Environment
Too little water pressure slows down radial growth of a tree
Research
WSL
Until now, science has assumed that the amount of carbon formed in needles is the sole driving force for wood growth in coniferous trees. An international research team led by the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL has now discovered in the Lötschental (Canton Valais) that the level of water pressure in the trunk is also a decisive factor for growth.
Unequal distribution of research into marine resources
Politics
Eawag
Exploration and utilisation of resources from the world’s oceans is not equally distributed across the globe. Although many of these resources originate in the Global South, they are mostly being researched by just a few countries from the North. Accordingly, this is also where most of the benefits and profits are flowing to, despite the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was the finding of an analysis of literature from the last 50 years.
Using electric current to stabilize low-permeability soils
TechTransfer
EPFL
EPFL scientists have developed a new approach to stabilizing clay soils. The method involves using a battery-like system to apply electric current to carbonate and calcium ions in order to promote soil consolidation. Their findings were published yesterday in Scientific Reports.
PlaNet – Planned networking of stakeholders
TechTransfer
Eawag
The new digital tool PlaNet makes it easier for municipalities to identify important project partners but also critical voices in complex environmental and infrastructure projects. In this way, it helps them to set up participatory processes in a professional manner.
Climate: Iodic acid influences cloud formation at the North Pole
Research
EPFL PSI
An international team of scientists from EPFL, the Paul Scherrer Institute and Stockholm University has identified a novel driver of new aerosol particle formation in the Arctic during the summer to fall transition. The authors show that iodic acid is important for forming new particles which subsequently influence the formation of clouds and their radiative effect over the Arctic pack ice.
Viruses could become harder to kill
Research
EPFL Eawag
A recent EPFL study shows that pathogenic viruses may be able to develop resistance to warm temperatures and some types of disinfectant. That – combined with global warming and more frequent and longer heat waves – could make it even harder to keep them from spreading. 
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