“Seeing things in a new light”
Basic research is coming under increasing pressure. Yet without it, there can be no academic progress, say UZH Vice President Elisabeth Stark and statistician Servan Grüninger.
Archive Magazin 2026
Article list Magazin
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Bright Birds
Sulfur-crested cockatoos are clever, curious and they constantly learn from one another. Evolutionary biologist Lucy Aplin is studying how they do this. -
Understanding Human Beings
What makes us human? Researchers have been grappling with this question for centuries. In the latest issue of the UZH Magazin, researchers from different fields across the university offer their answers. -
40,000 Kilometers by Train
Paleontologist Christian Klug went without air travel for over a year. Read his interactive account to find out how he made it to Morocco. -
Kyiv, Uppsala, Zurich
Roman Horbyk researches the impact of mobile phones and digital propaganda on modern warfare – a topic that blends the media specialist’s academic work with personal experience. -
“Confusion can promote learning”
Education researchers Sascha Schneider and Joshua Weidlich share their thoughts on chatbots, outsourced thinking and desirable difficulties. -
Cancer Cells Without Fuel
Physician and molecular biologist Raphael Morscher is trying to understand and selectively block the processes involved in the growth of cancer cells. -
Can Love Be Commanded?
What does Christian love mean? And can it still serve as a moral compass today? These are the questions an international research project led by ethicist Michael Coors set out to answer. -
Cancer-Causing Supergenes
Brain tumors are the most fatal form of cancer in children and adolescents. Ana Guerreiro Stücklin is investigating new therapies against gene fusions that cause cancer. -
Cancer in the Bones
Sarcomas are a rare form of cancer. Didier Surdez is working on models that capture and map the tumors as granularly as possible. -
A Bravery Bead for Each Treatment
Psychologist Anna Graf support children and adolescents who are undergoing cancer treatment at the University Children’s Hospital. Her tools include toys, books and colorful glass beads. -
Gentle Treatment for Leukemia
Pediatric oncologist Jean-Pierre Bourquin is working to develop gentler therapies and seeking ways of tackling aggressive forms of blood cancer more effectively. -
Kilian’s Battle
Kilian Käslin developed leukemia as a baby. The diagnosis marked the start of a months-long battle for his life that required his family and doctors to give their all. -
Curing Children
Today, many children with cancer can be treated successfully. A new Center of Competence in Research aims to make treatments even more targeted and effective. Read more in the UZH Magazin. -
A Level Playing Field for All
A meritocratic system only works if everyone gets a fair start. Economists Ernst Fehr and Steven Ongena explain how education, a health and social security system and taxation help. -
Automobiles and Old Irish
As a linguist and chairwoman of the board of directors of a car wholesaler, Karin Stüber manages to juggle a wide variety of roles. -
Helping Those Left Behind
Social decline – or the fear of it – is pushing people to vote for far-right parties. But trust in government rises when those struggling feel valued and receive support. -
Playing with Numbers
Number theory is the branch of mathematics dedicated to the magic of natural numbers. Claire Burrin, assistant professor of mathematics, specializes in this field. -
Manipulating Protein Factories
Ataman Sendoel is researching how tumors are able to misuse protein production for their purposes. And he is looking for substances to prevent this. -
From Cleanroom to Market
Wyss Zurich supports promising biotech start-ups in making the difficult, expensive transition from university to industry. -
Dirty Water, White Gold
Human rights are often not sufficiently enforced. Legal scholar Christine Kaufmann recommends to name problems specifically. -
History Set in Stone
Inscriptions from the Hellenistic and Roman periods are rich sources of information about life in ancient times. Databases make them available for research. -
Can Fair Decisions Be Calculated?
Political decisions often create winners and losers. As research by economist Maya Eden shows, predictable and transparent criteria can help minimize unfairness. -
Tailored Development Aid
Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee are fighting poverty with rigorous experiments and concrete policies. An interview with the Nobel-winning economists. -
Rebalancing the Tax Burden
There’s no easy way to achieve fair taxation. It takes a bundle of pragmatic measures to close loopholes, minimize false incentives, and tax work and capital evenly. -
Unscrupulous Power Politics
Russia, China and the U.S. are flouting the principles of the rules-based international order. Historian Jeronim Perović and international law expert Oliver Diggelmann weigh in. -
Ideas for a Fairer World
How can poverty be tackled more effectively? How can companies be held accountable? The new issue of the UZH Magazin explores how researchers at UZH are addressing these questions. -
Bug-Born Breakthrough
Oliver Zerbe is working on an active substance that attacks pathogenic bacteria in a novel way and eliminates them. -
Acknowledge the Good
When we talk about morality, we tend to think about guilt, blame and punishment rather than praise, says philosopher Pascale Willemsen. -
Starving Emotions into Submission
Nutrition psychiatrist Patrick Pasi treats patients with eating disorders and explores new therapeutic methods at the USZ Eating Disorders Center. -
A Feast for the Eyes
Since the advent of cinema, characters have been shown eating on screen. A culinary journey through the history of film. -
The Mind Doctor
Rwandan psychologist Celestin Mutuyimana studies how societies can overcome historical trauma – and hopes to help his compatriots heal. -
The World Is Getting Fatter
We eat too much and move too little. Physiologist Thomas Lutz and obesity specialist Philipp Gerber know how overweight people can get back on track. -
Through Zurich Without Barriers
At the UZH Healthy Longevity Center, researchers working across disciplines are developing solutions that help older people live healthier, happier lives. -
The Habits of Healthy Eating
Our eating habits are often unhealthy and take a long time to change. Psychologist Sebastian Bürgler and nutrition scientist Sabine Rohrmann explore why that is and what we can do about it. -
Built for Fish, Not Fast Food
The modern world offers an abundance of convenience foods. But our Stone Age physiology isn’t built for modern diets, which are taking their toll on our bodies.