The Swiss Connection
Discover science and innovation in Switzerland with the Swiss Connection Podcast! From the tiniest particles to the vastness of space, satisfy your scientific curiosity and join our journalists while they talk to researchers working on projects ranging from rocket building and AI to medicine and climate solutions. This podcast is produced by SWI swissinfo.ch, a multilingual public service media company in Switzerland.
S5 E6 · Tue, April 01, 2025
Lost Cells, Ep.6: The Canaries
Send us a text This is the final episode of 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series has been uncovering the human stories behind the promises and failures of private stem cell banking in Switzerland. In our series finale, the Lost Cells team digs deeper into the international standards of the cord blood banking industry. Antoine confronts the Swiss authorities for answers. Tatiana and Ratko vow to go public and warn parents all over the world with everything they’ve learned about cord blood banking. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S5 E5 · Tue, March 25, 2025
Lost Cells, Ep.5: In Limbo
Send us a text Over the next two episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series uncovers the human stories behind the promises and failures of private stem cell banking in Switzerland. In episode five, families across Europe feel like they’re being held hostage. Who owns their cells? Do they have any rights? They fight back with the only thing they do have: their own tenacity and an international network of sleuths. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S5 E4 · Tue, March 18, 2025
Lost Cells, Ep.4: The Hunt
Send us a text Over the next three episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series uncovers the human stories behind the promises and failures of private stem cell banking in Switzerland. In episode four, Luis Daniel, Tatiana and Ratko investigate in multiple European jurisdictions. The international band of families turns to Antoine Harari and Valeria Mazzucchi, two journalists based in Geneva, to give them the answers they can’t get from a company in turmoil. Luis Daniel visits Poland looking for assurances that his daughter's stem cells can help him cure his cancer before it's too late. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S5 E3 · Tue, March 11, 2025
Lost Cells, Ep.3: The Program
Send us a text Over the next four episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series uncovers the human stories behind the promises and failures of private stem cell banking in Switzerland. In episode three, Tatiana and Ratko prepare to move their frozen stem cells but things don’t go as planned. Perhaps the company and its marketing aren’t everything they’ve been promised? Families around Europe begin asking questions about their cells, and where and how they’re being stored. Swiss authorities are alerted and arrange an inspection. What they discover sets off an international quest. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S5 E2 · Tue, March 04, 2025
Lost Cells, Ep.2: Seeds of Hope
Send us a text Over the next five episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series uncovers the human stories behind the promises and failures of private stem cell banking in Switzerland. In episode two Tatiana and her husband Ratko choose cord blood banking in Switzerland for their daughter’s cells. They seek out a top US university conducting research in stem cell transplants and are offered a rare opportunity to be part of this leading-edge program. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S5 E1 · Tue, February 25, 2025
Lost Cells, Ep.1: The Promise
Send us a text Over the next six episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series uncovers the human stories behind the promises and failures of private stem cell banking in Switzerland. In episode one, Luis Daniel suffers from a rare type of blood cancer. Could promising stem cell research, and a baby be the chance he’s been looking for? Banking his baby’s cord blood offers an opportunity to secure a potential cure. He looks to a leading company based in Switzerland to help him protect himself and his family. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, February 18, 2025
Lost Cells is out now!
Send us a text Please sign up for the latest episode SWI swissinfo.ch's new podcast tells the story of the families affected by a private stem cell banking scandal with Switzerland at its heart. Subscribe for free to our new podcast ‘Lost Cells’ wherever you get your podcasts. Episode one is released on February 18, 2025. Listen to this new podcast in English // French // Spanish SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sun, February 02, 2025
Coming Soon - Lost Cells, a new podcast series
Send us a text Please sign up for the latest episode SWI swissinfo.ch's new podcast tells the story of the families affected by a private stem cell banking scandal with Switzerland at its heart. Subscribe for free to our new podcast ‘Lost Cells’ wherever you get your podcasts. Episode one will be released on February 18, 2025. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern Switzerland.
