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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences SATW
When the ear hears and the brain puzzles over it
Hearing and understanding are not the same thing: people with hearing loss struggle not only with quieter sounds, but also with distorted and incomplete signals. The brain has to work very hard to fill in the gaps. Simply amplifying sound with hearing aids is therefore often not enough. Neuroscientist Nathalie Giroud is conducting research at the University of Zurich and the University Psychiatric Hospital Zurich into how the brain processes and compensates for spoken language, and how it reaches its limits in doing so. Her findings open up new avenues for auditory training and show how the voice could even serve as an early warning sign for diseases in the future.
Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences SATW
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A hot summer and Switzerland’s energy supply
According to MeteoSwiss, the summer of 2026 was the hottest since records began in 1864. At the same time, there had already been very little rainfall during the winter and spring, leading to extreme drought. The stable high-pressure weather also brought Switzerland a duration of sunshine well above the long-term average. These extreme weather events have far-reaching implications for society and the environment, and specifically for the energy supply. Christian Schaffner, Managing Director of the Energy Science Centre at ETH Zurich, provides an analysis for the SATW.Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences SAMS
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Compassionate Science: how empathy and compassion shape research
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.
Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences SATW
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Where the rules for AI are really drawn up
Legislation sets out the requirements that AI systems must meet. Technical standards specify how this is to be achieved. These standards are developed through a coordinated system involving national, regional and international bodies — and play a key role in determining who gains access to the European market.