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Archive Media Releases 2019

79 articles

Article list Media Releases

  • Skin and Mucous Membrane Lesions as Complication of Pneumonia

    Painful inflammatory lesions of the skin and mucous membranes may occur in children who develop bacterial pneumonia. A research group at the University Children's Hospital Zurich has recently developed a new diagnostic blood test, which reliably diagnoses bacteria as the causative pathogen at an early stage, allowing more specific treatment and prediction about prognosis.
  • Newly Discovered Protein Gives Signal for Virus Infection

    Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered a protein that enables adenoviruses to infect human cells. The Mib1 protein gives the virus the signal to uncoat the DNA and release it into the nucleus. Blocking this protein could therefore help people with weakened immune systems to fight dangerous viruses.
  • Nearly 12 Million Euros for Outstanding UZH Research

    Six researchers at the University of Zurich have been awarded ERC Consolidator Grants from the European Research Council. They will each receive funding of around 2 million euros for their research projects in the fields of economics, medicine and humanities.
  • New Migraine Medications Could Endanger Patients with High Blood Pressure

    New migraine medications block αCGRP, a neuropeptide which causes vasodilation, for example in the meninges. The very same peptide, which is formed in the muscles during physical activity, protects the heart – which is vital for people with chronic high blood pressure. The innovative migraine prophylaxis could endanger these people, as researchers at the University of Zurich have demonstrated in mice.
  • Leukemia in Children Discovered

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common form of cancer affecting children in Switzerland and, unfortunately, is often incurable. Researchers from the University of Zurich and the University Children’s Hospital Zurich have now found a way to stop the driving force behind this type of leukemia at a molecular level and develop a targeted therapy.
  • Chinese Porcelain Art in Pale Green-Blue Shades

    With its shimmering manifold green and blue colors, celadon porcelain from the Chinese province of Zhejiang, which draws on a thousand year-old tradition, is currently undergoing a new resurgence. An exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Zurich provides insights into the history, technology and knowledge of the craft in the celadon metropolis of Longquan.
  • Science Barometer Switzerland: Trust in Science and Research Remains High

    The Swiss population’s trust in science and research is high to very high. As the Science Barometer Switzerland 2019 study shows, people in Switzerland have a positive attitude towards science and are keen to receive information about research, with climate and energy considered the most important topics.
  • Private Banks Should Proactively Foster Sustainable Investments

    ustainable investments are on the rise, but does impact follow? The new UZH report on sustainable investing capabilities urges private banks to gear up their services to meet investor demands – and environmental targets. Most of the reviewed Swiss and European private banks should increase training of client advisors and offer more products with measurable impact.
  • Milk from Teeth: Dental Stem Cells Can Generate Milk-Producing Cells

    Stem cells of the teeth can contribute to the regeneration of non-dental organs, namely mammary glands. According to a new study from researchers at the University of Zurich, dental epithelial stem cells from mice can generate mammary ducts and even milk-producing cells when transplanted into mammary glands. This could be used for post-surgery tissue regeneration in breast cancer patients.
  • Mindfulness Meditation Enhances Positive Effects of Psilocybin

    Recent years have seen a renewed interest in the clinical application of classic psychedelics in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. Researchers of the University of Zurich have now shown that mindfulness meditation can enhance the positive long-term effects of a single dose of psilocybin, which is found in certain mushrooms.
  • Internet survey

    More than half of internet users in Switzerland avoid searching for certain terms or expressing certain views online because they believe they are being monitored. This is the conclusion of a representative survey conducted by the University of Zurich on internet use in Switzerland.
  • Marmoset Monkeys can learn a new Dialect

    Monkeys and other animals communicate through calls that can differ depending on region. The common marmoset is one such animal that communicates using regional dialects. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now found out that they even adapt their dialect when they move to a different area.
  • Antibiotics with Novel Mechanism of Action Discovered

    Many life-threatening bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics. Swiss researchers co-headed by the University of Zurich have now discovered a new class of antibiotics with a unique spectrum of activity and mechanism of action – a major step in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. By disrupting outer membrane synthesis, the antibiotics effectively kill Gram-negative bacteria.
  • Protein in Blood Protects against Neuronal Damage after Brain Hemorrhage