S4 E6 · Tue, December 10, 2024
Unveiling Ancient Life: Microorganisms in Melting Glaciers in Swiss Alps
Send us a text This episode takes listeners to the Rhone glacier in the Alps, which is rapidly melting and releasing ancient microorganisms. These microorganisms, which have been trapped in the ice for thousands of years, are now being studied by scientists from the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape (WSL). Journalists Céline Stegmüller and Luigi Jorio join the researchers on the glacier to observe their methods of collecting and analyzing these microorganisms. The team, led by Beat Frey, uses custom-made equipment to filter meltwater and capture bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The goal is to understand the diversity and potential applications of these microorganisms, which could include producing antibiotics or degrading plastics. Read more about this story or other science stories from Switzerland please visit www.swissinfo.ch/science . Journalists: Luigi Jorio & Céline Stegmüller Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S4 E5 · Tue, December 03, 2024
Climate solution for the future: How to keep cities cool during heatwaves
Send us a text Cities tend to get hotter than the countryside when a heatwave hits. What can be done about these urban heat traps? How can hot summers be made more tolerable for city dwellers? SWI swissinfo.ch asked an expert at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich. If you are interested in reading about this story or other science stories from Switzerland please visit www.swissinfo.ch/science . Jounalist: Luigi Jorio Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S4 E4 · Tue, November 26, 2024
Turning concrete into a carbon sink: an innovative Swiss approach to decarbonizing the construction industry
Send us a text This episode explores a groundbreaking Swiss innovation that could revolutionise the construction industry. Join us as we delve into Neustark's pioneering method of turning concrete waste into a carbon sink, permanently removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Discover how this technology not only helps decarbonise the concrete industry but also increases the strength of concrete. We'll discuss the science behind the mineralisation process, the impact of Neustark's 22 operational plants in Switzerland and Germany, and their ambitious plans to scale up globally. Tune in to find out how Swiss ingenuity is paving the way for a more sustainable future in construction. The video version of this episode and other science stories from Switzerland is available at www.swissinfo.ch/science . Jounalist: Simon Bradley Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S4 E3 · Tue, November 19, 2024
Young Swiss scientists boost rocket research
Send us a text Swiss students are propelling the future of space travel with innovative reusable rocket technology, putting Switzerland on the map in the global space race. SWI swissinfo.ch took a closer look at their projects in northern and western Switzerland. Visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more on these exciting rocket projects and a video on this story. Please come to SWI swissinfo.ch for more of our science stories from Switzerland . Jounalist: Christian Raaflaub Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S4 E2 · Tue, November 12, 2024
Why Swiss scientists want to find ice on comets
Send us a text Using a new type of instrument, two astrophysicists from the University of Bern hope to get a little closer to unravelling the mystery of the solar system's origins. They believe the key to this lies in the ice that can occur in a dust layer on comets. Please visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more information about this research and a video about ice on comets. Please come to SWI swissinfo.ch for more of our science stories from Switzerland . Jounalist: Christian Raaflaub Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S4 E1 · Tue, November 05, 2024
Herwig Schopper, Former CERN head has served science and peace for 100 years
Send us a text Swissinfo talks to Herwig Schopper, former CERN director, the grandfather of the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, who helped promote peace through a Middle Eastern science hub and has his qualms about the Nobel Prize. If Herwig Schopper has learned anything during his 100 years on Earth, it’s that breakthroughs only happen when we work together. Please read here this interview and the full biography of Herwig Schopper , and please come to Swissinfo.ch for more of our science stories from Switzerland . Jounalist: Zeno Zoccatelli Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, October 29, 2024
Coming soon
Send us a text The Swiss Connection Podcast is back on October 22 with six new episodes on science happening in Switzerland. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern Switzerland. It publishes independent news and information in 10 languages about Switzerland for a global audience.
