Media releases 2026

Researchers at the University of Bern have investigated the influence of siblings on the development of lifelong social competence in African cichlids. In an experiment, they show for the first time that two factors must work together for this effect to occur: Both the number of siblings present during early life and the quality of their interactions with them are crucial.

Estimates as to how much more electricity could be generated from hydropower in the absence of residual flow requirements vary widely, and they have previously been based on inadequate data. A team of researchers from WSL, the University of Bern and Eawag has now used a new database and simulations to show that, between now and 2050, the additional decrease in production due to residual flow requirements – amounting to barely 2% – is likely to be much lower than feared.

An international research team, with participation of the University of Bern, has conducted the world's first comprehensive genetic study of cancer in domestic cats. The study shows that some of the genetic changes in cat tumors closely resemble those found in human cancers. These parallels open up new perspectives for developing targeted cancer therapies, particularly for breast cancer.

Researchers at the Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and the University of Bern have, for the first time, directly measured how the human brain exchanges probing signals when asleep and when awake. Using electrodes temporarily implanted in the brain for clinical reasons, they were able to track the flow of signals between deep brain regions and the cerebral cortex with millisecond accuracy over a period of 24 hours. The study provides new insights into the way brain networks communicate and could enable the development of more precisely targeted brain therapies in the long term.

First the rocky planets, very close to their star, then the gas giants: this is the order in which scientists have hitherto conceived of the hierarchy of planets. A conception that corresponds to our Solar System but also to most of the planetary systems identified to date. However, the recent discovery of a new planet around the star LHS 1903 by the CHEOPS space telescope is now challenging this theory. The international team of astronomers behind the discovery includes scientists from the University of Bern and the University of Geneva who are also members of the National Centre of Competence in Research PlanetS.

For the first time, researchers at the University of Bern and Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, have shown that temperature signals from the skin are processed in the brain, influencing REM sleep and sleep-related disorders. These new findings enhance our understanding of brain-body interactions that regulate sleep and provide novel therapeutic strategies for sleep-wake rhythm disorders, such as narcolepsy.

Researchers at the University of Bern have been able to show that simple measures to promote biodiversity, such as the installation of branch and stone piles, boost stoat populations in agricultural areas in Switzerland. This is particularly true if the measures are professionally supervised, planned and coordinated. These results provide important impulses for agriculture and nature conservation.

Thanks to the pioneering climate research at the University of Bern, it is taking over the direction of a new National Centre of Competence in Research together with ETH Zurich. This was decided by the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER). The NCCR CLIM+ research focus investigates climate and weather extremes and develops strategies on how Switzerland can effectively adapt to them. Researchers from the University of Bern are also involved in the NCCR Genesis, which will investigate the origin of life and the possibility of life in the universe.

An old puzzle in particle physics has been solved by a research group involving TU Wien, the University of the Pacific, and the University of Bern: How can quantum field theories be best formulated on a lattice to optimally simulate them on a computer? The answer comes from AI.

A new study led by the University of Bern has discovered a large number of bright streaks, also known as "lineae", on Mercury, which are presumably caused by the outgassing of volatile material from the planet's interior. This indicates that Mercury is not a dead planet, as previously assumed, but might in fact be geologically active. The results provide important insights into the evolution of Mercury and its volatiles and will be further investigated by future space missions such as BepiColombo.

Using images from cameras on Mars orbiters, an international research team led by the University of Bern has discovered structures on Mars that are very similar to classic river deltas on Earth. These are traces of rivers that have deposited their sediments into an ocean. This shows that Mars was a "blue planet" around three billion years ago.

New research from the Institute of Psychology at the University of Bern sheds light on why most people believe that women and men differ in their personalities and skills. The team evaluated data from various countries at two points in time: 1995 and 2023. This study reveals that the strength of the stereotypical beliefs reflects the extent to which women and men occupy different social roles in homes and workplaces in their society.

In collaboration with the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and the University of Bern, Empa researchers have investigated how trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), the smallest of the PFAS molecules, is formed in the atmosphere and enters water bodies via precipitation. The study combined a three-year measurement period with archived water samples from recent decades and a detailed atmospheric model. The result: The release of this chemical into the environment has multiplied in recent decades – and will continue to increase in the future.