Matter and the universe

Exoplanets, neutrinos, instruments

Matter and the Universe

Contributions to space missions such as CHEOPS or Juice, leading models of planet formation, search for space debris or novel experimental approaches to detecting elementary particles – the University of Bern gets to the bottom of the really big questions. ESA, NASA and CERN are just three of many partners.

Current

Media release

First detection of frost on the tallest volcanoes on Mars

For the first time, water frost has been detected on the colossal volcanoes on Mars, which are the largest mountains in the Solar System. The team led by the University of Bern used high-resolution color images from the Bernese Mars camera CaSSIS.

Places at the Uni Bern

Particle physics in the bunker

Physical research arena by day, medical production site by night: a visit at the Bernese cyclotron laboratory.

Spiders on the hunt

On the prowl with vibrations

Spiders can locate their prey using special sensory organs that detect even the smallest vibrations. The multimedia piece shows how they use these to hunt – without a web.

Plant sciences

Corn reduces arsenic toxicity in soil

When crops grow in arsenic-contaminated soil, this toxic element accumulates in the food chain. A study by the University of Bern and the University of Basel has now discovered a mechanism used by corn plants to reduce arsenic uptake.

Space Exploration

From the Space Race to a Gold Rush in Space?

There is a sense of optimism in space travel: The USA, China and India, as well as private individuals, have set themselves the goal of returning to the Moon and continuing into space. Will the hunt for raw materials in space soon begin?

Mystery of the sub-Neptunes solved

Media release

A study involving the University of Bern explains the different groups of the most common type of exoplanet, the sub-Neptunes, which are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune.

People

Participation in ESA mission

Comet research with Bernese instruments

The University of Bern is contributing two instruments to the European Space Agency's (ESA) Comet Interceptor Mission, which is due to set off for a comet in 2029. Martin Rubin explains the importance of this mission for understanding our origins.

Astronomy

The sun in view

Lucia Kleint researches powerful solar storms that can cause major problems on Earth. In a video interview, the active researcher explains why the University of Bern is the perfect place for her research.

Hans Sigrist Prize

Aaron Roth: Pioneer of fair algorithms

In December 2023, the most highly endowed prize of the University of Bern will go to the US computer scientist Aaron Roth. His research aims to incorporate social norms into algorithms and to better protect privacy.

Energy transition

Synergy Grant for Matthias Arenz

Matthias Arenz from the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharm. Sc. and other researchers receives a Synergy Grant from the European Research Council worth 10 million Euros for a project on electrocatalysts for the energy transition.

Space Research

Challenges on the way to Jupiter

Peter Wurz, Nicolas Thomas and Axel Murk have all been involved in the ESA mission Juice from the very beginning. For uniAKTUELL, they look back and talk about the challenges they have already encountered on the way to the largest planet in the solar system and those that still await them.

Space

From vision to mission

The European Space Agency’s Juice space mission is scheduled to start its journey to Jupiter on April 13, 2023, where it will, among other things, search for traces of life on three of Jupiter’s icy moons. The University of Bern is strongly involved in this project. “uniaktuell” introduces some of the local researchers who are working hard on accomplishing the Juice mission.