S3 E6 · Tue, August 20, 2024
Switzerland and Silicon Valley: EP6 Sherry Wong ‘Living in a society where capital is strong and the welfare state is weak‘
Send us a text For artist and researcher Şerife (Sherry) Wong the popular image of visionary geniuses who change the world from their garages is an illusion. “We are idealising the myth of the inventor, the American dream of the man who, from nothing, becomes super rich and changes the world for the better, but...for whom?” asks Wong, who studies the social implications of emerging technologies. She is also an affiliate research scientist at the University of California, Berkeley. You can find more written content about this story on SWI swissinfo.ch: in English in Italian (original) in German Journalist: Sara Ibrahim Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor / Video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S3 E5 · Tue, August 13, 2024
Switzerland and Silicon Valley: EP5 Fred Turner ‘The dream of tech companies serving humanity has turned into a nightmare‘
Send us a text In this episode, we talk to Stanford University professor Fred Turner, who’s been studying the impact of new media technologies on American culture for decades. Turner is also among those most vocal in denouncing the injustices faced by people living and working in Silicon Valley. You can find more written content about this story on SWI swissinfo.ch: in English in Italian (original) in German Journalist: Sara Ibrahim Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor / Video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S3 E4 · Tue, August 06, 2024
Switzerland and Silicon Valley: EP4 Pamela Munster ‘From cancer doctor to cancer patient and back again’
Send us a text Pamela Munster, a world-renowned oncologist, has been working in San Francisco for 15 years. In this episode, she recounts her battle against breast cancer. You can find more written and video content about this story on SWI swissinfo.ch: in English in French (original) in German Journalist: Marc-André Miserez Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/Video: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S3 E3 · Tue, July 30, 2024
What Switzerland can learn from Silicon Valley: EP3 Connected through Innovation
Send us a text In this episode, SWI swissinfo.ch sat down with Claude Zellweger, Google's in-house design guru. We discussed the role of designers in tech innovation, AI, and the future of education. He also shared his thoughts on the challenges facing the tech industry and how we can overcome them by putting people first. You can find more written and video content about this story on SWI swissinfo.ch: in English in French (original) in German Journalist: Marc-André Miserez Journalist: Marc-André Miserez Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/Video: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. It publishes independent news and information in 10 languages about Switzerland for a global audience. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern Switzerland. It publishes independent news and information in 10 languages about Switzerland for a global audience. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S3 E2 · Tue, July 23, 2024
What Switzerland can learn from Silicon Valley: EP2 Swiss start-ups in California
Send us a text More than 150 Swiss start-ups have received a boost from California entrepreneurship, and three of them are already worth $1 billion. This is a source of pride for Swissnex in San Francisco and its CEO, Emilia Pasquier. Hear what she has to say about Swiss innovation in this episode. You can find more written and video content about this story on SWI swissinfo.ch: in English in French (original) in German Journalist: Marc-André Miserez Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/Video: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland. It publishes independent news and information in 10 languages about Switzerland for a global audience. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S3 E1 · Tue, July 16, 2024
What Switzerland can learn from Silicon Valley and Hippies: EP1 The potential of human beings
Send us a text In his 50 years in the USA, St. Gallen psychologist and consultant Herman Gyr has never lost faith in human ingenuity, the ability to learn and adapt to even the most adverse circumstances. This is despite the fact that climate change is his biggest concern. In this exclusive interview with SWI swissinfo.ch, Gyr shared his insight into what he thinks are the key influences that drive innovation in Silicon Valley. An article and a video about this interview can be found here on SWI swissinfo.ch: in German in French (original) in Italian Journalist: Marc-André Miserez Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/Video: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S2 E6 · Tue, April 23, 2024
Why Are leading Swiss Pharmaceutical Companies Investing in Slovenia?
