https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us provides the latest news from University of Zurich Researchers at the University of Zurich have analyzed the genome of bacteria living in Lake Zurich to conclude that microbes employ two different strategies to colonize new habitats. Some acquire new traits, as expected—but others reduce the size of their genome and lose some functions in order to successfully move to a new home. The research is published in the journal Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-lake-bacteria-survive-slashing-genome.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:20:09 EDT news695389141 The destruction of Pompeii preserved ash residues on the household altars of its inhabitants. An international research team has scientifically investigated for the first time what was burned in Roman incense burners from Pompeii—and discovered something surprising: In addition to native plants, the people used imported aromatic substances from Africa or Asia. This indicates that Pompeii was part of a global trade network. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-sacrifice-cataclysm-aromas-pompeii-household.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:20:01 EDT news694081965 Police violence is judged differently depending on who is affected. When people with an immigrant background are targeted, abusive police actions are perceived as less serious. This is the conclusion of a new international study published in Harvard Dataverse. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-police-violence-severe-victim-immigrant.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:00:02 EDT news693738959 Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and can cause various types of cancer. Prophylactic HPV vaccination is highly effective and has been recommended in Switzerland since 2007 for girls and young women aged 11 to 26—and since 2015 also for boys and young men. Catch-up vaccination is also available for women up to the age of 45. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-hpv-vaccination-uptake-adults-knowledge.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:20:05 EDT news693663121 Two researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered and described a new, previously unknown palm species found in the virgin forests of Colombia. In close cooperation with a local indigenous community, they mapped the geographical distribution of the palm species and subjected their study to a local peer review process. The research is published in the journal Phytotaxa. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-palm-tree-species-colombian-amazon.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:20:02 EDT news693051191 A single conversation can make the difference: brief, structured interventions after a person has attempted suicide significantly reduce the risk of a renewed attempt, according to an international meta-analysis led by the University of Zurich published in eClinicalMedicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-interventions-suicide-analysis.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:00:07 EDT news692965861 Why do widely supported solutions to major problems, such as climate change, so often struggle to gain real traction? A new study suggests that part of the answer lies in understanding why people resist change, and how the combination of their preferences and social networks can help overcome that resistance. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-personal-thresholds-popular-policies.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:30:06 EDT news692899561 How quickly do we perceive whether a person we are interacting with is clever or predictable? Be it in a game, a conversation or a negotiation, we constantly infer what others are thinking and size up their intentions, and we adjust our behavior accordingly in a process that scientists call "adaptive mentalization." A new study, published in Nature Neuroscience, by the University of Zurich now reveals how our brains govern this adaptation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-brain-reveals-mentally-size.html Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:20:03 EDT news692264016 Adolescents are chronically sleep deprived on school days, which negatively impacts their well-being and ability to learn. A new study conducted by the University of Zurich and the University Children's Hospital Zurich reveals that a flexible start to the school day can improve adolescents' sleep, health, and academic performance. The paper is published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-school-longer.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:30:01 EST news691328958 Physical aggression by young people toward their parents occurs quite frequently—yet the subject remains taboo. Victims often struggle with shame and avoid seeking help, hoping to shield their children from repercussions. Now, in a first-of-its-kind longitudinal study, researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) have tracked the development of this behavior from early adolescence to young adulthood, identifying which factors increase or reduce the risk. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-tracks-youths-parent.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:13:34 EST news689263917 Cancer patients who suffer a heart attack face a dangerous mix of risks, which makes their clinical treatment particularly challenging. As a result, patients with cancer have been systematically excluded from many clinical trials and available risk scores. Until now, doctors had no standard tool to guide treatment in this vulnerable group. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-ai-tool-month-cancer-patients.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:13:48 EST news689001182 Seventy percent of soils in Europe are contaminated with pesticides. A Europe-wide study co-led by researchers of the University of Zurich now shows that their effects on soil life are substantial, as pesticides suppress various beneficial soil organisms. To protect soil biodiversity, the findings should be taken into account in current pesticide regulations. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-pesticides-significantly-affect-soil-life.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:28:39 EST news688836482 Memantine, a long-approved and cost-effective drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, could also benefit patients with sickle cell anemia in the future. Initial clinical data from an international research group led by the University of Zurich (UZH) indicate that the active ingredient is well tolerated, reduces symptoms and improves quality of life in people suffering from this genetic disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-safe-alzheimer-drug-efficacy-sickle.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:36:03 EST news687691943 Media increasingly portray being single as an expression of people's lifestyle, self-determination and empowerment, with expressions such as self-partnership, solo living, sologamy and singlehood dominating the discourse. At the same time, more and more young adults are opting not to engage in a committed romantic relationship. