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Université de Genève


Gut bacteria can reveal colorectal cancer

Researchers created comprehensive catalogue of human gut microbiota subspecies and developed model predicting colorectal cancer presence from stool samples. The method detected 90% of cancer cases, outperforming current non-invasive detection methods.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeNews article·DateAug 25, 2025

Plants feed through one-way routes

Researchers at UNIGE discovered that nutrient transport in plant roots becomes unidirectional as the root develops, with implications for enhancing plant resistance to drought stress. The study found that genetic mutants with abnormally wide plasmodesmata exhibited improved drought resilience.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalMolecular Plant·TypeNews article·DateAug 12, 2025

The brain shapes what we feel in real time

A UNIGE team has identified a new brain mechanism responsible for modulating sensory signals. This discovery reveals a previously unknown form of communication between the thalamus and somatosensory cortex, which could explain perception variations and open up new avenues for understanding mental disorders.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateJul 30, 2025

NIRPS, a new eye on the sky in Chile

The Near-InfraRed Planet Searcher (NIRPS) spectrograph, combined with HARPS, offers exceptional performance in detecting and characterizing exoplanets. The first scientific results revealed atmospheres of two gas giant exoplanets, including one with an extreme atmosphere containing evaporated iron.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeNews article·DateJul 29, 2025

Content or form? The two possible paths of our memories

A UNIGE team has shown that memories are more strongly triggered by the deeper meaning of a situation than its surface-level cues. This finding highlights the importance of structuring knowledge transfer in schools, where students often struggle to connect different examples of an unfamiliar concept.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalWiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Cognitive Science·TypeNews article·DateJul 10, 2025

New protein targets for cancer treatments

Scientists at UNIGE have identified MLF2 and RBM15 as key proteins regulating chromatin remodelling, which can go awry leading to cancers and neurological disorders. These two proteins could become promising therapeutic targets for diseases linked to disrupted chromatin remodelling.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 24, 2025

Evolution told by turtle scales

A new study reveals that turtles employ both molecular genetic factors and mechanical forces to develop the scales on different parts of their heads. The findings suggest that mechanical shaping of scales is an ancestral trait shared with crocodiles and likely dinosaurs, but lost in birds.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournaliScience·TypeNews article·DateJun 10, 2025

Wake perception during sleep is common and healthy

Research suggests that people with insomnia disorders have intact sleep-wake regulatory systems, indicating that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) may be an effective treatment. Objective sleep parameters and direct sleep-wake perception did not significantly differ from healthy participants, highlighting the potential ...

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScientific Reports·TypeNews article·DateJun 5, 2025

Hidden potential in multiple disabilities

A UNIGE team used eye-tracking to improve social and emotional skills in nine young people with multiple disabilities. The personalized training showed promising results, enabling these individuals to exhibit visual preferences and strengthen certain socio-emotional skills.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalActa Psychologica·TypeNews article·DateApr 10, 2025

The lush past of the world’s largest desert

A recent study by an international team reveals that the Arabian Peninsula's desert was once home to a vast lake and river system, which fostered grasslands and savannahs, enabling human migration. The findings highlight the impact of climate cycles on landscapes and human societies.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeNews article·DateApr 7, 2025

Galaxies die earlier than expected

A recent discovery reveals that massive quiescent galaxies formed even earlier and more rapidly than previously thought. The study found a galaxy named RUBIES-UDS-QG-z7, which formed a stellar mass of over 10 billion solar masses within the first 600 million years after the Big Bang before ceasing star formation.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeNews article·DateApr 2, 2025

The fine control of cell mechanics

Researchers discovered that gamma-actin increases the rigidity of cell membranes while beta-actin filaments are less stiff. This mechanism may contribute to hearing loss by affecting the apical membrane's stiffness essential for auditory function.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateMar 20, 2025

At the origin of mega-magnetic stars

A new study reproduces the formation and evolution of a magnetar using numerical simulations, providing insights into their origin. The research supports the dynamo action theory, which suggests that magnetic fields are amplified through complex motions in proto-neutron stars.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeNews article·DateFeb 24, 2025

Using light to activate treatments in the right place

Researchers at UNIGE have developed a system that uses light to activate targeted molecules, enabling spatial and temporal control over the activity of a molecule in a living organism. This technology has vast potential applications in both basic research and improving existing medical treatments, such as those for skin cancer.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateFeb 19, 2025

