Social issues

From Rossum’s Robots To Artificial Intelligence

by Leonid Savin*

(25 April 2021) The 25 January 2021 marked one hundred years since the première of Czech sci-fi writer Karel Čapek’s play “R.U.R.” (Rossum’s Universal Robots). The short work anticipated subsequent books on the subject, as well as cyberpunk and post-apocalyptic films like “The Terminator” and “Alien: Covenant”. Rossum’s universal robots were conceived as human helpers, but after a while they rebel and destroy the human race, with the exception of one factory worker, whom they need to recreate their own kind.

Ivermectin – a promising drug in the treatment of Covid-19

by Sabine Vuilleumier-Koch, M.D.

(6. April 2021) Research is being conducted worldwide into substances that could lead to prophylaxis and effective treatment of Covid-19. Its results are little known to the public – so far, the focus of media interest has been on the known protective measures, the lockdown and vaccination. Broader testing is now also permitted. From a medical point of view, it is urgently necessary to add the option of prophylaxis and therapy.

Journalistic research is time-consuming

In the “Navalny affair”, much media reporting is too simplistic – here’s what it takes to get more information

by Christian Müller

(21 March 2021) On February 13, 2021, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung published on its front page a lead story on the future of Navalny and Putin1 by journalist Andreas Rüesch. The words “opposition” and “opponents” appeared repeatedly through-out the article, but – whether intentionally or not – Rüesch never explained what this opposition actually entails in Russia.

Media in the information war

The example of Alexei Navalny

by Robert Seidel

(21 March 2021) The Navalny affair cannot be understood in isolation from NATO’s increasing preparations for war against Russia.

Securing the power supply

Blackout due to lack of maintenance?

by Jakob Wehrli

(February 2021) Without really being aware of it, we are gradually heading towards a blackout – in other words, a prolonged and large-scale power failure in Europe, with catastrophic con-sequences. In recent weeks, this issue has been in the headlines once again.

Treatment options for Covid patients

Against Corona, the FOPH relies on patent-protected medicines and ignores cheaper and, above all, much more effective alternatives

by Werner Vontobel

The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) knows how to avoid infection with Corona. But as far as the treatment of the disease is concerned, it has learned nothing. It continues to maintain that the new virus can only be combated with a completely new – and thus patent-protected – drug. Of the many patent-protected candidates, however, only Remdesivir from the US pharmaceutical company Gilead remains. The nine "other important drugs" listed on the homepage are painkillers and anaesthetics for the late phase of the disease.