Research and Publications Highlights

The latest press releases, research news and publications from CSH members.

2026/06/11

© ESA/ATG medialab

CHEOPS Space Mission extended

Following the remarkable scientific achievements of the space telescope CHEOPS, the European Space Agency (ESA) has decided to extend the mission once again. The space telescope, which was built at the University of Bern and whose science operations center is located at the University of Geneva, will now continue to operate until the end of 2029. This decision underscores the outstanding performance and scientific value of CHEOPS in exoplanet research.

2026/06/02

© ESO/M. Kornmesser, L. Calçada

Strange winds reveal strongest hints yet of magnetic activity in exoplanets

An international research team involving the University of Bern has used high-resolution measurements with some of the world's most powerful telescopes to determine the wind speeds on seven very hot exoplanets similar to Jupiter. The observations revealed that the winds on these planets are most likely influenced by magnetic fields. This is the strongest evidence to date of magnetism on planets outside our solar system.

2026/04/13

© NASA/R. Hurt/T. Pyle

Between eternal night and day, the faces of two cousins of the Earth

An international team including the University of Bern (UNIBE) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE), members of the National Centre of Competence in Research PlanetS, has succeeded in mapping the climate of rocky exoplanets with masses similar to Earth for the first time. This major breakthrough is based on continuous observations using the James Webb Space Telescope. The two planets studied belong to the iconic TRAPPIST-1 planetary system, discovered ten years ago.

2026/03/17

© NCCR PlanetS

From dust to planets: a turbulent story

How does fine dust aggregate into building blocks that ultimately form entire planets like our Earth? A research team led by the University of Bern, with the participation of ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich and the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS has provided the first experimental evidence – obtained during parabolic flights in zero gravity – that a key physical process, known as shear-flow instability, actually occurs under conditions similar to those in planet formation regions. The study thus addresses an important gap in our understanding of the very first steps of planet formation.

2026/02/12

© ESA

CHEOPS detects a new planetary "disorder"

First the rocky planets, very close to their star, then the gas giants: this is the order in which scientists have hitherto conceived of the hierarchy of planets. A conception that corresponds to our Solar System but also to most of the planetary systems identified to date. However, the recent discovery of a new planet around the star LHS 1903 by the CHEOPS space telescope is now challenging this theory. The international team of astronomers behind the discovery includes scientists from the University of Bern and the University of Geneva who are also members of the National Centre of Competence in Research PlanetS.

2026/01/27

© NASA/JHUAPL/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Streaks on Mercury show: Mercury is not a "dead planet"

A new study led by CSH Fellow Dr. Valentin Bickel has discovered a large number of bright streaks, also known as "lineae", on Mercury, which are presumably caused by the outgassing of volatile material from the planet's interior. This indicates that Mercury is not a dead planet, as previously assumed, but might in fact be geologically active. The results provide important insights into the evolution of Mercury and its volatiles and will be further investigated by future space missions such as BepiColombo.

2026/01/12

Mars was half covered by an ocean

Using images from cameras on Mars orbiters, an international research team led by the University of Bern has discovered structures on Mars that are very similar to classic river deltas on Earth. These are traces of rivers that have deposited their sediments into an ocean. This shows that Mars was a "blue planet" around three billion years ago.