Glaciers shrinking despite good luck with the weather

The Swiss Young Academy (SYA) gives early-career researchers a voice and provides a platform for inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration. Its recently published report, «Compassionate Science», explores how empathy and compassion shape research practice across different disciplines. The report also offers valuable insights from a healthcare perspective.

In future, satellites are set not only to provide internet access to remote homes, but also to communicate directly with ordinary smartphones. Direct-to-Cell could close mobile dead spots and make communication networks more resilient to crises. However, the path from mobile phones to space poses technical challenges – and raises questions about security and digital sovereignty.

Digital surveillance systems raise fundamental medical-ethical and legal questions, particularly where audio and video surveillance is used. In May 2026, the Central Ethics Committee (CEC) of the SAMS published a position statement on this topic. The factsheet «Überwachung von betreuten Personen», published in September, provides more detailed information on the technical and data-protection aspects of digital surveillance, thereby complementing the CEC’s medical-ethical perspective.