Signals, in order.

Researchers fine‑tuned the RETFound foundation model on 71,343 UK Biobank retinal fundus images, achieving a mean absolute error of 2.85 years in age prediction. The derived retinal age gap correlates with cardiometabolic traits, inflammation, cognitive performance, all‑cause mortality, dementia, cancer, and incident cardiovascular disease, and genome‑wide association studies identified genes linked to longevity, metabolism, neurodegeneration, and age‑related eye diseases. Sex‑stratified analyses show consistent model performance but distinct biological signatures: males exhibit stronger link…

Source: OpenAlex

A new race to the Moon has emerged, driven by national prestige, economic interests, security considerations, and scientific exploration, with the US, China, India, Europe, and others investing in lunar programmes. The focus is on establishing permanent infrastructure, especially at the south pole where frozen water could provide life support and rocket fuel, potentially turning the Moon into a refueling station for deeper space missions. The race also raises questions about resource ownership, international cooperation, and geopolitical conflict, prompting a call for global dialogue in which…

Source: ETH Zurich News

Empa post‑doctoral researcher Vivek Devulapalli has received a two‑year Young Scientist Fellowship to study the mechanical behavior of multilayer metal‑oxide thin films. Using advanced microscopy techniques such as in‑situ straining and 4D‑STEM, he will investigate how composition, density, and layer thickness affect crack formation and plasticity in amorphous oxide films. The project, named MOSAIC, aims to improve the understanding of nanoscale mechanics in thin‑film technologies that underpin modern electronics.

Source: Swiss Federal Government

The study examines Swiss agricultural enterprises, classifying motorized vehicles, non-motorized machines, and farm facilities by size class LN. It offers a systematic framework for assessing equipment and infrastructure across farms.

Source: opendata.swiss

This research catalogues motorised vehicles, non-motorised machines, and farm facilities across Swiss regions. It provides a regional breakdown of agricultural equipment and infrastructure. The dataset is intended for analysis of agricultural resource distribution in Switzerland.

Source: opendata.swiss

ETH Zurich researchers demonstrated that satellite DNA sequences act as barcode-like markers that enable homologous chromosomes to recognize each other during meiosis in fruit flies. Removing these barcodes from two chromosomes caused mispairing, while a protein called D1 binds matching barcodes to facilitate proper pairing. The study suggests that satellite DNA variation may contribute to reproductive isolation and speciation.

Source: ETH Zurich News

At the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, Switzerland, the first positrons were produced at a test source for CERN’s proposed Future Circular Collider. The source, installed at SwissFEL, uses a high‑temperature superconducting capture solenoid capable of about 15 tesla to collect positrons from a tungsten target struck by accelerated electrons. The achievement demonstrates the feasibility of the positron‑source concept and marks a milestone toward the technologies needed for electron‑positron colliders.

Source: Swiss Federal Government

The study assesses how well human-generated avalanche forecasts compare to model-based predictions in Switzerland. It analyzes historical data to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of both approaches. The research provides insights into improving avalanche risk management.

Source: opendata.swiss

Chicken Creek 10 years is a research project based in Switzerland. It is categorized as research. The project’s scope and objectives are not detailed in the provided information.

Source: opendata.swiss

Over 1,100 of Switzerland’s small glaciers have disappeared since the early 1970s, and the remaining glaciers have lost 40% of their volume since 2000, shrinking from 75 km³ to 45 km³ by 2025. The loss of glacier melt threatens the country’s hydropower supply, which relies on steady runoff, and accelerates sedimentation in reservoirs, reducing their capacity. Concurrently, glacier retreat is altering microbial ecosystems, prompting initiatives to preserve the unique microbiome before it disappears.

Source: EPFL News