The scientist at the "Matteänglisch-Höck"

Linguistics

Mattenenglisch is an old secret language of Bern's Matte neighborhood that combines Bernese German words in new ways. To better understand the linguistic processes behind Bernese German, linguist Florian Matter is taking this phenomenon under the microscope.

Read further

Matter and universe

All articles on matter and universe

Carl-Zeiss-Humboldt Research Award

Dancing with the elementary particles

Thomas Becher deals with "short distances and high energies": What happens when protons collide with each other at almost the speed of light? In search of answers, the physicist has moved from Bern to the USA – and back again.

Space Science and Astronomy

New Space Master builds on Bernese Space Heritage

The University of Bern’s newly established Master’s program “Space Sciences and Astronomy” begins in the Fall of 2026. Director of Studies Andrea Fortier talks about Bernese space heritage, what students can expect from the new program, and why it matters.

Plant Science

Succulents as role models: new opportunities for plants under drought?

Researchers at the University of Bern have decoded how an inconspicuous succulent plant regulates its CO₂ uptake via the leaf surface so that it receives enough of it for photosynthesis without losing too much water.

Universe

From dust to planets

A research team has provided the first experimental evidence – obtained during parabolic flights in zero gravity – that a key physical process actually occurs under conditions similar to those in planet formation regions.

Behavioral research

Social competence in fish depends on siblings

Researchers at the University of Bern have shown that both the number of siblings present during early life and the quality of their interactions with them are crucial for the development of social competence in cichlids.

University and studies

All articles about university and studies

University

"Justice and fairness are core values for me"

Christoph Pappa has shaped the University of Bern for 21 years as Secretary General and Head of Legal Services – as a legal framework provider, political guide and first point of contact in crises. Now he is stepping down – but will remain connected to the university.

From the university administration

New directives on employment procedures

Instead of guidelines, the University of Bern now has directives from the University Executive Board on recusal and bias in appointment procedures for professors. General Secretary Christoph Pappa talks about the reason for and the significance of the new directives, which replace the previous guidelines.

Research Funding

10 years of the Grants Office: more important now than ever before

Those wanting to acquire research funding have to grapple with complex funding guidelines, tight deadlines and bureaucratic hurdles. Since 2016, the Grants Office at the University of Bern has been there to support researchers with their applications.

New research agreement

“We want to move away from purely quantitative criteria”

The University of Bern has signed an international agreement to reform research assessment. In this interview, Andrew Chan explains the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA) and its significance for early-career researchers.

Intercultural knowledge

All articles about intercultural knowledge

Linguistics

The scientist at the "Matteänglisch-Höck" get-together

Mattenenglisch is an old secret language of Bern's Matte neighborhood that combines Bernese German words in new ways. To better understand the linguistic processes behind Bernese German, linguist Florian Matter is taking this phenomenon under the microscope.

Psychology

Media Content and Misogyny

A comprehensive meta-study led by Christa Nater examines how misogynistic content in the media influences people’s attitudes. While people of all genders react similarly to subtle hostility, men exhibit stronger negative reactions to explicit violence.

How do I put this?

Strategies for difficult conversations

Applying for a job, breaking up, talking about money: There are some conversations we don't like to have - partly because they overwhelm us. Experts from the University of Bern give tips and explain why it is sometimes better not to say anything.

Field research on Bernese dialects

Feelings of belonging through language

Conversations in Bern's old town, Bümpliz and Frutigen reveal the differences in the canton's dialects. Sociolinguist Adrian Leemann places the differentiating features in their historical and cultural context and emphasises what unites them.

An underestimated source of power

Humor makes life easier

Humor helps to reduce stress, strengthens relationships and protects the psyche. Developmental psychologist Pasqualina Perrig-Chiello shows why humor is much more than just entertainment, how we can use it meaningfully in everyday life, and how we can train it in a targeted way.

Is laughing allowed?

What a story about religious humor reveals

Throughout history, Jews, Christians and Muslims have laughed more at each other than with each other. A legend about three travel companions provides an insight into the background.

Women’s Health

Menstruation and Menopause: A Workplace Taboo

Periods and menopause make adaptations in the workplace necessary: Studies by gynecologist Petra Stute and gender researcher Christine Bigler show us where are the areas that need improving and what are the needs of the female body.

FOKUS

Funny, isn't it?

In focus

What constitutes language - and what doesn't

What do we mean when we talk about language? And how do we differentiate ourselves from animals and plants – and from artificial intelligence? A linguist, a biologist and a digital humanities researcher provide answers.

