UNI NOVA – Research Magazine of the University of Basel

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  Dossier

  No life without boundaries.

  Texts: Yvonne Vahlensieck; Graphic art: Marina Bräm / Biological membranes were a key prerequisite for the first living beings. Then, cooperation across boundaries paved the way for more complex forms of life.

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  Dossier

  New horizons.

  Text und Fotos: Christine Möller / In the world of tiny structures, the boundaries between disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, medicine and materials science break down. We look at five examples where researchers meet — and extend — the boundaries of the nanoworld.

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  Opinion

  What challenges does the energy transition bring, Mr. Weigt?

  Text: Hannes Weigt / Renewable energies are intended to replace fossil fuels. Many questions, however, remain unanswered. Some thoughts from experts in economics and in environmental sciences.

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  Opinion

  What challenges does the energy transition bring, Ms. Delzeit?

  Text: Ruth Delzeit / Renewable energies are intended to replace fossil fuels. Many questions, however, remain unanswered. Some thoughts from experts in economics and in environmental sciences.

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  In pictures

  Field research on top of the world.

  Text: Angelika Jacobs / The Arctic is warming at an above-average rate as a result of climate change. Which plant species are still found there today, and where? In the summer of 2023, a small research team set out on the sailing ship Nanuk to answer this question.

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  Portrait

  Voyager through the history of Africa.

  Text: Christoph Dieffenbacher / Africa's written history contains many a blank page. At the University of Basel, historian Julia Tischler studies the continent's history of colonization and missionary engagement in the 19th and 20th centuries.

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  Research

  Sarah's alive.

  Text: Eva Mell / A little girl falls into a bitterly cold pond. When her father finds her, she has no pulse. Her chances of survival are poor. But at the University Children's Hospital Basel, the improbable is about to take place.

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  Research

  A fun way to the perfect career.

  Text: Béatrice Koch / The digital tool “like2be” helps young adults learn even more about familiar jobs and discover new career options. It also allows them to explore their personal interests – and have fun along the way.

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  Research

  Should Switzerland allow embryo donation?

  Text: Irène Dietschi / In Switzerland, couples left with surplus embryos after IVF are not allowed to donate them to other infertile couples. Lawyer Valentina Christen-Zihlmann investigates whether this ban is still in keeping with the times.