Swiss Stories

Mujinga Kambundji

How high will Switzerland climb up Tokyo’s Mount Olympus?

Society

On 31 July 1996, 25 years ago, Pascal Richard from Vaud won the holy grail of medals, becoming the Olympic cycling champion in Atlanta.

by Bertrand Monnard

Le Rhône

Enchanted Swiss waters

History
Lakes are deeply mysterious and provide the setting for an array of ancient tales. Lakes are steeped in myth, symbolising unknown realms. They are said to have purifying or life-giving powers.
Electric trucks

Electric trucks herald breakthrough in electromobility

Environment
Environment-friendly electromobility solutions with increased battery capacity from Switzerland are sending a clear signal to the logistics industry.

by John Durham

Albert Hofmann with a model of the LSD molecule in the early 1950s © Novartis corporate archive

The Swiss beginnings of LSD

History
In a stroke of serendipity 80 years ago, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann (1906–2008) discovered the effects of lysergic acid diethylamide – otherwise known as LSD. Initially this new hallucinogen was explored by Western scientists for its therapeutic potential. But LSD soon found its way out of the lab and into the world of recreational use by the counterculture movement. From the late 1960s it started to be banned, putting a halt to medical research in psychedelic substances. Since the 1990s, however, clinical studies of LSD have gradually resumed in some countries, including Switzerland.
Swiss Tech Convention Center © Alain Herzog / EPFL

The EPFL – at the heart of Health Valley

Science & Education

What do the first Swiss satellite sent into space, the first balloon to travel around the world without stopping and the Human Brain Proj
Chasselas

Grape varieties – Swiss made

Environment
You may be surprised to hear that Switzerland has more than 200 indigenous grape varieties. For hundreds of years now, many of these have been imported and bred by winegrowers all over the world. Among the most widespread varieties worldwide are Merlot for red wine and Chardonnay for white.
Les informations générées s’affichent en temps réel sur un écran au bord du terrain, qui remplit aussi la fonction d’arbitre.

The tennis court of the future

Economics
The company, Technis, has designed a fully tactile court surface capable of recording where the ball bounces and the position of the players on the court. The information is displayed on a screen in real time.