Send us a text Pharmaceutical giant Novartis invested billions in Slovenia, helping turn the country into a global player in generic drug production. Now, as cheap Asian competitors increasingly dominate the market, Swiss drug companies see the tiny Balkan nation playing a key role in their shift to more complex, expensive medicines. Articles and videos on Switzerland's investment in Slovenia are available on swissinfo.ch . For other science stories from Switzerland please go to www.swissinfo.ch/science . Journalist: Jessica Davis Plüss Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/video journalist: Céline Stegmüller & Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S2 E5 · Tue, April 16, 2024
Swiss training for forensic scientists in Africa and Mexico
Send us a text Forensic science is critical in the search for justice and the fight against impunity. Africa suffers from a dearth of forensic pathologists and Switzerland is helping to boost their numbers with training. In Mexico, forensic scientists need support to help identify the tens of thousands of victims of Mexico's drugs war. The University Centre of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva (CURML) is developing tools to find graves. Articles and videos on forensic training in African countries and Mexico are available on swissinfo.ch . For other science stories from Switzerland please go to www.swissinfo.ch/science . Journalist: Julie Hunt Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S2 E4 · Tue, April 09, 2024
Swiss Roman battle site reveals hidden secrets of historic clash
Send us a text Over the past two years, experts have unearthed thousands of Roman military artefacts littering a hillside in southeast Switzerland. The first Roman battle site ever discovered in the Alpine country offers clues about what happened there over 2,000 years ago. The article related to this episode and the video interview is available on swissinfo.ch . For other science stories from Switzerland please go to www.swissinfo.ch/science . Journalist: Simon Bradley Host: Jo Fahy Audio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S2 E3 · Tue, April 02, 2024
The Future of Aviation: Hypersonic plane powered Hydrogen designed in Switzerland
Send us a text It’s 20 years since Concorde made its final commercial flight, ending the first era of supersonic travel. A Swiss start-up is part of a new generation of aviation pioneers trying to re-introduce high-speed travel using clean hydrogen. But the road ahead is long and expensive. The article related to this episode and the video interview is available on swissinfo.ch . For other science stories from Switzerland please go to www.swissinfo.ch/science . Video journalist: Julie Hunt Audio editor: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S2 E2 · Mon, March 25, 2024
Drones capture eDNA in cutting-edge biodiversity research in Zurich, Switzerland
Send us a text Researchers in Zurich are using drones to collect environmental DNA (eDNA) in a technique combining robotics and genetics that could change our understanding of Earth’s biodiversity. The article related to this episode and the video interview is available on swissinfo.ch . For other science stories from Switzerland please go to www.swissinfo.ch/science . Jounalist: Zeno Zoccatelli Audio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina Distribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
S2 E1 · Tue, March 12, 2024
What CERN’s next-generation particle collider could look like?
Send us a text Scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva are taking the next steps towards creating a huge particle collider. With the Future Circular Collider (FCC), they want to search for new physics and answer fundamental questions about our universe. We visited the CERN sites to learn more about particle physics and their plans. The video version of this episode and other science stories from Switzerland is available at www.swissinfo.ch/science . Jounalist: Simon Bradley Audio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Thu, December 07, 2023
Exploring Science in Davos: EP6 Lab 42 AI lab decoding the human brain
Send us a text Artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT generate remarkably human-like results. But how intelligent is it really? SWI swissinfo.ch visits Lab42, a new AI lab in Davos, which is deploying playful techniques to better understand the fundamentals of human intelligence. In addition to the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) gathering, Davos is home to several leading research institutes. The newest is Lab 42, which opened its doors in July 2022, an AI lab that aims to better understand the fundamentals of human intelligence. The experts working at the research institute in southeast Switzerland are convinced that decoding the human brain is the key to developing AI that can help humanity solve big issues like the climate crisis or finding cancer treatments. In the last episode of our "Exploring Science in Davos" series, we hear from the team at Lab42 about how they plan to develop human-level AI. Gamers participate in their research. Lab42 works as a hub, creating competitions and platforms where talented individuals and experts from all over the world bring their ideas to solve problems and exercises together in a playful way. This podcast is an audio version of the SWI swissinfo.ch video series with the same title. Find out more about science research in Switzerland on www.swissinfo.ch/science Please sign up for our Free newsletter on Swiss Democracy. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern Switzerland. It publishes independent news and information in 10 languages about Switzerland for a global audience. Hosted by: Jo Fahy Journalist: Sara Ibrahim Journalist/Sound: Michele Andina SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, November 21, 2023
Exploring Science in Davos: EP5 Snow and avalanche research in Davos
Send us a text When and where the next avalanche will happen is hard to predict. In a special cold laboratory in Davos, researchers simulate the effects of wind on fresh snow to better understand the mechanisms that trigger avalanches. For centuries, avalanches have posed a threat to mountain farmers and their livestock. With the development of winter tourism, roads, railways and hydropower plants, the interest in avalanche research and protective measures has grown. The origins of the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF date back to 1936, when a small group of researchers moved into a snow lab on the Weissfluhjoch summit above Davos. Today the institute monitors the conditions of avalanches throughout Switzerland, investigates the effects of climate change on snow cover and operates the national avalanche warning service. Researchers at the SLF study how snow is built up and how it changes under various conditions, how avalanches occur and how they move over the terrain. In this episode of "Exploring Science in Davos" we take you inside the institute’s cold chambers. This podcast is an audio version of the SWI swissinfo.ch video series with the same title. Find out more about science research in Switzerland on www.swissinfo.ch/science Hosted by: Jo Fahy Journalist: Sara Ibrahim Journalist/Sound: Michele Andina SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, November 14, 2023
Exploring Science in Davos: EP4 How solar cycles influence climate?
