Shows
The Swiss ConnectionHow Michael Hall’s TOR Discovery Reframed Longevity ScienceSend us a textWe trace how a soil-derived drug led to the discovery of mTOR, why growth control sits at the core of aging biology, and where evidence ends for humans. Michael Hall’s quiet breakthroughs explain fasting, autophagy, and rapamycin without the hype.To read more about this topic and for more science stories, visit our website swisinfo.ch. You can help other people to find our podcast by leaving us a five-star review.Journalist: Jessica Davis PlüssHost: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele And...
2025-11-2518 minThe Swiss ConnectionBig Pharma steps up race for AI-discovered drugsSend us a textWhat if the most valuable drug candidates aren’t found but designed on demand? We follow a chemist’s journey from a pencil-and-paper notebook to generative algorithms that propose novel, IP-free molecules tailored to specific targets, and we open the door to how Swiss pharma is rebuilding discovery around AI.To read more about this topic and for more science stories, visit our website swisinfo.ch. You can help other people to find our podcast by leaving us a five-star review.Journalist: Jessica Davis Plüss
2025-11-1816 minThe Swiss ConnectionWomen’s Health Meets Drug Design and Medical ResearchSend us a textWe trace how sex and gender shape drug development, from male-heavy mouse studies to the split results in Lecanemab’s Alzheimer’s trial. Experts explain why regulators should keep approvals moving while demanding smarter design, better reporting, and post-approval answers. For more science stories, visit our website swisinfo.ch, and you can help other people to find our podcast by leaving us a five-star review.Journalist: Jessica Davis PlüssHost: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang...
2025-11-1118 minThe Swiss ConnectionCracking the Alzheimer’s CodeSend us a textAlzheimer’s disease is more than age-related memory loss—it’s a serious brain disorder. In this episode of the Swiss Connection Science podcast, Swissinfo healthcare reporter Jessica Davis Pluess explores the science, hope, and controversy surrounding new Alzheimer’s drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla. With billions invested and global regulatory decisions diverging, what do these treatments mean for patients and healthcare systems? Visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more on this topic and a video on this story. Please come to SWI swissinfo.ch for more of our science stories from Switzerla...
2025-11-0421 minThe Swiss ConnectionSwiss Longevity clinics: modern-day snake oil or the key to healthy ageing?Send us a textThe search for the elixir of life has been going on since time immemorial – and Switzerland has played a key role. Although scientists have yet to come up with a winning formula, the Alpine nation has a booming market for treatments, pills and gadgets that claim to slow ageing and help us live healthier, longer lives.Visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more on this topic and a video on this story. Please come to SWI swissinfo.ch for more of our science stories from Switzerland.Jounalist: Jessica Davis Plüss
2025-10-2821 minThe Swiss ConnectionUnveiling Ancient Life: Microorganisms in Melting Glaciers in Swiss AlpsSend us a textThis 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 vi...
2024-12-1016 minThe Swiss ConnectionClimate solution for the future: How to keep cities cool during heatwavesSend us a textCities 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 JorioHost: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin ZhangSWI...
2024-12-0317 minThe Swiss ConnectionTurning concrete into a carbon sink: an innovative Swiss approach to decarbonizing the construction industrySend us a textThis 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...
2024-11-2614 minThe Swiss ConnectionYoung Swiss scientists boost rocket researchSend us a textSwiss 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 RaaflaubHost: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin...
2024-11-1914 minThe Swiss ConnectionWhy Swiss scientists want to find ice on cometsSend us a textUsing 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 FahyAudio editor...
2024-11-1213 minThe Swiss ConnectionHerwig Schopper, Former CERN head has served science and peace for 100 yearsSend us a textSwissinfo 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 ZoccatelliHost: Jo Fah...
2024-11-0517 minThe Swiss ConnectionSwitzerland and Silicon Valley: EP6 Sherry Wong ‘Living in a society where capital is strong and the welfare state is weak‘Send us a textFor 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 Eng...
