Pollution

Researchers from Agroscope, Eawag and ETH Zurich have developed a method for the comprehensive detection of organic pollutant residues in soils and sediments. Initial results show that, in addition to known substances, there are also a number of substances detected for the first time.

Blue-green algae are among the oldest living creatures on Earth and have perfected the use of sunlight over billions of years. Empa scientists have now equipped these humble unicellular organisms with semiconductor coatings to create mini power plants, which supply biofuels and are photocatalytically active in sunlight. And what's best: The chemical reactions are circular – they form a sophisticated raw materials cycle.

What happens if an electric car burns in a road tunnel or an underground car park? In the Hagerbach test tunnel in Switzerland, Empa researchers and tunnel safety expert Lars Derek Mellert set fire to battery cells of electric cars, analyzed the distribution of soot and smoke gases and the chemical residues in the extinguishing water.

Summer series: Careers in research. Florian Breider, who heads EPFL’s Central Environmental Laboratory (CEL), knew from a young age that he wanted to become a scientist. But what he didn’t know was just how important Asia would be in shaping his career.

In the past, the water quality in Switzerland was much worse than today. Foam floated in many places on rivers and there were downright carpets of algae in the lakes. In his column, Michael Hengartner explains how research has contributed to better water quality and what challenges we face today.

One of the heavy metals naturally present in soils is thallium. Since little is known about its environmental behaviour, a research group at Eawag has been studying this metal in detail.