Send us a text Solar irradiance provides heat and light for life. It waxes and wanes with the cycle of solar activity, which currently cannot be predicted accurately. Solar storms can have a great impact on technology. In February 2022, a solar storm destroyed 40 Starlink satellites from Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. Researchers in Davos are collaborating on several space experiments to find out more about solar physics. In 1904 the Prussian businessman Carl Dorno travelled to Davos with his daughter, who was suffering from tuberculosis. In those days the Alpine town was a health resort for tuberculosis patients. As an amateur meteorologist, he began to build scientific instruments with the aim of investigating how the climate influenced our health. This was the birth of the Physical Meteorological Observatory Davos (PMOD). In the early 1970s, the observatory also became home to an international calibration centre for radiation measurements, the World Radiation Center (WRC). The radiometers developed there are used by weather stations all over the world, not only on the ground but also in space. For instance, two instruments are on board the Solar Orbiter, a Sun-observing satellite developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). To make more accurate predictions about climate change, researchers in Davos need to better understand solar cycles, which last about 11 years. Why is there a lot of activity in some cycles and very little in others? Understanding these mechanisms also helps predict solar flares, which can interfere with technologies such as electricity grids, navigation and communications. In this episode of our Science in Davos series, PMOD/WRC director Louise Harra gives us an insight into the research with the Solar Orbiter instruments. This podcast is an audio version of the SWI swissinfo.ch video series with the same title. Find out more about science research in Switzerland on www.swissinfo.ch/science Hosted by: Jo Fahy Journalist: Sara Ibrahim Journalist/Sound: Michele Andina SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, November 07, 2023
Exploring Science in Davos: EP3 Why house dust mites, pollen and food additives cause allergies?
Send us a text The small city of Davos in southeastern Switzerland, located at an altitude of 1,560m above sea level in the Swiss Alps, attracted tuberculosis patients back in the 1800s and 1900s after scientists discovered that clean mountain air had a positive effect on their health. However, with the development of antibiotics, the sanatoriums eventually lost their purpose. Today that same clean Davos air, marked by the absence of tree pollen, such as birch, oak or alder, minimal air pollution and extremely low amounts of indoor dust mites – presumably because of the cooler and dryer climate – is a draw for asthma and allergy patients seeking treatment in the town’s clinics. Allergic diseases have become more prevalent in recent decades. They now affect more than one billion people worldwide, with estimates suggesting there could be up to four billion sufferers by 2050. While the reasons for this are not yet fully understood, experts believe several factors can contribute significantly to developing chronic diseases. Today we are exposed to many pollutants, such as chemical substances in our diet or cosmetics, worsening air pollution and microplastics. Thanks to the proximity to allergy patients and the ability to analyse various biosamples, Davos has become an ideal location for research and experiments in this field. As they pursue their exploration of the scientific side of the resort, Sara Ibrahim and Michele Andina visit the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), where around 50 biologists, biochemists and physicians are working to understand what's causing allergic diseases and find preventive and curative treatments. This podcast is an audio version of the SWI swissinfo.ch video series with the same title. Find out more about science research in Switzerland on www.swissinfo.ch/science Hosted by: Jo Fahy Journalist: Sara Ibrahim Journalist/Sound: Michele Andina SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, October 31, 2023
Exploring Science in Davos: EP2 Studying bones at the AO Research Institute Davos
Send us a text Before 1960, broken bones were treated simply by using plaster casts or traction. Then 13 Swiss surgeons began rethinking fracture treatment: they standardised instruments, screws and nails, scientifically evaluated every operation, and started training surgeons. On their tour of Davos’s scientific communities, Sara and Michele go behind the scenes to see what new technologies are currently being developed. The AO Foundation in Davos has been a leader in research into the healing of bone fractures for decades. Today, more than 100 scientists and PhD students from all over the globe work at the AO Research Institute Davos (ARI), which is focused on pre-clinical research. They study biomechanics and the biology of bones, discs and cartilage, and work on new surgical techniques, tools and devices, such as "smart" implants that measure bone healing in patients. Some of ARI’s work depends on tests with live animals to ensure that studies are not affected by any hidden issues that would prevent the translation of a concept or implant to patient treatments. ARI recently set up a barn for so-called “specific-pathogen-free” (SPF) sheep. For sheep to be deemed SPF, they are separated from conventional sheep and kept in a purpose-built stable. However, the goal is to gradually reduce the dependence on, and even someday completely forgo, animal tests. Several projects at the ARI are aimed at achieving this. This podcast is an audio version of the SWI swissinfo.ch video series with the same title. Find out more about science research in Switzerland on www.swissinfo.ch/science Hosted by: Jo Fahy Journalist: Sara Ibrahim Journalist/Sound: Michele Andina SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Wed, October 25, 2023
