Podcast
The Swiss Connection
Hosted by SWI swissinfo.ch · EN
Discover science and innovation in Switzerland with the Swiss Connection Podcast! From the tiniest particles to the vastness of space, satisfy your scientific curiosity and join our journalists while they talk to researchers working on projects ranging from rocket building and AI to medicine and climate solutions.
This podcast is produced by SWI swissinfo.ch, a multilingual public service media company in Switzerland.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Building a Swiss FabLab: the future of Switzerland’s semiconductor strategy
Mar 2400:18:30Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The Swiss Connection science podcast, we're digging into the push to create a Swiss FabLab, a shared chip fabrication laboratory that brings public research and private industry together under the Swiss Chip Alliance. Our host Jo Fahy is joined by swissinfo.ch's business and tech specialist Matthew Allen to unpack what’s being proposed near Zurich, why it’s still at the conceptual phase, and what it could mean for Switzerland's semiconductor industry as global investment surges.You can read more about the Swiss semiconductor industry here. Journalist: Matthew AllenHost: Jo FahyAudio editor: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Transcribe →How Bangladesh adapts to erosion, floods, and rising seas
Mar 1700:24:58Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhere do people go when the water takes their land? Guided by a three-year ETH Zurich study and first-hand voices, we trace a pattern that defies the headlines: most climate migration is short and local, driven by community ties, scarce resources, and the will to stay near what remains.If you would like to find out more about the climate challenges in Bangladesh and read the collection on climate solutions, and more stories, please visit Swissinfo Science.Journalist: Giannis Mavris Host: Jo FahyAudio editor: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Transcribe →How does Switzerland deal with the food waste problem?
Mar 1000:16:01Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA bin bag can tell you a lot about a country. We follow the trail of rubbish from Swiss kitchen cupboards and discover why one of Europe’s wealthiest nations still throws away so much edible food. With fresh data, on‑the‑ground auditing, and candid insights from practitioners, we break down the gap between lofty goals and everyday habits, and why households remain the biggest lever for climate impact.If you would like to see a video and read about the topic of the food waste in Switzerland and read the collection on climate solutions, and more stories, please visit Swissinfo Science.Jounalist: Kristian Foss BrandtVideo journalist: Vera LeysingerHost: Jo FahyAudio editor: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Transcribe →A Swiss community living on 2,000 watts
Mar 300:24:51Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat does a good life look like when you cap your energy use at 2,000 watts? We take you inside Zurich’s "Hunziker Areal", a car‑free, cooperative neighbourhood turning a bold climate target into liveable daily routines. From shared workshops and tool libraries to efficient buildings and smart mobility, we unpack how design and community can shrink environmental impact while expanding comfort, connection, and choice.If you would like to see the a video of the Hunziker Areal and read the collection on climate solutions, or to discover more stories, please visit Swissinfo Science.Jounalist: Kristian Foss BrandtVideo journalist: Vera Leysinger Host: Jo FahyAudio editor: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Transcribe →What does Antarctic ice reveal about CO2 and climate shifts?
Feb 2400:27:24Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWe follow the 2,800-meter Antarctic ice core from Little Dome C to a -50°C lab in University of Bern, tracing how scientists extract ancient air to probe the Mid-Pleistocene transition and the limits of abrupt climate change. The story links field grit, laser sublimation, and CO2 records to the risks facing modern societies.If you would like to see the Antarctic ice in a video and read the collection on this topic, and more stories, please visit Swissinfo Science. Jounalist: Luigi Jorio and Michele AndinaHost: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Transcribe →Invasive Quagga mussel Is Rewriting Switzerland’s Waterscape
Feb 1700:14:22Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA fingernail‑sized invader is transforming Swiss lakes and the cost of clean water. In this episode, we track the quagga mussel from its arrival in the Rhine to its rapid spread through deep Swiss basins—stripping plankton, stressing fisheries, and clogging water infrastructure. Researchers from Eawag and the University of Konstanz explain the biology behind its takeover and what global case studies reveal about long‑term impacts. read more on this story on Quagga mussels and science from SWI swissinfoJournalist: Julie HuntHost: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Transcribe →Bonus Episode - The Trends Shaping the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2026
Feb 300:17:00Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailJoin host, Jo Fahy, and pharmaceuticals and healthcare reporter, Jessica Davis Pluss, to weigh up the forces shaping pharma in 2026. From AI’s real gains in clinics and labs, to the case for inclusive data, we also discuss the politics of who funds innovation, and why rare diseases and antibiotics deserve our focus. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Transcribe →Bonus Episode - Inside Switzerland’s Quiet Rise as a Longevity Hub
Jan 2700:26:54Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailHow did longevity go from a social media trend to a focus of serious science?In this special bonus episode our host, Jo Fahy, is joined in the studio by pharmaceuticals and healthcare reporter, Jessica Davis Pluss. We trace how Switzerland was uniquely positioned to become a global hub for healthier ageing. We also compare lifespan and health span, examine why access to clinics is so tightly guarded, and discuss why the pharmaceutical industry is moving cautiously in this growing field. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Transcribe →Special announcement: Season wrap for longevity, please try out Lost Cells
Dec 1600:04:25Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailLost cells on Apple, Spotify and any where you listen to your podcasts. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
Transcribe →Rethinking Aging: Science, Society, And The Stories We Tell
Dec 200:21:08Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWant a longer life that still feels like yours? We sit down with psychologist Christina Röcke of the University of Zurich’s Healthy Longevity Center to unpack what actually fuels healthy aging—and what’s just marketing noise. From blue-zone myths to AI-driven biohacking, we trace why the longevity boom exploded and where the evidence really points: consistent movement, quality relationships, realistic stress strategies, and communities that make healthy choices simple.Join Swissinfo for a debate on this topic or read more of our science stories, by visiting our website swisinfo.ch. You can help other people to find our podcast by leaving us a five-star review.Journalist: Jessica Davis PlüssHost: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
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