An enzyme to disarm tumors

Researchers have discovered an enzyme called CH25H in cancerous lymphatic cells whose properties enable the immune system to fight tumors more effectively. The enzyme converts cholesterol into 25-hydroxycholesterol, a metabolite that promotes antiviral immunity and enhances anti-tumor immunity.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 13, 2025

Gender and beliefs shape homophobic attitudes

A UNIGE team discovered that heterosexual individuals' interpretations of scientific data on sexual orientation are influenced by their own frame of reference, leading to both positive and negative attitudes towards homosexuality. The study found that religiosity plays a significant role in shaping these attitudes.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalArchives of Sexual Behavior·TypeNews article·DateFeb 11, 2025

Not all Hot Jupiters orbit solo

A UNIGE study has overturned the assumption that Hot Jupiters orbit alone, discovering a unique multi-planetary system with an inner Super-Earth and an outer massive giant planet. The WASP-132 system's unexpected architecture raises new questions about planet formation and evolution.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeNews article·DateJan 15, 2025

Hepatitis E vaccination is effective in an epidemic

Researchers from UNIGE-HUG Centre and MSF successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of a hepatitis E vaccine in an outbreak in Bentiu, South Sudan. The study showed that two doses of the vaccine reduced the incidence of the disease and provided protection against severe symptoms.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·TypeNews article·DateJan 14, 2025

Unlocking the journey of gold through magmatic fluids

A UNIGE team has demonstrated that sulphur in its bisulphide (HS- ) form plays a critical role in transporting gold in magmatic fluids. The study uses innovative methodology to replicate extreme pressure and temperature conditions, providing new insights into the formation of precious metal ore deposits.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeNews article·DateDec 16, 2024

Biological diversity is not just the result of genes

Researchers from UNIGE found that mechanical forces, linked to tissue growth, drive the emergence of diverse biological structures. They demonstrated this using computer modeling and microscopy, revealing how variations in skin growth rates and stiffness generate distinct scale forms among different crocodilian species.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·TypeNews article·DateDec 11, 2024

Reinventing global cooperation through hackathons

A recent study by the University of Geneva and the United Nations found that 30% of hackathons contribute significantly to the SDGs, particularly climate change. These events attract new participants and generate long-term collective engagement, making them a promising tool for global cooperation.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences·TypeNews article·DateDec 9, 2024

Tiny antibodies to fight the dangerous effects of opioids

Researchers have discovered molecules capable of limiting the side effects of opioids by blocking the receptor responsible for their action. The scientists created even smaller molecules that retain the same properties, which could prove far more effective than current treatments in mitigating the harmful effects of opioids.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateOct 9, 2024

The secret strength of our cell guards

A team from UNIGE and EPFL has demonstrated the Entropic Pulling mechanism of Hsp70 chaperones, a long-debated theory that explains their role in controlling protein quality. The study uses nanopore single-molecule technology to show that Hsp70s generate a strong force to manipulate protein structure, ruling out previous models.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateOct 8, 2024

Programming cells to target brain tumors

Researchers at UNIGE and HUG have developed CAR-T cells capable of targeting malignant gliomas while sparing healthy tissue. The treatment uses a specific marker on tumour cells and appears to be effective in controlling tumour growth without signs of toxicity.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCancer Immunology Research·TypeNews article·DateSep 26, 2024

Insulin cells don’t need to team up

Researchers found that adult mice with only beta cells have better glycaemic balance and insulin sensitivity than standard animals. Non-beta cells are not essential for maintaining blood sugar levels, contradicting the prevailing conception.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeNews article·DateSep 3, 2024

Fighting leukemia by targeting its stem cells

Researchers identified genetic and metabolic characteristics of leukaemic stem cells, including a specific iron utilisation process that can be blocked to kill these cells without harming healthy ones. This breakthrough paves the way for new therapeutic strategies to combat leukemia.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeNews article·DateJul 24, 2024

Under pressure: how cells respond to physical stress

Researchers at UNIGE have discovered how yeast cells respond to physical stress on their membranes. Cryo-electron microscopy revealed that specific lipid domains can stabilize and trigger cellular responses to mechanical stimuli. This study sheds light on the role of membrane compartmentalization in cell survival.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·TypeNews article·DateJul 24, 2024