    Patients who survive a cerebral hemorrhage may suffer delayed severe brain damage caused by free hemoglobin, which comes from red blood cells and damages neurons. Researchers at the University of Zurich and the UniversityHospital Zurich have now discovered a protective protein in the body called haptoglobin, which prevents this effect.
  • Raw Meat-Based Diets for Pets Pose a Health Risk for Humans

    Multidrug-resistant bacteria are found in half of all dog foods made from raw meat, researchers from the University of Zurich have found. Feeding pets a diet of raw meat, also known as a "BARF" diet, is a growing trend. The resistant bacteria in the raw food can be transmitted to the pets - and thus also to humans.
  • The Brain Does not Follow the Head

    The human brain is about three times the size of the brains of great apes. This has to do, among other things, with the evolution of novel brain structures that enabled complex behaviors such as language and tool production. A study by anthropologists at the University of Zurich now shows that changes in the brain occurred independent of evolutionary rearrangements of the braincase.
  • Details of Dental Wear Revealed

    The teeth of mammals experience constant wear. However, the details of these wear processes are largely unknown. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now demonstrated that the various areas of herbivores’ teeth differ in how susceptible they are to dental wear, detailing an exact chronology.
  • Modern Family Roles Improve Life Satisfaction for Parents

    Increased equality has a positive effect on mothers and fathers. Thanks to greater freedom to strike an individual balance between caring for children and working in paid employment, mothers and fathers today are happier with their lives than parents were 20 or 30 years ago, a study by sociologists at the University of Zurich has shown.
  • Recognizing, Promoting and Understanding Developmental Steps of Small Children

    A new app allows parents to playfully support their children as they explore their surroundings. They can record important motor, cognitive and linguistic milestones and receive scientifically sound information on each step. The app was developed by psychologists at the University of Zurich, who are researching the individual development of children.
  • Growing Interest in Natural Sciences, Law and Economics

    Next Monday, the Fall Semester begins for about 27,000 students at the University of Zurich. The number of Master's students in particular has increased. In the arts and social sciences, students now benefit from clear and consistent degree program structures, which have been brought about by a wide-ranging study reform.
  • Building Blocks of Bird Babble Identified

    A new study by an international team headed by the University of Zurich sheds light on whether animal vocalizations, like human words, are constructed from smaller building blocks. By analyzing calls of the Australian chestnut-crowned babbler, the researchers have for the first time identified the meaning-generating building blocks of a non-human communication system.
  • Vontobel-Award

    This year’s Vontobel Award for Research on Age(ing) goes to Burcu Demiray Batur from the University of Zurich, Jonathan Rychen from the University Hospital of Basel and Sarah Stricker from the Hôpital Necker in Paris. Sarah Ziegler from UZH is the winner of the 2019 recognition prize.
  • ERC Starting Grants

    Two scientists of the University of Zurich have both been awarded a coveted ERC Starting Grant of 1.5 million euros from the European Research Council. Lorenzo Casaburi's study aims at improving market access for farmers in East Africa. And Maximilian Emmert wants to develop a novel transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis that lasts a lifetime.
  • Scientific research draws crowds

    The Scientifica event hosted by the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich was a huge success. This weekend, 20,000 to 30,000 visitors were able to learn about scientific facts straight from the experts. Current research fascinated guests - discussions, short lectures and exhibition stands were very popular throughout the two-day event.
  • Magic Spells and Desert Sharks

    Can you make things happen with words only? How did a shark end up in the desert? Can 10-year-olds go to prison? And why can airplanes fly? The varied new program of the Children’s University begins in the Fall Semester 2019.
  • West African Drummers Making Their Voices Heard

    Much of today’s popular music is based on principles derived from West African forms of musical expression – this is the surprising insight gained from the new exhibition in the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Zurich. The exhibition shows how drummers from Ghana and Nigeria combine physical skills and cultural knowledge to make their voices heard in local and global discourses.
  • Humans May Have Had Key Role in Cave Bear Extinction