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-staying-longer-affects-young-people.html Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:20:04 EST news687615245 How can we influence whether we develop Alzheimer's disease later in life? Neurodegeneration researchers at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine are systematically examining the factors that trigger the onset of the disease—and those that shield us against it. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-personalized-strategies-alzheimer-individual-factors.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:10:01 EST news687526403 Recent findings suggest that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is involved in both causing multiple sclerosis (MS) and shaping its progression. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-genetic-factor-viral-infection-jointly.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:32:02 EST news687544261 Cereals have natural resistance to pathogenic fungi, but powdery mildew, for example, can overcome this resistance. A team at the University of Zurich has now discovered a new mechanism that enables powdery mildew to outsmart the immune system of wheat. This opens the door to targeted development of resistant varieties with a reduced risk of resistance breakthrough. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-fungal-mechanism-reveals-powdery-mildew.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:40:01 EST news687457933 The modern world offers an abundance of convenience foods. But our Stone Age physiology isn't built for modern diets, which are taking their toll on our bodies. Expert in evolutionary medicine Nicole Bender has some tips on how we can deal with this dilemma. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-opinion-modern-diets-clash-stone.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:18:35 EST news687093481 A research team led by the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna has investigated a possible link between the rising number of people with chronic inflammatory bowel disease and the increasing exposure to micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). The research shows that plastic particles influence the immune cells and the intestinal microbiome and can thus increase inflammation. The results were recently published in the journal Microplastics and Nanoplastics. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-plastic-particles-intestinal-inflammation.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:52:57 EST news687088321 Whether a species has just freshly emerged, or it has been around for millions of years does not dictate its vulnerability. This has been the assumption of an old debate on whether species' age plays a role in extinction risk. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-young-shark-species-vulnerable-extinction.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:12:39 EST news685181522 A study by the University of Zurich, based on policy changes in Spain, shows that teenagers drink significantly less alcohol when the minimum legal drinking age is raised. In addition, a reduction in drinking also leads to improved academic performance and mental health. These findings could be relevant for Switzerland as well. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-legal-age-academic-mental-health.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 22:00:04 EST news685108614 The microbiome not only consists of bacteria, but also of fungi. Most of them support human and animal health. However, some fungi also have pathogenic potential. For instance, the yeast Candida albicans can grow in an uncontrolled manner on the oral mucosa, causing oral thrush. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-immune-mucosal-fungi.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:15:43 EST news685034101 A team of researchers from the University of Zurich and the NCCR PlanetS is challenging our understanding of the solar system planets' interior. The composition of Uranus and Neptune, the two outermost planets, might be more rocky and less icy than previously thought. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-uranus-neptune-giants.html Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:00:01 EST news684521102 A new paper by evolutionary anthropologists Colin Shaw (University of Zurich) and Daniel Longman (Loughborough University) argues that modern life has outpaced human evolution. The study suggests that chronic stress and many modern health issues are the result of an evolutionary mismatch between our primarily nature-adapted biology and the industrialized environments we now inhabit. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-humans-evolved-nature-cities-anthropologists.html Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:05:03 EST news682689901 Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used not only to generate content but also to evaluate it. They are asked to grade essays, moderate social media content, summarize reports, screen job applications and much more. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-11-ai-texts-bias-source-revealed.html Mon, 10 Nov 2025 11:20:01 EST news681994126 Chronic stress is on the rise—the result of an evolutionary mismatch that our bodies and brains, adapted over hundreds of thousands of years to hunter-gatherer conditions, are experiencing in industrialized, urbanized environments, argues evolutionary anthropologist Colin Shaw. Is there a remedy? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-urban-linked-chronic-stress-epidemic.html Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:00:01 EST news681570623 A landmark international study led by the University of Zurich has shown that artificial intelligence can assess patient risk for the most common type of heart attack more accurately than existing methods. This could enable doctors to guide more personalized treatment decisions for patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-ai-world-largest-heart-reveals.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:10:02 EDT news679831223 Immune checkpoint inhibitors are well known as a form of cancer treatment. Researchers at UZH have now identified a new, important function of these inhibitors: promotion of tissue healing. This finding could help advance the treatment of fibrosis and chronic wounds. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-checkpoint-inhibitor-tissue-chronic-wound.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:17:03 EDT news679756621 Long-term exposure to fine air pollution can impair metabolic health by disrupting the normal function of brown fat in mice. A study co-led by the University of Zurich shows that this occurs through complex changes in gene regulation driven by epigenetic mechanisms. The results demonstrate how environmental pollutants contribute to the development of insulin resistance and metabolic diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-air-pollution-contribute-obesity-diabetes.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:22:04 EDT news679224121 Dexterity, coordination and balance are all extremely important throughout our lives, but these skills change between early childhood and old age. At which stage of our lives do we have the best balance? Do fine and gross motor skills continue to decline with age? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-lifelong-motor-function-percentile.html Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:00:23 EDT news677851219