Exploring Science in Davos: EP1 Orthopaedics gathering at the AO Davos Courses 2022
Send us a text The Swiss town of Davos is famous for mountain slopes, winter sports and the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. But did you know that it also attracts scientists and doctors from all over the world? In this six-part video series, SWI swissinfo.ch journalists Sara Ibrahim and Michele Andina take you on a journey to discover five of Davos’s research institutes. In this first episode, they take you to the AO Davos Courses, a two-week training congress for surgeons learning to treat bone fractures. In hands-on workshops and online live surgeries, experts explain how to master everything from trauma surgery to prosthetics and joint replacement. Participants then practise 3-D models with drills and screws. This podcast is an audio version of the SWI swissinfo.ch video series with the same title. Find out more about science research in Switzerland on www.swissinfo.ch/science Hosted by: Jo Fahy Journalist: Sara Ibrahim Journalist/Sound: Michele Andina SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Wed, December 22, 2021
Using sound to find prehistoric ruins under Lake Lucerne
Send us a text Construction workers got a surprise recently while laying a pipeline underneath Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland. On the lake floor they found the traces of a prehistoric village! This finally confirmed a long-standing theory among archaeologists, who believed that people had lived in the area thousands of years ago. But why were the traces of their home so deep within the lake? Across Switzerland there are about 500 pile dwelling sites, but these are normally found along the shorelines of lakes. And how do archaeologists manage to unravel prehistoric findings underwater? On this episode of The Swiss Connection podcast, we take a boat ride to get to the bottom of this mystery. While onboard, we meet a team of international experts and learn about an unusual technique using sound to map the depths of a lake. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Mon, November 29, 2021
Why these Japanese patients wanted to die in Switzerland
Send us a text In this second part of our two-part series on assisted suicide, SWI reporter Kaoru Uda tells host Susan Misicka what it was like to accompany two Japanese patients who came to Switzerland to die. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, November 09, 2021
Why this Swiss doctor supports assisted suicide
Send us a text Every year, over 1,000 seriously ill people end their lives in Switzerland with the help of suicide assistants. Assisted suicide is legal in several countries, including Switzerland, Canada and the Netherlands. A handful of other countries – like Germany and Colombia – are working out the legal and practical details. Some people even travel great distances to die in Switzerland because assisted suicide is illegal where they live. For example, a 104-year-old Australian man made the trip in 2018. One of the people who helped him was Erika Preisig, a Swiss doctor and the founder of Life Circle, which operates in Basel in the northern part of the country. She’s passionate in her belief that people should have the right to die. She’s even been charged with -- and later acquitted of -- murder. Long before she started doing assisted suicide, Preisig worked in palliative care. Then her father had a stroke and threatened to throw himself in front of a train. Preisig decided to help him find another way, as she was telling SWI swissinfo.ch reporter Jessica Dacey. This episode is the first of a two-part series on the topic. In the next episode, we’ll hear the stories of two seriously ill Japanese patients who came to Basel in 2021. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, October 12, 2021
Meet couples saying 'I do' to gay marriage
Send us a text Now that Switzerland has approved marriage for all, host Susan Misicka talks with some couples who explain why it's important to them. We also hear from opponents of Swiss legislation granting same-sex couples the right to marry. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, September 28, 2021
Why we still need pens and pencils
Send us a text In this encore episode of The Swiss Connection, we visit Swiss century-old pen and pencil maker Caran d'Ache. Podcast host Susan Misicka takes a tour of the factory and feels a bit silly when Caran d’Ache President Carole Hubscher sees her hasty choice of writing instrument. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, September 14, 2021
Typeface designer is in love with letters
Send us a text Swiss designers gave us the big-name Helvetica and Frutiger typefaces in the 20th century. Now a modern-day designer from Basel is collaborating on a new font that we might soon be seeing a lot more of. Nina Stoessinger of Frere-Jones Type in Brooklyn talks about inspiration and challenges. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, August 31, 2021
Decrypting cryptocurrency and blockchain
Send us a text How soon will we start buying our groceries with Bitcoin? What kind of scams do we need to be aware of? And why is Switzerland so sweet on cryptocurrencies and blockchain? SWI finance correspondent Matt Allen gives host Susan Misicka an overview of what he's learned while covering this scene over the past several years. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Thu, August 12, 2021
Why people love the Locarno Film Festival