    Humans may have played a substantial role in the extinction of the European cave bear at the end of the last ice age. These findings of a study with the involvement of the University of Zurich suggest a drastic cave bear population decline starting around 40,000 years ago.
  • Hidden genetic variations power evolutionary leaps

    Laboratory populations that quietly amass "cryptic" genetic variants are capable of surprising evolutionary leaps, according to a paper in the July 26 issue of Science. A better understanding of cryptic variation may improve directed evolution techniques for developing new biomolecules for medical and other applications.
  • Fingerprint of Multiple Sclerosis Immune Cells Identified

    Researchers at the University of Zurich have identified a cell population that likely plays a key role in multiple sclerosis (MS). T helper cells in the blood of MS patients infiltrate the central nervous system, where they can cause inflammation and damage nerve cells. This discovery opens up new avenues for monitoring and treating MS patients.
  • Diving into Colorful Underwater Worlds

    Turtles, bears and crocodiles. Tropical forests, fathomless caves and precipitous ice cliffs. These are just some of the many fascinating motifs captured on camera in the underwater photography of Michel Roggo. The Swiss photographer has traveled the world to take pictures of all major freshwater types. An exhibition in the Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich featuring over 900 of his photos presents a beautiful underwater world awash with light.
  • A novel perception mechanism regulating important plant processes

    An international research team has revealed a novel mechanism for the perception of endogenous peptides by a plant receptor. The discovery of this activation mechanism sets a new paradigm for how plants react to internal and external cues. The study ‘Mechanisms of RALF peptide perception by a heterotypic receptor complex’ was published today in the journal Nature.
  • New Therapy Promotes Vascular Repair Following Stroke

    Following a stroke, antibodies that inhibit the signaling molecule Nogo-A can help repair blood vessels in the affected brain regions. This also promotes the regaining of motor functions, researchers at the University of Zurich have shown in a mouse model. The study opens up new avenues for treatment.
  • The Richer the Pickings, the more Honest the People

    The more money there is in a lost wallet, the more likely it is to be returned to its owner, researchers from the Universities of Zurich, Michigan and Utah show in a global study. They explain the surprising result with the fact that dishonest finders have to adapt their self-image, which involves psychological costs that can exceed the material value of the wallet.
  • Rinsing System in Stomach Protects the Teeth of Ruminants

    When they graze, goats, sheep and cows often ingest bits of earth that can be damaging to their teeth. Researchers from the University of Zurich have now shown how the animals protect themselves against dental abrasion: Their stomach system rinses dust and sand off the ingested food before it is chewed for the second time.
  • Four Scientific Institutions will Monitor Switzerland from Space

    The Swiss Data Cube (SDC) is an innovative technology that gathers all available satellite images from the American Landsat program and the European Sentinel 1 and 2. UNEP/GRID-Geneva, the University of Geneva (UNIGE), the University of Zurich (UZH) and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) have entered a new cooperation agreement to foster the use of Earth Observation data for environmental monitoring at national scale.
  • Fathers Aid Development of Larger Brains

    The bigger the brain, the more intelligent a mammalian species is. Developing a large brain, though, requires a huge energy input. The females of many large-brained animal species are therefore reliant on the help of other group members to care for their young. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now demonstrated that larger brains particularly develop in animal species in which fathers assist mothers, for only the help of fathers is dependable.
  • Chimpanzees fish for crabs

    Chimpanzees have a mainly vegetarian diet, but do occasionally eat meat. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now shown for the first time that chimpanzees also eat crabs. In the rainforest of Guinea, the researchers observed how chimpanzees regularly fish for crabs.
  • Domino Effect of Species Extinctions Also Damages Biodiversity

    The mutual dependencies of many plant species and their pollinators mean that the negative effects of climate change are exacerbated. As UZH researchers show, the total number of species threatened with extinction is therefore considerably higher than predicted in previous models.
  • Altered Brain Activity in Antisocial Teenagers