Rubbish or resource?

Let’s talk rubbish

Talking about waste is usually a necessary evil. But the way we refer to it and talk about unwanted waste also determines how we deal with it. A project at the Department of English at the University of Bern is looking for new ways to approach the grubby pariah linguistically.

On identity and exclusion

Language as an instrument of power

Language is never neutral; it is always political. It shapes national identity, fosters a sense of belonging and establishes boundaries. In this article, sociolinguist Erez Levon uses examples from Israel and Switzerland to explain these dynamics.

Politics and administration

All articles about politics and administration

A question for Jonas Weber

How can language help us convict criminals?

Jonas Weber is a professor of criminal law and criminology and explains what language analysis can do in criminal prosecution.

Political science

Pre-franked voting envelopes as a nudge

Voting by post is a popular choice, and pre-paid postage makes it even more convenient. However, a study by Alina Zumbrunn and Pierre Lüssi from the Institute of Political Science at the University of Bern shows that having enough letterboxes is just as important.

Satire under pressure

Between freedom of expression and censorship

Geneva-based cartoonist Patrick Chappatte and Bern-based media lawyer Franz Zeller discuss the limits of freedom of expression and the role of political satire at a time when traditional media are coming under increasing pressure.

Institute of Marketing and Business Management

Conscious and satisfying gift-giving

The Christmas gift season has been in full swing since Black Friday, if not before. Discounts and emotions tempt people to make impulse purchases. Which strategies help us to make more conscious decisions on online platforms and in stores?

Sustain-
ability

All articles about sustainability

A winding career path

Climate researcher with a background in craftsmanship

As a climate scientist, Patrick Bigler has developed a mobile measuring tower to enable more precise measurements of Bern's urban climate. And as a trained metalworker, he also constructed the device himself.

Slowing Climate Change

Improving our understanding of environmental behavior by examining the brain

Human behavior is a major driver of climate change. Consequently, it is essential to gain a deeper understanding of how individuals make environmental decisions. Two researchers from the University of Bern demonstrate how neuroscientific approaches may contribute to the development of more effective climate protection strategies.

Hans Sigrist Prize 2025

“We can’t expect judges to save us”

The Norwegian-German law professor, Christina Voigt, has been awarded the University of Bern’s Hans Sigrist Prize worth 100 000 Swiss Francs. This honor recognizes her achievements in advancing international climate law.

2nd Bern Climate Law Conference

Climate protection in the gray area

Watching Netflix, eating tropical fruits, wearing cheap fashion—most greenhouse gas emissions are caused by imported goods and services. A conference at the University of Bern is focusing on these "gray emissions".

United Nations Ocean Conference 2025

The ocean is at its limit – but there is still hope

Heating, deep-sea mining, vulnerable ecosystems: In this interview, climate researcher Thomas Frölicher explains what is going on with the ocean, what glimmers of hope there are and why this is important for Switzerland.

Successful search for the oldest ice

Traveling back 1.2 million years with Antarctic ice

A team from twelve European research institutions in Antarctica has succeeded in retrieving ice cores containing climate information from the past 1.2 million years and more. The University of Bern played an important role in this scientific breakthrough.

Part-time, participatory, ecological

Modern timber industry in the Bern region

The timber industry is regarded as sluggish and not very innovative. Unfairly so: Three Bern-based carpentry companies are adding value to local raw materials in peripheral regions and offering future-oriented working models. This is demonstrated by research conducted by the Department of Economic Geography at the University of Bern.

Health and medicine

All articles about health and medicine

Veterinary medicine

Rearing conditions influence the immune system of brown trout

Bernese researchers have for the first time studied the immune system of brown trout at the single-cell level. The study shows the diversity of the immune system of this ecologically important fish species and demonstrates that rearing conditions leave traces in immune cells.

One Health

Domestic cat may hold the key to understanding breast cancer

A study with participation from University of Bern shows genetic parallels between feline tumors and human cancers. This opens up new possibilities for targeted therapeutic approaches.

Brain research

The dialogue in our head

For the first time, a team from Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and the University of Bern has directly tracked how the human brain exchanges signals during sleep and wakefulness. These findings are a step towards more targeted therapies.

Prepared for the next pandemic

«You hope you'll never need the insurance»

After 18 intensive months, enrollment for the 'Bern, get ready' (BEready) study has been completed. This globally unique collection of data on infectious diseases in humans and pets is intended to help mitigate the effects of the next pandemic.