at UZH is there to help them find their way through the data jungle. -
Much More Prevention Needed
Sexualized violence is present in all areas of society. The National Day Against Sexual Harassment in Higher Education, which takes place on April 29, aims to raise awareness. -
Current AI Risks More Alarming than Apocalyptic Future Scenarios
Most people are generally more concerned about the immediate risks of artificial intelligence than about a theoretical future in which AI threatens humanity. This is shown by a new study from the University of Zurich. -
Embracing Diversity, Shaping the Future
The UZH Annual Report shows how diverse talents and perspectives lead to new ideas and future-oriented solutions. -
Retinal Clues to Mental Health
A new study 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. -
“A colonial ruler in trouble”
Europe is a major trading partner for India. And yet, India doesn’t see its future in the Old Continent, says Indian studies scholar Nicolas Martin. The country is particularly sensitive to criticism coming from the West. -
“Europeans must have confidence in the future”
To be able to play up its economic strengths against China and the US, Europe should aim to eliminate barriers in its internal market and not try to regulate everything down to the smallest detail. -
A Clear Thinker with Sharp Wits
Lawyer and UZH alumna Cordelia Bähr was the legal brain behind the landmark lawsuit brought by the KlimaSeniorinnen organization before the European Court of Human Rights. -
New Urine Test for Prostate Cancer Screening
In the future, a simple urine test could detect early-stage prostate cancer. In this interview, the developers tell the story of their invention. -
Towards a Quicker Diagnosis
Medical student Marlene Münger devoted her Master’s thesis to the topic of diagnosing congenital immune deficiencies. She received a semester award for her achievement. -
Major Award for CERN Experiments
Four experiments at the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator at CERN have been awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. UZH researchers are significantly involved in two of the prize-winning experiments. -
China-Europe relations
As the EU distances itself from China, Switzerland is forging closer ties with the country, says sinologist Simona Grano. Europe’s future relations with China will be shaped by security concerns. -
"A lot of work, but it pays off"
What does it take for persons with mobility, visual or hearing disabilities to be able to study at a university? Three people with disabilities reported on their university experiences in the UZH Accessible workshop series. -
“Let’s be generous!”
UZH boasts a wide and interdisciplinary range of study programs. The curriculum is now set to become even more attractive and offer even more opportunities to students. -
Achieving More Together
In this series, we shine a light on UZH members dedicated to sharing knowledge, helping others and building a community on UZH’s campuses. -
Bonobos Combine Calls in Similar Ways to Human Language
Bonobos – our closest living relatives – create complex sequences of sounds that resemble human word combinations. A new study by researchers from the University of Zurich and Harvard University challenges the uniqueness of human communication. -
Investing in Early Years
Schools should offer all children the same opportunities. However, things don’t always work out this way. Education researcher Kaspar Burger looks at the reasons why, and what could be done to increase equal opportunities. -
UZH Appointed as Leading House Asia Pacific
Under a mandate from the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), UZH will promote and foster cooperation in research, education and innovation between Switzerland and the Asia-Pacific region. -
A Step into a New Space Age
On board the private spaceflight mission Fram2, the Space Genomics experiment of the University of Zurich launched today. -
“Schools reproduce inequality”
What should schools be doing to ensure that our kids can learn successfully and develop positively? In this interview, educational scientists Katharina Maag Merki and Roland Reichenbach share their views. -
Students Develop Bacterium to Protect Plants
Students at UZH developed a bacterium that can protect plants from negative environmental influences – and won the prize for Best Sustainable Development Impact at the international iGEM competition for synthetic biology. -
The Cosmos on the Blackboard
A mysterious phenomenon that’s steadily driving our universe apart, dark energy is almost impossible to grasp. Using new measurement techniques, astrophysicist Marcelle Soares-Santos attempts to shed light on the darkness. -
The Devastating Human Impact on Biodiversity
Humans are having a highly detrimental impact on biodiversity worldwide. Not only is the number of species declining, but the composition of species communities is also changing. These are the findings of one of the largest studies ever conducted on this topic. -
The Strength of a United Europe
Europe currently faces challenges on multiple fronts: internally from populism, and externally from China and the US, which under Trump could go from partner to rival. How can Europe respond? -
Conceptualizing the Virgin Mary
Maria 1.0 is an initiative run by Catholic women who promote traditional female roles in the Church – roles shaped by faith. Alexandra Probst analyzed the initiative in a term paper. -
“The Court should be there for the people”
UZH professor Alice Margaria's research shows that the European Court of Human Rights often neglects its responsibilities when it comes to discrimination against non-traditional families. -
