Swiss Stories

NASA

Switzerland’s role in the first moon landing

History
Even today, not many people are aware of Switzerland's participation in this historic achievement. And yet, Swiss technological know-how played an important role in the success of the Apollo 11 mission.

by Mehdi Atmani

copyright Guillaume Megevand

The Swiss athlete who runs like a Kenyan

Society
Julien Wanders from Geneva has been training in Kenya since his late teens. Now, at the age of 23, he is already on first-name terms with the world's top runners. This is his inspiring story.

by Bertrand Monnard

90% less herbicide thanks to the robot’s targeted weeding © ecoRobotix

Swiss start-ups at the forefront of ‘green tech’

Science & Education
ecoRobotix, Vivent and AgroSustain all began life in Switzerland but have set their sights beyond our borders. These start-up companies have been working with the scientific community to develop technological innovations that enable more sustainable farming practices. This is a portrait of three Swiss start-ups at the forefront of ‘green tech’.
Muse ©Lionel Flusin

The Montreux Jazz Festival

Society
'Smoke on the water' – just as Deep Purple's legendary song encapsulates the extraordinary event that transformed this resort city of long ago. The Montreux Jazz Festival has brought together the biggest names in music since it was created in 1967.
Teaser

The second life of Swiss bunkers

History
There are believed to be more than 8,000 of them, dotted all over Switzerland, some still concealed beneath their camouflage of yesteryear. But now the country's bunkers have come back to life as veritable national curiosities.
Centovalli Express, Intragna, Ticino. © Swiss Travel System AG

The hidden gems of Switzerland’s public transport

Environment
Gornergrat? Been there. Glacier Express? Done that. Fans of Switzerland already know and love the country’s public transport gems. But there are many trips and means of transport that are less well known. So, now’s the perfect time to discover some of these hidden treasures – and Switzerland has plenty.
Teaser

The national gene bank

Environment
Humanity's future depends on the diversity of the species living on our planet, as they provide present and future generations with a food source and a healthy environment. 'Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health' was the theme of the United Nations International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May 2019. In Switzerland, many varieties of plants are stored in the national gene bank maintained by Agroscope, the Swiss centre of excellence for agricultural research.