    Teenage girls with problematic social behavior display reduced brain activity and weaker connectivity between the brain regions implicated in emotion regulation. The findings of an international study carried out by researchers from the University of Zurich and others now offer a neurobiological explanation for the difficulties some girls have in controlling their emotions, and provide indications for possible therapy approaches.
  • Bilingual Children Show Keener Understanding of Their Communication Partners

    Bilingual children adapt to the needs of their communication partners better than monolingual children. According to researchers at the University of Zurich, this is because children growing up bilingually have to manage challenging communication situations more often and deal with the differing communication styles of their parents.
  • The Quiet Loss of Knowledge Threatens Indigenous Communities

    Most of the knowledge that indigenous communities in South America have about plants is not written down. Now, ecologists at the University of Zurich have analyzed comprehensive information about the services provided by palm trees from multiple regions and made it accessible via a network approach. What they also discovered in the process was that the simultaneous loss of biodiversity and knowledge represents a key threat to the survival of indigenous peoples.
  • Susceptibility to Disease Develops during Childhood

    Traumatized children and children who develop multiple allergies tend to suffer in adulthood from chronic inflammatory diseases and psychiatric disorders. Researchers at the Universities of Zurich and Lausanne have demonstrated this in a study in which they identified five classes of early immune-system programming.
  • University of Zurich Awards Six New Honorary Doctorates

    At its 186th Dies academicus ceremony, the University of Zurich awarded honorary doctor-ates to law professor Niamh Moloney, pediatrician Marina Cavazzana, linguist Johanna Nichols, computational analysis specialist Kathleen M. Carley, biblical scholar Shimon Gesundheit, and sustainability expert Ghassem R. Asrar. Former Swiss Federal Councilor Doris Leuthard and publisher Denise Schmid were named honorary senators.
  • in 30 years

    Three decades from now, nearly half of the Swiss population will have had some experience with cannabis use. According to a new study by the University of Zurich, the number of active users will rise as well, increasing by 50% compared to 2015 - unless the government establishes new regulations.
  • Researchers Observe Slowest Atom Decay Ever Measured

    The XENON1T detector is mainly used to detect dark matter particles deep underground. But a research team led by Zurich physicists, among others, has now managed to observe an extremely rare process using the detector – the decay of the Xenon-124 atom, which has an enormously long half-life of 1.8 x 10 to the power of 22 years.
  • Schadenfreude: Your Pain Is My Gain

    If someone in the workplace is mistreated, their colleagues may respond with empathy – or with schadenfreude. The latter emotion, according to a new study by the University of Zurich, occurs primarily in highly competitive working environments, when one person’s misfortune facilitates another’s goals. Even worse, schadenfreude can be contagious. For this reason, it is worth establishing an inclusive working climate and team-based incentives.
  • Simple and Fast Method for Radiolabelling Antibodies against Breast Cancer

    Radioactive antibodies that target cancer cells are used for medical diagnostics with PET imaging or for targeted radioimmunotherapy. Researchers from the University of Zurich have created a new method for radiolabelling antibodies using UV light. In less than 15 minutes, the proteins are ready-to-use for cancer imaging or therapy.
  • Thermodynamic Magic Enables Cooling without Energy Consumption

    Physicists at the University of Zurich have developed an amazingly simple device that allows heat to flow temporarily from a cold to a warm object without an external power supply. Intriguingly, the process initially appears to contradict the fundamental laws of physics.
  • Precise Decoding of Breast Cancer Cells Creates New Option for Treatment

    Researchers at the University of Zurich and from IBM Research have investigated the varying composition of cancer and immune cells in over one hundred breast tumors. They've found that aggressive tumors are often dominated by a single type of tumor cell. If certain immune cells are present as well, an immune therapy could be successful for a specific group of breast cancer patients.
  • Innovative Medicines Initiative Launches Translational Safety Biomarker Pipeline Project

    The University of Zurich coordinates a worldwide research project that focuses on the development of new biomarkers. The biomarkers are expected to improve safety of new drugs and to contribute to better diagnosis and management of acute and chronic diseases. The project is funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI).
  • Interplay of Pollinators and Pests Influences Plant Evolution