Decoys Restore Antiviral Immune Defense
Defects in the immune system are caused by antibodies that inhibit important defense proteins. UZH researchers have now generated "decoy molecules" that can intercept these autoantibodies. -
Every Tenth of a Degree Helps
In many regions, the “eternal ice” of the glaciers will not survive beyond the 21st century – with fatal consequences for millions of people, reports the UZH-based World Glacier Monitoring Service. -
Europe’s Future
What will it take for Europe to succeed? The latest issue of the UZH Magazin explores this question, drawing on UZH researchers' global insights. Europe needs to get its act together if it wants to tackle major issues. -
Euclid reveals cosmic wonders
Data from the Euclid mission is providing an unprecedented glimpse into the structure and expansion of the universe – with the help of UZH researchers. -
Efficient Development of Drugs with Fewer Mice
With a novel technology, around 25 antibodies can now be tested simultaneously in a single mouse. This should speed up the R&D pipeline for new drugs and hugely reduce the number of animals required. -
Understanding Youth Violence
From family problems to lack of self-control to social disadvantage, the causes of youth violence are complex. We look at the reasons and what really helps people get back on track. -
Artificial Intelligence: Between Demons and God
An avatar priest, praying via app and artificial intelligence as a deity: UZH anthropologist Beth Singler researches the interplay between AI and religion. -
Promising Active Ingredient for Lupus Therapy
In lupus, the immune system attacks its own structures, causing inflammation and organ damage. A UZH study shows that natural active ingredient gluconolactone could offer a more targeted therapy. -
Swiss Women Had More Children at Start of Coronavirus Pandemic
A UZH study on the impact of pandemics on fertility reveals an unexpected increase in births during the COVID-19 pandemic, contrasting with the significant decline during previous ones. -
Equipping Children for Life
Parents only have a limited influence on their children’s development. In order to thrive, children above all need to feel safe and secure. Much of the rest happens on its own. -
New Spin-Offs with Innovative Technology
Detecting prostate cancer at an early stage, keeping transplantation organs viable for longer, or a lab that fits on a chip: these six spin-offs from UZH are bringing research ideas to the market. -
African Young Adults Balance Self-Determination and Communalism
A new study from the University of Zurich shows that the cultural influence on the transition to adulthood in sub-Saharan Africa is more communal and less self-centered than in Western contexts. -
A lively place for debate
The University of Zurich thrives thanks to its vibrant network and shared understanding. This series spotlights UZH members dedicated to fostering exchange. In the second part of the series, we visit our campuses on Irchel and in Schlieren. -
ChatGPT on the couch: relaxation for stressed AI
Distressing news and traumatic stories can cause anxiety – not only in humans, but also in AI language models. Researchers have now shown that an elevated “anxiety level” in GPT-4 can be “calmed down” using mindfulness-based relaxation techniques. -
Japanese order awarded to Christian Schwarzenegger
UZH Vice President Christian Schwarzenegger has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government. -
“A powerful voice in Europe”
UZH President Michael Schaepman has been elected as a new member of the board of directors of the League of European Research Universities (LERU). Here, he explains what objectives UZH is pursuing within this network of leading European universities. -
Young Star Clusters Give Birth to Rogue Planetary-Mass Objects
How do rogue planetary-mass objects form? An international team of astronomers used advanced simulations to show that these enigmatic objects are linked to the chaotic dynamics of young star clusters. -
Schizophrenia is Reflected in the Brain Structure
The symptoms of schizophrenia vary greatly from person to person. A new study shows how these differences manifest themselves in the structure of the brain. -
Rising Wages Drive Innovation in Automation Technology
A new UZH study shows for the first time that higher minimum wages for low-skill jobs drive firms to develop automation technologies. Rising wages for high-skill labor, in contrast, can hamper this effect. -
Journeying through History
How seabird excrement made history in the Caribbean – the term paper about this topic by history student Vivianne Rhyner received a semester award from UZH. -
Long-Term Research Funding
Seed money from the TRANSFORM funding stream will allow the university to establish lasting interdisciplinary research structures in the fields of classical studies, quality assurance in research, and immunotherapy. -
Getting to the Roots of Violence
Some regions of the world are dominated by violence, yet elsewhere people lead relatively peaceful lives. The political scientist Enzo Nussio is researching why this is the case and looking for strategies to make countries in Latin America more peaceful. -
Melting Glaciers Increase Loss of Freshwater Resources and Rise Global Sea Levels
The melting ice from glaciers worldwide is leading to an increased loss of regional freshwater resources. Since the year 2000, glaciers have been losing 273 billion tons of ice annually. -
Of Skulls and Polar Bears
The University of Zurich's wide-ranging collections serve as a valuable resource for scientific research. Establishing the origins of the objects and handling them with respect are key principles. -
Authority or Leniency?
