Environment
How an ocean-fertilising bacterium forms aggregates
Research
ETH Zurich
Trichodesmium, a common and ecologically important bacterium, fertilises nutrient-poor regions of the oceans and thereby enables higher life. Crucial to its success is its ability to form aggregates in order to react quickly to changes in its environment. ETH Zurich researchers have shown how the microbes organise themselves in this process.
Most wild bee hotspots are outside protected areas
Research
WSL
Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL have found numerous places in Switzerland with large numbers of wild bee species or species worthy of protection. The problem: They are often located outside of protected areas.
How much microplastics is there in Swiss rivers and lakes?
Research
Empa
Plastic particles less than five millimeters in size, also known as microplastics, often settle far away from their point of origin. Empa researchers have now developed a model that can be used to calculate the concentration of microplastics in Swiss lakes and rivers.
Storms 2022 – Minor damage, no fatalities
Research
WSL
Floods, debris flows, landslides and rock falls caused damage of around CHF 45 million in 2022 - ten times less than in 2021. There were no fatalities. This is the result of the annual evaluation of the Swiss flood and landslide damage database by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).
The great clean-up
TechTransfer
ETH Zurich
From tackling micropollutants in wastewater to removing plastic waste from rivers, here are five solutions based on ETH expertise.
Rethinking wastewater management
Research
ETH Zurich Eawag
Sewer systems and centralised treatment plants are not a sustainable solution for managing the world’s wastewater. Environmental engineers at ETH Zurich and Eawag have been helping to develop decentralised, closed-loop modular systems.
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