Matter and the Universe

To define life and to search for it beyond our solar system requires a number of disciplines to work together.

At the University of Bern, disciplines within physics, such as astrophysics, theoretical and empirical particle physics, philosophy, biology and chemistry interact to discover and decode the origins of life as we know it and as we do not.

TRAPPIST-1 exoplanet system
Our scientists are researching exoplanets in TRAPPIST-1 with NASA and other universities (Image: NASA/JPL Caltech)

Space exploration is one key pillar of activity. This is based in part on the University of Bern's specialism in creating and sending instruments into space to take the measurements necessary to characterize planets, such as Mars, comets and exoplanets, which are planets outside our solar system that orbit a star.