News

Several types of cancer are triggered by mutations in a protein called BRAF. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have resolved a previously unknown conformation adopted by this protein during cell proliferation. Their study, which has now been published in the journal Molecular Cell, opens new avenues for cancer treatment.

On 21 July, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, travelled to Dublin to attend the informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for research and innovation. Held under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the meeting focused on how Europe can optimally leverage research and innovation to improve European competitiveness.

In 2025, investments in construction increased by 3.5% in nominal terms compared with the previous year. Investments in both building construction (+3.6%) and civil engineering (+3.2) saw an increase. Investments in new construction projects went up by 3.4%, while investments in renovation projects rose by 3.5%. These are the provisional findings from the Construction Statistics of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The UN sanctions committee has amended the list of sanctioned individuals, companies and organizations. The SESAM database has been updated accordingly. On 4 March 2016 the Federal Council has adopted the Ordinance on the automatic application of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists. Hence, the amendments of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists enter into force in Switzerland without delay.

On 17 July 2026, the second ministerial meeting of the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT Partnership) convened in Auckland, New Zealand. Switzerland was represented by SECO State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda. The small and medium-sized economies that form the FIT Partnership reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based trading system.

Small-scale plants could produce ammonia directly where it is needed. A global analysis involving the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI shows at which locations and under what conditions such mini-plants could operate in a low-carbon and economical manner. Ammonia is indispensable for fertiliser and could, in the future, also serve as fuel for ships.

Switzerland is taking part in the Ammunition Support Partnership (ASP) of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). This promotes the joint procurement of ammunition as well as its monitoring and environmentally sound disposal. Thanks to economies of scale, the costs of procurement can be reduced and the delivery times shortened.

At its meeting of 15/16 July 2026 and upon application of the President of ETH Zurich, Professor Joël Mesot, and the President of EPFL, Professor Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, the ETH Board appointed a total of seven women and three men as professors and awarded the title of professor to one individual and the title of Professor of Practice to one individual. It also took note of the resignation of one professor and thanked him for his services. In the last 12 months, the ETH Board has made a total of 21 new appointments for women and 26 for men; the proportion of women among these new appointments thus amounts to 45%.

Plug-in hybrids often consume more than officially stated. An Empa study now shows the reasons for this: Whether the vehicles can actually exploit their environmental advantage in everyday use depends heavily on usage, ambient temperatures, and vehicle design. Regular charging, individual driving behavior, and vehicle characteristics such as weight play a decisive role.

Airborne particulate matter from the deserts of North Africa is reaching Europe in ever-increasing quantities. This has implications for health and for solar energy installations. A comprehensive study led by the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI published in Nature shows that this type of pollution is on the rise – a trend that could be further exacerbated by climate change.

Researchers at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have developed the world’s first achromatic lens for neutron imaging. The lens overcomes a longstanding obstacle in the field: focusing neutrons of different wavelengths well enough to form a sharp, magnified image. With the lens, researchers can now image thick samples and follow processes inside bulky equipment such as furnaces, cryostats or pressure cells.

National Armaments Director Urs Loher visited Israel on 13–14 July 2026 for official meetings with representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Defence's Directorate for International Defence Cooperation (SIBAT) and the defence industry