Send us a text A gorgeous location for a film festival: Locarno in southern Switzerland. The international event features about 200 films in 10 days. But what makes the Locarno Film Festival so special? In this episode, SWI culture editor Eduardo Simantob tells podcast host Susan Misicka why he loves it. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, July 20, 2021
Meet the Swiss woman bringing open water swimming to Boston
Send us a text Swiss architect Renata von Tscharner has devoted over two decades to improving the public spaces along the Charles River in Massachusetts. She even hopes to get people swimming in Boston's so-called "dirty water" on a regular basis. We met her at the Rhine River in her native Basel. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, July 06, 2021
Are nuclear weapons really banned?
Send us a text In this episode host Susan Misicka introduces our sister podcast, Inside Geneva. Nuclear weapons were banned by international treaty at the start of 2021. But the treaty doesn’t apply to any of the nuclear powers, since none of them signed it. So are nukes really banned? Inside Geneva host Imogen Foulkes talks to Cordula Droege, Chief Legal Officer of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Beatrice Fihn of the International Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons, and Elaine Whyte Gomez, the ambassador from Costa Rica, who steered the treaty through the United Nations. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, June 22, 2021
Should kids be sweating for our chocolate cravings?
Send us a text The success of Swiss chocolate depends on cocoa beans harvested far away, often with the help of minors. In this episode we discuss whether it's OK for children to work, and how to figure out if kids helped make your candy bar. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Wed, June 09, 2021
What soil sounds like and why it matters
Send us a text What does soil sound like, and what do those sounds mean? We find out from the world’s first scientist to use acoustics to research the soil and underground biodiversity. Also, we explore some of Zurich's greenspaces with a conservation biologist. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Wed, May 26, 2021
Are electric cars and planes the way to go?
Send us a text Switzerland missed its target to reduce its carbon footprint in 2020. But there are still some promising developments when it comes to electric mobility in Switzerland – on the roads and up in the air. In this episode we take a ride in an electric plane and kick the tires on Swiss electric car infrastructure. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Wed, May 12, 2021
How to clean up the gold trade
Send us a text In this follow-up to "The Dirt on Digging for Gold" we hear about some measures to make the gold trade more sustainable. Swiss anti-corruption champion Mark Pieth provides insight into the social problems sparked by gold mining. And members of the Swiss Better Gold Association share their experiences in Latin America. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, April 27, 2021
Strange days: checking in with Swiss people in America
Send us a text The past year has been a strange time for all of us. It can be even harder if you’re an expat. One in ten Swiss people lives outside of Switzerland. In this episode, we hear from a few Swiss citizens who are living in the United States. They tell us how they’re experiencing the coronavirus pandemic and politics in their adopted homeland. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, April 13, 2021
What Covid-19 tells us about the pharma industry
Send us a text Switzerland is the home of some of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies. But when it comes to coronavirus vaccines, the Swiss pharma giants are not part of the discussion. How did they miss out? Or did they? And what does it mean for the next pandemic? SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, March 30, 2021
How to catch a child sex offender
Send us a text The case of a Swiss couple abusing Indian children – and getting away with it – shows the limits of the international police network. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, March 16, 2021
Crypto – a spy thriller made in Switzerland
Send us a text Multiple spy agencies, secret documents, international intrigue, and a Swiss company's encryption machines are at the heart of this episode. But does anybody really know the whole story? SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, March 02, 2021
Why women's suffrage took so long
Send us a text Switzerland is celebrating a rather awkward anniversary this year. It was only 50 years ago that women got the right to vote at the federal level. What was the hold-up? And what’s still holding women back today? SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, February 16, 2021
'Swiss Johnny Cash' Florian Fox walks the line between Zurich and Nashville
Send us a text Sometimes changing names and continents is the best way to cope in a pandemic. For Swiss country music singer-songwriter Florian Fox, this meant moving to Nashville, Tennessee. He tells us why he's in the right place at the right time. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, February 02, 2021
The dirt on digging for gold
Send us a text Switzerland is the world’s leading gold refiner. But in spite of efforts to make the supply chain more transparent, there are still some big questions about the origins of all this gold, and how it's extracted from the earth. In this episode we travel to Peru to find out what happens during the gold mining process. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, January 19, 2021
Part 3: Why do we get nostalgic?
