A simpler way to test for water pollution

Some of the toxins found in our air and waterways were put there intentionally: DDT, for instance, was introduced to protect against malaria and other insect-borne diseases. Others find their way into the environment unintentionally.

Researchers tackle dangerous, but poorly understood biofilms

Until now, biofilms—colonies of microbes like bacteria that grow together in a matrix produced by the cells themselves—have been poorly understood. Yet, they can be costly and dangerous. Infections related to hip- and ...

Empa helps to expand the Stockholm Convention POP list

The flame retardant HBCD may no longer be produced or used. This was decided by representatives from over 160 countries in late May at a UN conference on chemicals in Geneva. Empa's extensive research on HBCD, formerly used ...

Surges in latent infections: Mathematical analysis of viral blips

Recurrent infection is a common feature of persistent viral diseases. It includes episodes of high viral production interspersed by periods of relative quiescence. These quiescent or silent stages are hard to study with experimental ...

Preserving the health of the Arctic

Lars-Otto Reiersen is a marine biologist by training, now working as an environmental scientist in Norway. He has led the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) for over two decades. AMAP advises the governments ...

page 9 from 11