Archive
September 2026
CDU fails in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, AfD wins but may not govern
The CDU misses entry into a Landtag in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for the first time. Why the AfD's win still does not guarantee it government, and why Berlin sends a different signal.
Ed Sheeran's emotional solo night: how a concert turned political
After several support acts cancelled, Ed Sheeran opened his Philadelphia concert alone. The evening became a case study in political speech and promoter power.
Flat hunting: why the results list does not show everything
A new survey shows how much personal contacts matter alongside property portals. Official data and research explain why a broader search alone does not remove the hurdles.
Grandparents carry the childcare – but not without limits
Grandparents are a pillar of childcare. The statistics show how much they contribute; in everyday family life, what counts is whether help quietly turns into an obligation.
A Sunday Alone Is Not Yet a Lonely Sunday
Being alone can restore, loneliness can weigh heavily. Swiss data and research show why the number of contacts tells only part of the story.
The library opens on Sunday – but not always the advice desk
In Chur, the cantonal library is also accessible on Sundays. The model shows how libraries can offer more space in everyday life – and why opening the doors is not the same as offering full service.
Brown leaves are not always a sign of autumn
What looks like an early autumn can be damaged foliage. WSL warns of a mix-up that also distorts the view of how resilient forests actually are.
Calm does not begin at the mountain summit
Recovery does not need complete silence. Why Switzerland should take quiet places in the residential environment as seriously as a trip into the green.
A digital break does not work through the off switch alone
Less smartphone can improve well-being. But studies over several weeks are no proof of the effect of a single screen-free Sunday.
The environmental footprint of coffee starts long before the capsule
Filter or capsule? The visible packaging does not answer the environmental question on its own. What a Swiss study and a more recent research review show.
Sourdough is a process, not a health promise
Sourdough can change a bread's properties. Research from Agroscope and the University of Hohenheim shows why the making matters more than the label.
A free Sunday rests on other people's work
Anyone served or cared for on a Sunday is using someone else's working time. What the law protects – and why a free Monday does not fully replace a Sunday.
Prayer Day Without a Creed: An Old Holiday for a Secular Switzerland
People with no religious affiliation are now the largest group. The Prayer Day recalls a political attempt to bridge religious divides.
Blatten in the lab: why accurate reconstruction is not a forecast
Researchers combine ground shaking, terrain surveys and models. What the new work explains about Blatten – and what remains open.
Bird migration in autumn: two hazards begin at your own window
A look from outside at windows and lighting reveals possible risks. What the Swiss Ornithological Institute and the federal government recommend, and where research is still needed.
Dementia in Switzerland: 166,300 affected — and still major data gaps
The number of people affected is an estimate, and the costs so often cited date from 2017. Why Switzerland must record its dementia care more precisely.
Accessible travel: a rebuilt station is not a whole journey
82 percent of travellers benefited from accessible railway stations at the end of 2024. Why that figure is no guarantee of a consistently accessible connection.
Genuss Week: 310 kilos of food waste is not just kitchen scraps
310 kilograms of food waste per capita does not mean 310 kilograms in your own bin. What lies behind the figure and where households can start.
Buying a smartphone: why repairability belongs in the comparison
Anyone shopping for a new phone on Saturday should compare more than storage and camera. What the new labelling reveals – and what it leaves open.
Mushroom foraging: an app cannot yet spot a safe dinner
Before a mushroom outing, it is not only the smartphone that needs charging. Why an inspection point, foraging rules and proper transport matter more than a species suggestion.
Clean-Up Day: Why Full Litter Bags Don't Prove Success
A new field study shows how littering can be reduced. Why the amount of waste collected is the wrong yardstick.
€3.3 billion for Kyiv: How the EU loan works
The EU is paying €3.3 billion for Ukraine's defence. What was already agreed, who carries the loan risk, and what the payment does not yet prove.
A funerary mask returns to Egypt – four years after the customs stop
Stopped at customs in 2022, now returned to Egypt: the Ptolemaic funerary mask shows how important provenance checks are in the antiquities trade.
Iran's UN Trip: What Lies Behind the US Shopping Rules
Behind the US conditions for Iran's UN delegation stand host-state obligations and authorisations for certain purchases. What the original documents actually record.