From studies involving schoolchildren to AI-based methods: research raises ethical questions. Dr. Isabelle Wienand has headed the University of Basel's Research Ethics Committee since its inception. She explains why universities need their own ethics board – and what matters most for responsible research.
A new National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) is dedicated to cutting-edge research in high-precision measurements. As the second home institution, the University of Basel will play a central role in NCCR ‘Precision’.
Researchers at the University of Basel and the ETH in Zurich have succeeded in changing the polarity of a special ferromagnet using a laser beam. In the future, this method could be used to create adaptable electronic circuits with light.
Researchers at the University of Basel and the Laboratoire Kastler Brossel have demonstrated how quantum mechanical entanglement can be used to measure several physical parameters simultaneously with greater precision.
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.
