This is a commentary on Chowra Makaremi’s (2025) "Insurrections in Iran: an off-site ethnography", which examines the Woman, Life, Freedom uprisings in Iran using social media methods. I discuss Makaremi‘s methodology of off-site ethnography and emphasize the inseparability of online and offline spaces. I show how Makaremi’s work underscores the role of social media in resistance movements, and I call for reflexive, contextualized social media research that accounts for power structures.

Writing in June 2025, I reflect on Chowra Makaremi’s proposal of “off-site ethnography” amid global instability and shifting geopolitics. Through distance, Makaremi shows how research can capture what lies beyond direct observation, inspiring a reflection on presumed norms around fieldwork, mobility, and academic research. Her approach resonates with diasporic experiences, crises of access, and the urgency of safeguarding counter-memories in uncertain times.

The demographic trends of major Alpine ski resort municipalities are contrasted. Estimating their population is challenging due to multilocal lifestyles of permanent residents, seasonal workers, and second home owners. We propose an “inhabitant footprint” approach, based on a survey to analyse how second home owners influence year-round living dynamics in eight Alpine municipalities. The results show ambivalent outcomes depending on the resorts, household situations, and housing characteristics.

This study explores how rocks on glacier surfaces originating from rockfalls help measure erosion rates using a chemical marker called ¹⁰Be. By analyzing data from 31 glaciers we found that erosion rates vary widely but can be accurately estimated and reveal links to rock exposure, glacier movement, and climate effects. Comparing ¹⁰Be erosion rates to other exhumation rates shows cases of balance, slower erosion, or faster erosion, offering insights into the complex drivers of rockwall erosion.

Regional identity is not just about place; it is shaped through everyday interactions and relationships. This study explores how couples experience and express their connection to a region through shared practices, emotions, and conversations. Using narrative couple interviews, the research explores that identity is continuously negotiated and performed. The findings highlight the importance of social ties in shaping regional belonging, offering new insights for regional studies.

This paper draws on 24 interviews with workers who provide care services mediated through digital platforms in Geneva. The findings demonstrate that working via care work platforms is financially unsustainable. The analysis highlights the omnipresence of what we call “platform subsidies”: financial support provided by family or friends to sustain workers' income. The paper criticizes these payments for subsidizing platforms and customers who profit from care as a low-cost service.

Amid a shift in the automotive industry towards data-driven business models and the European expansion of Chinese electric vehicle makers like BYD, NIO, XPeng, and Aiways, this article explores the value creation of navigation services, considering company strategy, localization, inter-firm relationships, and regulations. Based on 43 interviews, we analyse the transformation of automotive production networks, focusing on the organization and spatiality of value creation for digital products.