UNI NOVA – Research Magazine of the University of Basel

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  In conversation

  "Many zoonoses are being forgotten in the wake of corona."

  Interview: Irène Dietschi / Since the end of the 20th century, a growing number of pathogens are spreading from animals to humans. Jakob Zinsstag studies these zoonotic diseases, or zoonoses, and explores how a new understanding of medicine can help fight them.

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  In pictures

  Seeing, fast and slow.

  Text: Angelika Jacobs / Signals from the peripheral fields of vision have a much longer path to the optic nerve than those from the center of the retina. How is it that we do not perceive a delay between our central and peripheral fields of vision?

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  Dossier

  The world on a screen.

  Text: Noëmi Kern / A selfie with your best friend, a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower … We use our smartphones to showcase what we experience and share on social media. This affects how we perceive and present ourselves and the world around us.

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  Dossier

  Data leeches.

  Text: Andreas Grote / When we are active online, we leave behind a data trail. There is a lack of transparency on which data social media companies collect. Cybersecurity expert Isabel Wagner explains the mechanisms and highlights areas where we should exercise caution.

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  Dossier

  “Mommy, put your phone down!”

  Text: Eva Mell / What effect does it have on a child’s development when its parents are permanently stuck on their smartphones. Psychologist Eva Unternährer is developing tips for healthy smartphone use in the family.

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  Dossier

  Research tweets.

  Text: Anika Zielenski / Communicating with the community and finding out what other research groups are doing: Six scientists' experiences in their Twitterverse.

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  Dossier

  Making politics visual.

  Text: Jonas Frey / Those seeking to win favor with voters are well-advised to be present on social media. How exactly politicians go about this – and how successful they are in their endeavors – is the subject of research by a team of political and computer scientists.

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  Dossier

  A disturbing dictionary.

  Text: Urs Hafner / Right-wing populism has been gaining strength for years now. The pandemic provided rich soil for the growth of conspiracy theories. Now, researchers have demonstrated a link between these phenomena based on online comments from right-wing populist circles.

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  Dossier

  The manipulation machine.

  Interview: Angelika Jacobs / Advances in artificial intelligence pervade social networks. Data scientist Geoffrey Fucile on the curated self, bots and the battle over the definition of truth.