Author Archive
Weather report: hot scorching storms of sand on exoplanet VHS 1256 b.
Ever had sand hot whip across your face? That’s a soothing experience compared to the volatile conditions discovered high in the atmosphere of planet VHS 1256 b. Researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope proved that its clouds are made up of silicate particles, ranging from fine specks to small grains. Plus, its near-constant cloud cover is […]
Continue Reading
CHEOPS mission extended
After more than three years in orbit, the mission of the CHEOPS space telescope has just been extended. Led by the University of Bern in collaboration with the University of Geneva, CHEOPS is a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Switzerland. On March 7th, ESA’s Science Programme Committee has confirmed its continued […]
Continue Reading
Four classes of planetary systems
Astronomers have long been aware that planetary systems are not necessarily structured like our solar system. Researchers from the Universities of Bern and Geneva, as well as from the National Centre of Competence in Research PlanetS, have now shown for the first time that there are in fact four types of planetary systems. In our […]
Continue Reading
“We need to normalise failure in academia”
The Academic Platform of the NCCR PlanetS organised a series of three workshops over the last two months, with a common theme to them: aiming for a healthier academic life. Today we look back at some of the key messages of each workshop. Well-being in academia The first workshop was held on the 8th of […]
Continue Reading
Changes in the communication team
Your communication team has evolved! There has been several changes in the last few months and with Phase III of the NCCR PlanetS. We welcome two new members with Sophie Krummenacher and Thibaut Roger. They are replacing respectively Sylviane Blum (retirement) and Arian Bastani who left the NCCR and joined the communication team of Bern’s […]
Continue Reading
Planetarium training at the General Assembly
In 2022, the NCCR PlanetS acquired two 5m-diameter inflatable planetariums, staying at the universities of Bern and Geneva. Transportable by car and able to welcome 15-20 persons per session, PlanetS members and associates can borrow them, upon request to the communication team, for school visits or other events. We are now looking for volunteers to help […]
Continue Reading
Second #NCCRWomen campaign
Last November, the second #NCCRWomen campaign started, featuring again scientists from the NCCR PlanetS! #NCCRWomen is an initiative launched for the 50th anniversary of women’s right to vote in Switzerland (7th of February 1971). It puts under the spotlight, women from each NCCR, sharing their portrait on a dedicated Twitter account, looking back at their […]
Continue Reading
Innovation and Entrepreneurship at NASA: Lessons Learned
The NCCR PlanetS, in collaboration with the Innovation Office of the University of Bern, the Entrepreneurship Center and be-advanced are happy to invite you the 28th of February 2023 for a unique event in company of Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen about the lessons he learnt at NASA regarding Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen was the […]
Continue Reading
James Webb Space Telescope identifies origins of icy building blocks of life
Interstellar molecular clouds are considered to be the birth sites of planetary systems. With the help of the James Webb Space Telescope, an international research team including the Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) at the University of Bern and the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS discovered the deepest and coldest ice […]
Continue Reading
Sharper infrared eyes for the VLT: ERIS sees first light
The European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) newest scientific instrument, the Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph (ERIS) has successfully completed its first test observations. One of them exposed the heart of the galaxy NGC 1097 in mesmerising detail. Installed on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) at Cerro Paranal in northern Chile, this infrared instrument will be able […]
Continue Reading