Parents across the world raise their children in different ways. Researchers from UZH investigate how in the World Parenting Survey. -
Curbing the Global Spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Cases of bacterial sexually transmitted infections are on the rise worldwide. The University of Zurich has now developed a new method for genome sequencing and discovered a previously unrecognized strain of chlamydia -
“Keep a childlike curiosity”
At the Sparkling Research celebration, Vice President Elisabeth Stark handed out 12 awards as UZH honored exceptional accomplishments in research, innovation and academic career development. -
“We’re part of the heavens”
Andreas Losch and Matthias Wüthrich study issues around the exploration and utilization of space, and what it means for theology and humanity. -
Deeply Relaxed, Highly Focused
Three studies at the University of Zurich demonstrate that hypnosis alters activity in the large-scale functional networks of the brain. It also affects the neurochemical milieu of specific brain areas. -
Social Media Can Make You Happy
Young people spend a lot of their time on TikTok and other platforms. Yet this is no reason for parents to start panicking, according to the media researchers Sandra Cortesi and Daniel Süss. -
Omega-3s Can Slow Down Aging Process
A daily intake of one gram of omega-3s can slow down biological aging by up to four months, according to an analysis of clinical data from the international DO-HEALTH study led by the University of Zurich. For the first time, epigenetic clocks were used to measure the aging process. -
“Whoever controls Artificial General Intelligence, controls the world”
Artificial intelligence has been reshaping nearly every sector of the economy. In a lecture at UZH, Nobel laureate Daron Acemoğlu emphasized the need for proper regulation to reap the benefits of AI. -
Martin Nellen Appointed New Head of Communications at UZH
Martin Nellen has been appointed as the new Head of Communications at the University of Zurich (UZH). He will take up his role on 1 March 2025, succeeding Beat Müller, who has been heading the office on an interim basis since February 2024. -
Climate Change Increases Risk of Successive Natural Hazards in the Himalayas
An international research team reconstructed the Sikkim flood disaster in the Himalayas in October 2023 that triggered a deadly and devastating 20-meter flood wave. -
Leveraging Opportunities and Identifying Risks
UZH is updating its risk management and thereby improving the basis for successful strategic development. -
Committed to a Diverse Community
UZH stands out thanks to the wide range of people who work, study and conduct research here. We met with some of the people who strengthen our community and make our university a lively place for debate. -
Senate Reform
The Senate of the University of Zurich wants to play a more active role in matters of university-wide importance. It recently approved measures to achieve this goal.Der Senat der UZH will sich aktiver einbringen in Fragen von gesamtuniversitärer Bedeutung. Eine kürzlich beschlossene Reform kommt diesem Anliegen nach. -
Accessibility to Become Essential Part of University Culture
A workshop under the UZH Accessible project explored how to better embed accessibility in UZH culture. -
Cafeteria Food and Carbon Footprints
Decarb UZH is a strategic project that gives new momentum to achieving climate neutrality at UZH. The university is reviewing its current implementation strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible by 2030. -
The Neuropsychology of Happiness
Children need stimulation and attention for the healthy development of their brains. Neglect can have serious consequences for children’s health, as well as their ability to learn and form relationships. -
Global Trust in Science Remains Strong
Led by UZH and ETH Zurich, a team of 241 researchers conducted the largest post-pandemic study of trust in science, societal expectations and public views on research priorities. -
Germs and Kisses
Adrian Egli has devoted himself to microbes – all the bacteria, fungi and viruses that keep us alive but can also kill us. The industrious scientist is using AI and high tech to explore these pathogens. -
CHF 2 Million for Neonatology Research
Professor Martin Wolf has been awarded one of the coveted SNSF Advanced Grants 2023. His project to develop an imaging device capable of detecting hypoxia in premature babies will receive CHF 1.9 million of funding. -
Automatic Speech Recognition on Par with Humans in Noisy Conditions
Current ASR systems achieve remarkable accuracy and may even surpass human performance. While they need to be trained on an incredible amount of data, humans acquire comparable skills in less time. -
Not all Hot Jupiters orbit solo
Hot Jupiters are giant planets initially known to orbit alone close to their star. A team including the University of Zurich has just announced the existence of a planetary system, WASP-132, with an unexpected architecture. It contains not only a Hot Jupiter but also an inner Super-Earth and an icy giant planet. -
Legal Detective Work
Law student Leander Etter used data analysis to demonstrate the impact that language barriers are having on the work of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. He received a semester award for his Master’s thesis. -
Beatings and Idolization
Back in the 18th century, philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau cast childhood in an entirely new light. His ideas inspired the thinking and writing of generations of authors. But happy childhoods are rarely encountered in literature. -
Rethinking Population Management in Zoos
Until now, zoos used contraception to avoid surplus animals. Scientists argue for preserving breeding populations and raising awareness of conservation challenges by allowing animals to reproduce naturally and culling surplus animals. -
Science That Made the News
UZH’s most successful media releases last year covered a wide range of topics – from meat consumption, Long Covid and fossils to new insights into chimpanzee culture. Each of these stories resonated internationally. -
AI Shifts Power
Machines are not yet capable of thinking like we do. But if artificial intelligence evolves further and does everything better than humans can, it raises questions about what that means for society and whether humans will stay in control. -
Disinformation, Democracy and the Digital Sphere
How should governments deal with disinformation in digital media? And what will it take to protect democracy? Media specialist Mark Eisenegger and legal scholar Florent Thouvenin set out some proposals in an interdisciplinary study.