In autumn, it's common in Switzerland to see herds of cattle decorated with bells and flowers being led down from the mountains to their winter stables. But these days, you might rub your eyes – surely those aren't cows marching down into the valley? No indeed: around 400 Swiss farmers now keep llamas or alpacas to supplement their falling incomes. (SF1/swissinfo)
Ever fancied taking a fighter jet for a spin? Wealthy customers can do just that, thanks to a private association based at the military airport in Payerne in western Switzerland. The group is offering high-octane trips in Mirages once used by the Swiss air force, and there's no shortage of demand. But politicians and local people are not so thrilled. (SF1/swissinfo)
A century ago the Swiss wore traditional garments every day. Today though these costumes can only be seen at folklore events and parades. Pro Helvetia, the Swiss arts council, has launched a project to bring traditional clothing elements back into contemporary fashion. (SF1/swissinfo)
When you gather wild mushrooms, you had better not put a death cap in your basket by mistake. But if you do, a visit to the inspection centre will eliminate any poisonous fungi. Even better is to go mushrooming with an expert. (swissinfo, Raffaella Rossello)
Swiss artist François Junod has changed the automaton into a new art form. He calls his unique creations androids - mechanical robots designed to resemble humans in both appearance and behaviour. swissinfo visited his studio in St Croix, in the Jura mountains. (swissinfo, Julie Hunt)
The River Thur runs through the biggest floodplains area of central Switzerland. Unfortunately a lot of the natural plains have disappeared in the past due to flood protection buildings. Now the river shall be freed of the concrete and the floods shall recreate natural biotopes that are vital for many endangered plants and animals. (SF1/swissinfo)
After carrying tourists up and down the mountain in the Swiss resort of Kandersteg for over 60 years, one of the oldest wooden chairlifts of its kind in the world has gone into retirement. The best efforts of heritage groups were unable to stop its dismantling. (SF/swissinfo)
The Large Hadron Collider is housed in a 27-kilometre tunnel beneath the French-Swiss border near Geneva and is the world's largest and most complex scientific instrument. It will soon smash protons at almost the speed of light, recreating conditions a fraction of a second after the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago. (Cern/swissinfo)
Josef und Silvia Beeler have an unusual occupation. They breed snails on their organic farm in Steinen, central Switzerland. The molluscs could soon help the Beelers make their fortune, as they're about to be offered as delicacies in upmarket restaurants. (SF/swissinfo)
The Lichtspiel cinema in the Swiss capital Bern takes you on a magical journey back through time, lovingly recalling the early days of silent movies, and charting the development of film through the ages. (swissinfo, Michele Andina)
From this week on, Swiss pet owners are no longer allowed to keep single canaries, parrots, rats, mice and guinea pigs. New regulations dictate that these social animals must be kept in groups. But what if one of a pair dies? An enterprising breeder has the answer – rent a replacement. (SF/swissinfo)
September 3, 1998: Swissair flight SR111 crashes off the coast of Canada, killing all 229 passengers and crew. It is the worst accident in Swiss civil aviation history, and causes shockwaves in both Switzerland and Canada. (SF/swissinfo)
Fuse Factory is a three-person electro pop act based in Lausanne and is made up of an American, Swiss and a Frenchwoman.