    Brassica rapa plants pollinated by bumblebees evolve more attractive flowers. But this evolution is compromised if caterpillars attack the plant at the same time. With the bees pollinating them less effectively, the plants increasingly self-pollinate. In a greenhouse evolution experiment, scientists at the University of Zurich have shown just how much the effects of pollinators and pests influence each other.
  • Auffällige Affen haben kleine Hoden

    Well-adorned or well-endowed – but not both. Evolutionary biologists at the University of Zurich have for the first time demonstrated that male primates either have large testicles or showy ornaments. Developing both at the same time may simply take too much energy.
  • Melting Glaciers Causing Sea Levels to Rise at Ever Greater Rates

    Melting ice sheets in Greenland and the Antarctic as well as ice melt from glaciers all over the world are causing sea levels to rise. Glaciers alone lost more than 9,000 billion tons of ice since 1961, raising water levels by 27 millimeters, an international research team under the lead of UZH have now found.
  • Towards a Sustainable and Transparent Future

    The University of Zurich is committed to promoting and raising awareness of sustainable development, both within its own ranks and in society as a whole. UZH has approved a Sustainability Policy and is now publishing its first Sustainability Report. Furthermore, the University is publishing a new transparency list of third-party funding sources.
  • 6.68 Million Euros for Cutting Edge Research at UZH

    Three researchers at the University of Zurich have been awarded coveted ERC Advanced Grants. A physicist, a mathematician and a theologian will each receive up to 2.5 million euros from the European Research Council to continue their crucial research.
  • Climate Change Threat to Dolphins’ Survival

    An unprecedented marine heatwave had long-lasting negative impacts on both survival and birth rates on the iconic dolphin population in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Researchers at UZH have now documented that climate change may have more far-reaching consequences for the conservation of marine mammals than previously thought.
  • Of Scythes, Scythe Hammers and Work Songs

    The agricultural techniques of wild hay making in Switzerland and shifting cultivation in the eastern Himalayas have one thing in common: They are both performed on steep slopes. A new exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Zurich is dedicated to the subject of farming on sloping terrain. The tools and soundscapes exhibited portray a fascinating living environment that is both dangerous and demanding.
  • Lying, Sitting or Standing: Resting Postures Determined by Animals' Size

    Cows always lie on their chests so that their digestion is not impaired. Rodents sometimes rest sitting down, while kangaroos sometimes lie on their backs. The larger the animal, the less often it lies down, and when it does, it is more likely to lie on its side - but there are exceptions. A team from UZH investigated the resting postures of mammals.
  • New Potential Approach to Treat Atopic Dermatitis

    How does the immune system respond to fungi on our skin? Researchers at the University of Zurich have demonstrated that the same immune cells that protect us against skin fungi also encourage the inflammatory symptoms of atopic dermatitis. An antibody therapy could alleviate this chronic inflammatory skin disease.
  • Diet-Induced Changes Favor Innovation in Speech Sounds

    Diet-induced changes in the human bite resulted in new sounds such as “f” in languages all over the world, a study by an international team led by researchers at the University of Zurich has shown. The findings contradict the theory that the range of human sounds has remained fixed throughout human history.
  • Negative Emotions Can Reduce Our Capacity to Trust

    It is no secret that a bad mood can negatively affect how we treat others. But can it also make us more distrustful? Yes, according to a new study, which shows that negative emotions reduce how much we trust others, even if these emotions were triggered by events that have nothing to do with the decision to trust. The study was carried out by an international research team from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the University of Zurich (UZH).
  • Neanderthals Walked Upright just like the Humans of Today

    Neanderthals are often depicted as having straight spines and poor posture. However, these prehistoric humans were more similar to us than many assume. University of Zurich researchers have shown that Neanderthals walked upright just like modern humans – thanks to a virtual reconstruction of the pelvis and spine of a very well-preserved Neanderthal skeleton found in France.
  • Bat Influenza Viruses Could Infect Humans

    Bats don’t only carry the deadly Ebola virus, but are also a reservoir for a new type of influenza virus. These newly discovered flu viruses could potentially also attack the cells of humans and livestock, researchers at the University of Zurich have now shown.
  • Fate of Meerkats Tied to Seasonal Climate Effects

