When an iceberg calves, huge chunks of ice break off at the end of the glacier. These trigger high waves on the surface and underwater, pushing warmer sea water upwards. This accelerates the melting of the ice masses.
Uncertainty can weigh us down, but it can also serve as an opportunity to learn new things, say sinologist Polina Lukicheva and economist Philippe Tobler.
This summer, our popular quiz is all about time and travel. We hope you enjoy your virtual journey through the world of UZH, and we wish you a relaxing summer break.
Stem cell researcher Melanie Generali shares how UZH scientists brought high-tech medicine to the public at the Expo in Osaka – without resorting to jargon.
Thomas Van Boeckel investigates environmental factors, global patterns of infectious disease and antibiotic resistance in order to better combat these issues.
Economist Ralph Ossa served as Chief Economist of the WTO in Geneva for two and a half years. Since early July, he has been back at the University of Zurich.
Humans from different cultures use a form of child-directed speech. However, it appears that this characteristic is far from prevalent in non-human great apes.
Twenty-one-year-old Maximilian Janisch defended his PhD thesis today. In this interview, the mathematician reflects on his time at UZH and shares his plans for the future.
“ADHD is complex. There are no black and white answers.”
Molecular neuroscientist Edna Grünblatt uses stem cells from individuals with ADHD to investigate how certain neurons in the brain develop and how medication works.
With her ERC Advanced Grant the UZH labor geographer Karin Schwiter plans to study the problem of underemployment in Switzerland, the UK and the Netherlands.
At the Virtual World Expo 2025, visitors will have the opportunity to visit the city campus of the University of Zurich. The virtual experience was developed by the UZH Blockchain Center.
A few days after the landslide in the Lötschental valley, remote sensing specialists from the University of Zurich (UZH) measured the debris cone from above.
Images can reveal cancer cells and visualize learning processes or environmental degradation. The latest UZH Magazin highlights the many ways in which UZH researchers are using images to generate knowledge.
Five centuries since Huldrych Zwingli’s Bible study classes in Grossmünster, the church’s influence has declined. What’s the impact of theology on today’s society?
UZH aims to eliminate barriers faced by people with disabilities. An extensive internal consultation process has generated 18 measures to help achieve this goal.
A recent panel discussion at UZH brought together voices from academia, diplomacy and humanitarian aid to explore how peace might be possible in a divided world – and what role scientists and researchers can play.
“A more efficient process for disability accommodations benefits everyone”
Ulla Blume, the new head of the Disability Office, is moving forward with a project that aims to standardize and streamline the application process for reasonable accommodations.
Knowledge of medicinal plants is communicated differently in African countries. A special exhibition at the Botanical Garden sheds light on traditional medicine in Uganda.
Fungal Resistance in Wheat: Preserving Biodiversity for Food Security
Wheat production is threatened by a major fungal disease: yellow rust. UZH researchers have found traditional wheat varieties from Asia that harbor several resistance-conferring genes.
Study Traces Transmission Routes in Largest Diphtheria Outbreak in Western Europe in 70 Years
Data from the outbreak indicate transmission routes along established migration pathways into Europe. Although rapid interventions successfully contained the outbreak, these strains continue to cause new infections.
As a major exhibition at Museum Rietberg showcases the global success of contemporary Korean culture, a corresponding colloquium at UZH highlights centuries of cultural exchange.
Every tumor is unique. In a new study, scientists from Zurich and Basel used advanced technologies to create individual profiles for precise tumor treatment.
Students become more conscientious, open, and competitive when they spend time with friends who also exhibit these traits, according to the first study on how students’ personalities are shaped by their peers.
Jana Ellegast from the Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology and Jiang-An Yin from the Institute of Neuropathology at the University Hospital Zurich have been awarded this year’s Georg Friedrich Götz Prize.
Live View: Stress-Induced Changes in Generations of Cancer Cells
Drugs that affect DNA replication, or radiation that causes direct DNA damage, lead to increasingly diverse offspring over multiple cell generations. This increases the tumor’s genetic complexity and facilitates the development of resistance to therapy.
UZH celebrated its 192nd birthday and presented 26 honors at this year’s Dies academicus. Councilor of States Tiana Angelina Moser delivered the keynote address and spoke about the relationship between science and politics.
Erwin Schrödinger laid the foundation for quantum mechanics at UZH 100 years ago. We met with UZH physicist Titus Neupert to discuss quantum computers, new sensors and the stability of tables.
Biodiversity expert Florian Altermatt is the recipient of this year’s UZH Teaching Award. In the portrait below, he tells why he makes students count birds on Lake Zurich and divulges what that has to do with Pokémon.
The University of Zurich has awarded honorary doctorates to historian Amy Nelson Burnett, legal philosopher Elisabeth Holzleithner, academic economist Laura Starks, linguist Elisabeth Gülich, conservationist Paula Kahumbu, theologian Herman Johan Selderhuis, banking expert Christian Rahn and horse trainer Fredy Knie Jr.
Switzerland long ago stopped being a quadrilingual country. It is now a multilingual one. A new book – subtitled “Languages and Space in Switzerland” – analyzes this shift and illuminates linguistic diversity in Switzerland.
The Research Talent Development Fund (FAN) of UZH Alumni allocated total of CHF691,000 to projects ranging from cancer research to ethical corporate governance.
Chemical pesticides are becoming less and less effective. UZH plant immunologists are exploring a promising alternative that originates in the plants’ own natural defenses.
AI has the ability to advance precision cancer treatment by using data to predict the course of the disease with greater accuracy. This saves resources and precious time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Data from the Euclid mission is providing an unprecedented glimpse into the structure and expansion of the universe – with the help of UZH researchers.
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.
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.
An avatar priest, praying via app and artificial intelligence as a deity: UZH anthropologist Beth Singler researches the interplay between AI and religion.
In lupus, the immune system attacks its own structures, causing inflammation and organ damage. A new 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.