2024-08-2023 minThe Swiss ConnectionSwitzerland and Silicon Valley: EP5 Fred Turner ‘The dream of tech companies serving humanity has turned into a nightmare‘Send us a textIn 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 IbrahimHost: Jo Fahy Audio editor / Video journalist: Michele Andina Dis...
2024-08-1319 minThe Swiss ConnectionSwitzerland and Silicon Valley: EP4 Pamela Munster ‘From cancer doctor to cancer patient and back again’Send us a textPamela 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.
2024-08-0619 minThe Swiss ConnectionWhat Switzerland can learn from Silicon Valley: EP3 Connected through InnovationSend us a textIn 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...
2024-07-3013 minThe Swiss ConnectionWhat Switzerland can learn from Silicon Valley: EP2 Swiss start-ups in CaliforniaSend us a textMore 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
2024-07-2315 minThe Swiss ConnectionWhat Switzerland can learn from Silicon Valley and Hippies: EP1 The potential of human beingsSend us a textIn 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
2024-07-1619 minThe Swiss ConnectionWhy Are leading Swiss Pharmaceutical Companies Investing in Slovenia?Send us a textPharmaceutical 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 FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Célin...
2024-04-2316 minThe Swiss ConnectionSwiss training for forensic scientists in Africa and MexicoSend us a textForensic 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.s...
2024-04-1616 minThe Swiss ConnectionSwiss Roman battle site reveals hidden secrets of historic clashSend us a textOver 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 BradleyHost: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang...
2024-04-0916 minThe Swiss ConnectionThe Future of Aviation: Hypersonic plane powered Hydrogen designed in SwitzerlandSend us a textIt’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 HuntAudio editor: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang...
2024-04-0211 minThe Swiss ConnectionDrones capture eDNA in cutting-edge biodiversity research in Zurich, SwitzerlandSend us a textResearchers 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 ZoccatelliAudio editor/video journalist: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin ZhangSWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
2024-03-2518 minThe Swiss ConnectionWhat CERN’s next-generation particle collider could look like?Send us a textScientists 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 BradleyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina ...
2024-03-1216 min
Legàmi | Il Podcast della Fondazione 156307 - La Vita in atto. Carità performativa: Giovanni Michele Vergnano“La Vita in atto”: documenti d’archivio come lasciti e testamenti non sono lettera morta ma atti vivi e performanti verso il futuro.Il rapporto fra carità e forme di previdenza sociale, a partire dalla storia di fine Seicento di Giovanni Michele Vergnano avvocato torinese: ce ne parla il professor Emanuele Colombo, ordinario di Storia Economica all’Università Cattolica di Milano, in dialogo con Giulio Sacco, assegnista di ricerca all'Università degli Studi di Torino.L’introduzione è affidata alla professoressa Blythe Alice Raviola dell’Università degli...
2024-01-2619 min
The Swiss ConnectionExploring Science in Davos: EP6 Lab 42 AI lab decoding the human brainSend us a textArtificial 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...
2023-12-0712 min
The Swiss ConnectionExploring Science in Davos: EP5 Snow and avalanche research in DavosSend us a textWhen 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...
2023-11-2211 min
The Swiss ConnectionExploring Science in Davos: EP4 How solar cycles influence climate?Send us a textSolar 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 tu...
2023-11-1511 min
The Swiss ConnectionExploring Science in Davos: EP3 Why house dust mites, pollen and food additives cause allergies?Send us a textThe 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 cl...
2023-11-0813 min
The Swiss ConnectionExploring Science in Davos: EP2 Studying bones at the AO Research Institute DavosSend us a textBefore 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...
2023-11-0111 min
The Swiss ConnectionExploring Science in Davos: EP1 Orthopaedics gathering at the AO Davos Courses 2022Send us a textThe 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 on...
2023-10-2508 min
Il MichelAngolo, show di Michele Marolla47 Inti Illimani: la storia attraverso le canzoni - 25/10/2017Seconda parte dello special sul gruppo cileno "Inti Illimani".Si spazia dalla musica andina alle canzoni più impegnate, con i testi di Pablo Neruda, Violeta Parra e Victor Jara.Piccola chicca: un saluto, via whatsapp, direttamente da Santiago del Cile.
2017-10-251h 59