UNI NOVA – Research Magazine of the University of Basel

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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.

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  Dossier

  Who rules the metaverse?

  Text: Eva Wolfangel / When social media creates virtual realities, many artifacts of the material world play out there. A voyage into a possible future of social media shows what this might look like.

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  Opinion

  What does neutrality mean for Switzerland, Georg Kreis?

  Text: Georg Kreis / From participation in international alliances to its stance on the war in Ukraine – Swiss neutrality is in a constant state of renegotiation within Switzerland. A historian and a political scientist reflect on how the role of Switzerland in the international community has developed over time and how it is defined today.

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  Opinion

  What does neutrality mean for Switzerland, Laurent Goetschel?

  Text: Laurent Goetschel / From participation in international alliances to its stance on the war in Ukraine – Swiss neutrality is in a constant state of renegotiation within Switzerland. A historian and a political scientist reflect on how the role of Switzerland in the international community has developed over time and how it is defined today.

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  In pictures

  A forest without rain.

  Text: Angelika Jacobs / In woodland in Hölstein (Canton of Basel-Landschaft), Ansgar Kahmen’s team studies how trees cope with climate change. A visit to the forest lab.

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  Portrait

  The pioneer.

  Text: Yvonne Vahlensieck / Curiosity is the driving force in Maria Hondele's life. In her research, the biochemist is exploring new frontiers in the field of cell biology.

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  Opinion

  Exploitation of natural resources – a medieval idea?

  Text: Karsten Engel / According to the Bible, human beings are special. Does that, however, give us the right to exploit our planet? Magnus Hundt was grappling with this question back in the late Middle Ages. This is what we can learn from his opinions.

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  Research

  Extinguishing fires in the brain.

  Text: Ori Schipper / People researching puzzling diseases such as multiple sclerosis are constantly making unexpected discoveries, such as immune cells from the intestine that migrate to the brain – where they relieve inflammation.