Bernese lift off for the Expo 2025 Osaka!

The University of Bern is part of the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka with instruments built for space missions !

Vacuum Chamber ESA Juice

13.04-10.06.2025 | Showcase in the Swiss Pavilion

The scent of space

Explore the solar system’s composition with Bernese mass spectrometers! These pioneering instruments “sniff” atoms and molecules around planets, comets, and moons on current and future missions of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). At the Swiss Pavilion, the visitors will experience the “scent” of a comet, recreated from the measurements of the mass spectrometer ROSINA that flew to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. On display also models of the Bernese mass spectrometers NIM, onboard the ESA-JAXA mission Juice on its way to Jupiter’s icy moons, and MANiaC that will be launched 2029 with the ESA/JAXA mission Comet Interceptor to visit a pristine comet.

15.04.2025, 11:00-12:00 | Public talk, space quiz and comet building

Visiting an ancient world: ESA/JAXA space mission Comet Interceptor

Comet Interceptor is a new type of mission with a space probe that will start its journey into space before it is even clear which comet is to be investigated. A suitable target will then be selected, preferably a comet that is coming close to the sun for the first time, so the mission will be visiting an ancient world. Michael Küppers, Planetary Scientist at the European Space Agency (ESA), will take the public on a journey to comets. He will also demonstrate how to build a comet with dry ice, water, dust and soya sauce!

25.04.2025 | University of Bern Partner Day

Exploring Space, Advancing Human Health: How Space Research, Medicine and AI Shape Our Future

Highlights include Yuhito Shibaike’s talk on planetary formation and a panel with astrophysicist Audrey Vorburger, Medical Director Matthias Wilhelm and AI specialist Tadahiro Taniguchi. Virginia Richter, Rector of the University of Bern, will welcome the guests.