Swiss Stories

Jacques Dubochet

Jacques Dubochet, Nobel Laureate

Science & Education
Swiss biophysicist Jacques Dubochet, 75, has being doing volunteer work since he retired. He intends to take advantage of his sudden fame to raise awareness of issues he cares deeply about, like migration and climate change.
swiss chocolate

Six reasons why Swiss chocolate is such a success

History
Exemplifying Switzerland’s capacity for innovation as well as its sense of tradition, chocolate is a source of pride for the country and contributes to its image throughout the world. But why is it such a success? Here are six reasons why.

by Tatiana Tissot

Lake Rotsee © Eawag

The bacteria that could beat climate change

Environment
Lakes emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases, in particular methane, a greenhouse gas more that twenty times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). One square kilometre of lake can emit 800 times more methane than the same area of ocean.
VANILNOIR

Swiss wheat breeding know-how

Science & Education
Swiss bread is famous for both its quality and diversity, with each region of the country boasting its own speciality. Switzerland's success story is down to the work of its wheat breeding programme, which is more than a century old and continues to produce new varieties for the bread of tomorrow.
portrait sarah marquis

Sarah Marquis, always on the move

Environment
Books, lectures, and of course expeditions: Swiss explorer Sarah Marquis never stops. We caught up with her before she hit the road again.
jet d'eau

The Jet d'Eau in Geneva

History
Tourists come every year from all over the world to admire the Jet d'Eau, one of the most famous landmarks of this international city. But the Jet d'Eau wasn't always a tourist attraction. This is the story of how Geneva's unique fountain came to be and how it acquired the iconic status it enjoys today.

by Tatiana Tissot

paul grueninger

The police commander who saved hundreds of Jews

History
As Jewish refugees attempted to flee from Austria to Switzerland, Paul Grüninger, commander of the St Gallen police, disobeyed orders in order to help them. He would pay dearly for it.