UNI NOVA – Research Magazine of the University of Basel

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  Portrait

  The unassailable one.

  Text: Irène Dietschi / During the pandemic, Richard Neher monitored the evolutionary changes in SARS-CoV-2 closely and provided commentary for the media. When doing so, he was careful to avoid being drawn into political or emotional statements – and thereby made himself immune to attack.

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  Opinion

  Is inflation here to stay?

  Text: Sarah Lein / After a long period of tranquility, inflation began to rise again last year. The reasons for this increase are manifold. What can halt this development.

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  Research

  The sounds of silence.

  Text: Yvonne Vahlensieck / Much remains to be understood about how sounds are processed in the brain. In the University of Basel’s Brain & Sound Lab, researchers are slowly coming closer to solving the puzzle.

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  Research

  Stockpiling bacteria.

  Text: Samuel Schlaefli / Our health is highly dependent on the presence of a diverse community of microorganisms in the body, but the diversity of this “microbiome” is in rapid decline. An international research consortium is therefore planning to build a vault for the long-term conservation of particularly valuable microbial communities.

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  Research

  Princess rooms and car-themed palaces.

  Text: Eva Mell / Gender researcher Dominique Grisard is interested in how the design of children’s bedrooms perpetuates gender roles. She explains how much influence middle-class notions still have on today’s parents.

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  Alumni

  In the field for mission “soil fertility”.

  Text: Davina Benkert / What is it that makes good soil good? Biologist Sarah Symanczik is dedicated to finding the answer. She is currently conducting research into European wheat farming to determine what makes soil resistant to climate stress.

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  Alumni

  A new start with obstacles and opportunities.

  Text: Letizia Scholl and Basil Hatz /

• 
  Column

  On the potential of unread books.

  Text: Dominique Brancher / My book: Literary scholar Dominique Brancher wonders what it means to read a book - or not.

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  In conversation

  Measuring the mind.

  Interview: Urs Hafner / The soul is less susceptible to medical examination than a conspicuous skin blemish or a broken leg. Annette Brühl believes blood tests and brain scans could unlock new possibilities for psychiatry.