Adaptation to warmer environmental conditions may increase the resistance of viruses, making them harder to be inactivated. This is the finding of a new study involving Eawag. Global warming could therefore make it more difficult to combat viruses.

Process Engineer Adriano Joss from Eawag water research institute has been working for many years on wastewater treatment plants and the removal of micropollutants from water. Together with Ralf Kägi, Head of the Eawag Particle Laboratory, he has compiled the current status of knowledge on microplastics. In an interview, he presents the most important findings. We have recently posted detailed information on the website "Microplastics in the environment".

The review paper "Rethinking wastewater risks and monitoring in light of the COVID-19 pandemic" was co-authored by 34 contributors from around the world. What was Eawag's contribution?

In Agatha Christie's novel The Pale Horse, the victims die of thallium poisoning. The author describes the action of the poison: the initial symptoms are similar to those of influenza; later signs include hair loss and stripes on the fingernails - at which point it is too late to administer an antidote.

Martin, you will take charge of the COVID-19 Science Task Force. What exactly is your role?

Until recently, researchers assumed that Switzerland had around 20 native species of amphipods. Now, a project by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) and the University of Zurich has revealed that there are actually more than 40. It is always worth taking a closer look, because we can only protect the things that we know exist.

Researchers from Agroscope, Eawag and ETH 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, correctly cyanobacteria, are among the oldest forms of life on earth. They are very common both in water and on land.

Pilot tests on GAC filtration at the Muri WTP - (Photo: Eawag) For Eawag trials, a sand filter cell at ARA Bülach is fed with granulated activated carbon instead of sand.

Mariane, what is your doctoral thesis about?