Send us a text Part three of a three-part series about the connection between nostalgia and homesickness. If a friend abandoned you in a foreign country, how angry would you be? And how healthy is it to dwell on the past? SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, January 05, 2021
Part 2: Why do we get nostalgic?
Send us a text Part two of a three-part series about the connection between nostalgia and homesickness. We "meet" a medical student who attended Basel University in the 17th century, and we try to retrace the steps of the Swiss mercenaries who inspired him. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, December 22, 2020
Part 1: Why do we get nostalgic?
Send us a text Part one of a three-part series about the connection between nostalgia and homesickness. For this we travel back in time to join two backpackers exploring Europe in the 1980s, and we find out how they’re connected to Swiss mercenaries hitting the road in the 17th century. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Wed, December 16, 2020
Moving back to Switzerland in a pandemic
Send us a text In 2020, getting the kind of schooling you want for your kids sometimes meant moving halfway across the world, at the drop of a hat. Meet a Swiss woman in California who did just that. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sun, April 19, 2020
The jazz singer with Swiss folk roots
Send us a text When you first see her with her sleek bob and glossy fingernails, it’s kind of surprising to learn that Gabriela Martina was raised on a farm. But it’s memories of her rural upbringing that power some of her music. Over a decade ago, she left her home in the Lucerne countryside to study jazz in the United States. Today, the vocalist and composer lives in Boston and teaches at her alma mater, the Berklee College of Music . Martina tries to mix her Swiss yodelling roots with jazz, soul, RnB, gospel and blues. Her latest album, Homage to Grämlis , tells stories about the farm where she grew up with her parents, grandmother, two sisters and a brother. Many of the songs are about how they tended animals and the land. It’s bittersweet as the family recently had to give up the farm. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Thu, March 26, 2020
Inside Geneva: A decade of war in Syria
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sun, March 22, 2020
Inside Geneva: the United Nations and China
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sun, March 15, 2020
The sound of Nashville with a Swiss twist
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sat, March 07, 2020
Inside Geneva: What should we be doing about human rights violations?
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, February 11, 2020
Inside Geneva: How to deal with coronavirus?
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Wed, January 22, 2020
Inside Geneva: Why humanitarian groups go to Davos
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sun, January 19, 2020
Why simultaneous interpreting is not for the faint-hearted
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sun, January 12, 2020
Inside Geneva: What kind of year will it be for the UN?
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sun, January 05, 2020
Science and diplomacy hope to save Red Sea coral
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, December 17, 2019
Inside Geneva: Humanitarians and counter-terror laws
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Tue, December 10, 2019
Meet the woman steering Swiss foreign policy strategy
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sun, December 08, 2019
Learning life skills at the circus
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Thu, November 21, 2019
Inside Geneva: How to cope with killer robots
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Sun, November 03, 2019
Mozambique: How a peace deal gets made
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Thu, October 31, 2019
Inside Geneva: Potential and pitfalls for Syrian peace talks
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sun, October 06, 2019
Inside Geneva: How the Human Rights Council works
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Mon, September 16, 2019
Switzerland’s new US ambassador ‘fascinated’ to be in Washington
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sat, September 07, 2019
Inside Geneva: populist rhetoric and humanitarian work
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Sun, August 25, 2019
Discovering the secrets of Lake Geneva
Send us a text SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
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