    Does a drier and hotter climate present a threat to the meerkats in the Kalahari Desert? Researchers from UZH and Cambridge show that climate change is likely to impact meerkats, and seasonal rainfall and temperature will be the key factors.
  • Public Lectures about Gottfried Keller or Smart Robots

    The subjects covered in this semester's public lectures include Gottfried Keller, education in old age, migration, and artificial intelligence. From 18 February onwards, researchers will share their expertise on past and present issues of society at the University of Zurich.
  • Aguzzi Nomis

    Adriano Aguzzi of the University of Zurich has won a NOMIS Distinguished Scientist Award for his outstanding scientific work.
  • Morals versus Money: How We Make Social Decisions

    Our actions are guided by moral values. However, monetary incentives can get in the way of our good intentions. Neuroeconomists at the University of Zurich have now investigated in which area of the brain conflicts between moral and material motives are resolved. Their findings reveal that our actions are more social when these deliberations are inhibited.
  • Monthly wages are an important step towards economic development

    Most workers and agricultural producers in developing countries are paid on a daily basis. This has a negative impact on their ability to generate savings for large expenses. Researchers from UZH have now shown that dairy farmers and agricultural workers prefer to be paid once at the end of the month rather than daily, since monthly payment schemes are an efficient tool to increase savings.
  • How Type 1 Diabetes Gradually Destroys Insulin Production

    Using the new Imaging Mass Cytometry method, Zurich researchers have investigated the pancreas of healthy organ donors and those with type 1 diabetes. The study shows that many beta cells, which normally produce insulin, are still present in the early stages of the disease, but look very different. These beta cells could potentially be rescued for the benefit of the patient and the progression of the disease could be slowed down or even stopped.
  • Wheat Resistance Gene also Protects Corn and Barley against Fungal Disease

    Plant researchers at the University of Zurich have developed transgenic corn and barley lines with improved resistance against several fungal diseases thanks to the wheat resistance gene Lr34. Following successful tests in the greenhouse, the researchers are now planning to carry out field trials at the Agroscope site in Zurich-Reckenholz.
  • Nudging Does Not Necessarily Improve Decisions

    Nudging, the concept of influencing people’s behavior without imposing rules, bans or coercion, is an idea that government officials and marketing specialists alike are keen to harness, and itis often viewed as a one-size-fits-all solution. Now, a study by researchers from the University of Zurich puts things into perspective: Whether a nudge really does improve decisions depends on a person’s underlying decision-making process.
  • UZH Researcher Wins Prestigious Biochemistry Award

    Bernd Bodenmiller has been selected to receive the prestigious Friedrich Miescher Award 2019 for his research at the Institute of Molecular Life Sciences of the University of Zurich. The prize is Switzerland's highest distinction for young scientists performing outstanding research in the field of biochemistry.
  • Potential for risky behavior is also in your genes

    As part of an international research project, a group of scientists from the University of Zurich have found genetic variants associated with risk tolerance and risky behaviors. It is one of the first studies to link genetic variants with behavioral outcomes, which are relevant to social science research.
  • How Drugs Can Minimize the Side Effects of Chemotherapy

    Researchers at the University of Zurich have determined the three-dimensional structure of the receptor that causes nausea and vomiting as a result of cancer chemotherapy. The study explains for the first time why some drugs work particularly well in ameliorating these side effects. The results also provide important insights into how to develop compounds to effectively tackle other disorders.
  • Change of Teeth Causes Yo-Yo Effect in Elephants' Weight

    The weight of elephants living in zoos fluctuates over the course of their adult lives in cycles lasting around a hundred months, researchers at the University of Zurich have found. The fluctuation is linked to the particular pattern of tooth change in elephants, which results in them having more or less chewing surface available.
  • Forum UZH

    The University of Zurich is planning to build a new center for education and research on its City Campus by 2027: The FORUM UZH. The new building is a crucial element in ensuring the future viability of Zurich as a hub for higher education. A team led by Herzog & de Meuron working together with b+p baurealisation emerged as the winners from the international architectural competition.