Everything about Environment

The civil engineer Henning Knerr is refining technologies for wastewater treatment plants that can remove environmentally hazardous synthetic substances – such as painkillers or X-ray contrast agents – from sewage.

Groundwater is our most important source of drinking water and crucial to the water cycle. At the same time, it is an ecosystem with a diverse community of organisms. The organisms living there contribute to drinking water quality through material and energy cycles.

Heat, drought, and even unexpected frosts during an unusually warm spring – the effects of climate change are increasingly taking a toll on agriculture. Researchers and plant breeders around the world are analyzing ways to counter these challenges. One approach: genetically modifying crops so that they can withstand drought, high temperatures, and other changing environmental conditions.

Microplastics in the world's oceans – a problem that concerns many environmentally conscious people. What many do not know is that the same plastics are also found in our soil. It is estimated that five to twenty times more plastic is found on land than in water. What does all this mean for the environment – and ultimately for our health? RPTU researchers are working on answers and solutions.