News

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado, have for the first time succeeded in using existing laser technology to continuously vary the magnetic properties of two-dimensional materials. This simple and fast method should make a large number of applications possible, including techniques for data storage and processing.

Microtubules perform an active role in communication within the cell by transmitting received signals to the cell's functional units. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel have now, for the first time, structurally elucidated how these protein strands of the cytoskeleton accomplish this. Their findings could help make it possible to intervene in this communication and, for example, prevent tumour growth. The study was published in the scientific journal Cell.

Reliable knowledge is an essential public good for science and the future prosperity of our society. Research libraries play a central role here. How can these infrastructures be strengthened in the face of current developments in the fields of automation, big data, and artificial intelligence?

On 8 December 2025 the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended annex 2 of the ordinance instituting measures in relation to Sudan. One natural person was newly added to the annex. Technical corrections were made to two entries. The measures come into force on 9 December 2025 at 23:00.

To date, CO₂ emissions in urban areas were typically monitored using emissions inventories. In the city of Zurich, they can now also be determined reliably based on atmospheric measurements. As part of the Europe-wide research project ICOS Cities, Empa researchers tested this new approach and achieved results that were very close to the values calculated beforehand.

Market sector activities across the Swiss economy posted negative results in the 3rd quarter 2025. Turnover fell by 1.4% compared with the same quarter of the previous year and employment in these same market sectors fell by 0.2% (total employment +0.1%). These are provisional findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The Swiss Confederation is offering a bond on a public tender system on 10.12.2025: 1.25%, maturity 28.06.2043 (reopening).

In 2024, a passenger railway undertaking appealed to RailCom against a ruling by the Swiss Capacity Allocation Body (TVS) on train path allocation for 2025. This undertaking (the appellant) challenged TVS’s partial refusal of its application for train paths. TVS had instead allocated the paths in question to another company (the respondent), which intended to use them for freight services. Following a thorough review, RailCom dismissed the appeal in its decision of 24 October 2025.

With less than a month to go before it assumes the chairpersonship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Switzerland is setting out the programme and priorities that will guide its actions in 2026. The aim will be to contribute to European security and the strengthening of inclusive multilateralism, in line with the Swiss tradition of neutrality, dialogue promotion and conflict prevention. International conferences hosted in Switzerland will also take place during its year in office, offering opportunities for dialogue on the major challenges of our time.

The Insel Group and the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI are expanding their collaboration to provide faster and better coordinated access to proton therapy for patients with eye tumours. The two institutions have signed a new cooperation agreement, creating an integrated patient pathway that offers patients medically coordinated, high-precision treatment and improves the long-term quality of the care they receive.

In November 2025 the consumer sentiment index stood at –34 points. This is 3 points higher than in November 2024. The following sub-indices were higher than in November 2024: past financial situation, financial outlook and moment to make major purchases. The following sub-index is lower than a year ago: economic outlook.

In the summer season (May to October 2025), the number of overnight stays in the Swiss hotel sector passed the 25 million mark (25.1 million) for the first time. Compared with the same period last year, overnight stays increased by 2.6% (+634 000 overnight stays). Foreign visitors recorded a total of 13.4 million overnight stays, resulting in a 2.4% (+318 000) rise and a historic high. Demand from domestic visitors rose by 2.8% (+316 000) to 11.7 million units, according to provisional results from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).