Researchers have deciphered the diet of an important nomadic people in Eastern European history. By analyzing dental calculus, they have provided the first direct evidence that the diet of the Scythians included milk from various ruminants and horses.
Fluoride is used worldwide to prevent tooth decay. However, health concerns are raised, particularly in places where fluoride is added to drinking water. An international research team involving the University of Basel has evaluated data from over 11 million births and reached a clear conclusion.
For the first time and with unprecedented accuracy, a team of researchers from the University of Basel has observed unique energy flow mechanisms in a semiconductor material following excitation by extremely short laser pulses. Gaining a better understanding of these energy flow is vital for improving the efficiency of electronic devices and computer chips.
The existing building stock has a huge impact on the environment. At the same time, there is a lack of a common understanding among those involved, says Pascal Gantenbein, head of the Sustainable Real Estate continuing education program at the University of Basel. This is exactly where the course comes in, bringing together these different professional perspectives.
Fiona Doetsch, Professor of Molecular Stem Cell Biology at the Biozentrum, University of Basel, has been awarded the 2026 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine. She is recognized for her work in discovering the identity of neural stem cells in the adult mammalian brain and showing that they enable adaptation to different physiological states. The prize is endowed with 500,000 Swiss francs.
Environmental phenomena and their consequences can disrupt social structures and destabilize political systems. An interdisciplinary research team demonstrated this using the example of the late Tang dynasty in medieval China.
Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis arise when the immune system turns against the body itself. Yet for most of them, it remains unclear why this process begins. Researchers have now identified how the Epstein-Barr virus can, under specific conditions, initiate early multiple sclerosis-like damage in the brain. This offers a new perspective on how rare immune events may shape disease risk.
Short exercise sessions can help children build social relationships. This has been demonstrated by researchers from the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health at the University of Basel. An “active” short break could be a fun way to integrate these findings into everyday school life.
Drugs that act against bacteria are mainly assessed based on how well they inhibit bacterial growth under laboratory conditions. A critical factor, however, is whether the active substances actually kill the pathogens in the body. Researchers at the University of Basel have presented a new method for measuring how effectively antibiotics kill bacteria.
