Keyword

Environment and Climate Research Hub

Keyword
Interviews and articles with scientists from the Environment and Climate Research Hub (ECH) of the University of Vienna
15. March 2024
Interview with climatologist Stefan Rahmstorf

The climate debate – Between lobbies and science

Stefan Rahmstorf is one of the best-known climate and marine researchers. On 8 March he spoke at the University of Vienna at the festive launch of the "Environment and Climate" research network. Afterwards, he met with us to talk about tipping points in the ocean, the role of the media and where he believes science has a duty.
28. February 2024
Extreme habitats on earth

Thriving at the limits of life

There is hustle and bustle on our planet – even in quite uncomfortable places. We accompany biologists of the University of Vienna to some of the most extreme environments: from the deep sea and the open ocean to hot springs and alkaline salt lakes. What can we learn from their inhabitants?
22. February 2024
Water management

AI detects river pollution

Various human activities affect the quality of our lakes, rivers, groundwater, and oceans. When harmful chemicals enter our waters, it is crucial that these are identified as soon as possible. This is at the core of the "SWAIN" project, which is taking a totally new approach using artificial intelligence.
24. January 2024
Environmental sciences

PFAS: Chemicals for eternity?

Made to last forever, used on a daily basis and often highly toxic: PFAS, a group of extremely stable industrial chemicals, are seen as the next big environmental problem of our time. We asked environmental scientist Thilo Hofmann: Is there still hope?
19. December 2023
Microbial Biochemistry

New drugs against infectious diseases

From the flu to the coronavirus – recent years have shown that infectious diseases are a tremendous problem. In the video, biochemist Thomas Böttcher explains the role that new biologically active molecules will play in medicine and what drives him as a researcher.
13. December 2023
Solar energy revolution

Excited by light

Mimicking 'plant power' through artificial photosynthesis: an approach that could drive the solar energy revolution. Researchers at the University of Vienna are in a bid to chase this dream by trying to capture the sun's energy and storing it in chemical compounds. A report on how this works and why computer simulations are indispensable in the process.
23. May 2023
Guest article by
Blaž Gasparini
Solar Geoengineering

A planetary sunscreen can probably cool the climate, but not solve the climate crisis

In this guest post, climate physicist Blaž Gasparini explains recent attempts to counteract global warming by giving the planet "sun protection" – via injecting the gas sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere – and why the scientific community broadly criticizes the approach.
12. April 2023
Tipping points in mathematics, ecology and geography

Today in front of the abyss, tomorrow one step ahead?

All complex systems can reach critical threshold values. If they are exceeded, this usually has grave and irreversible consequences. Understanding these tipping points is essential to saving the relationship between the planet and humans. We have interviewed the mathematicians Sara Merino-Aceituno and Henk Bruin, the ecologist Christina Kaiser and the geographer Harald Sterly.
17. February 2023
Climate science and permafrost soils

When thawing permafrost releases greenhouse gas

There is hardly any other region where climate change is as noticeable as in the Arctic. At the Arctic Science Summit Week 2023, which is currently taking place at the University of Vienna, 700 international Arctic researchers are putting their heads together. One of them is Andreas Richter from the University of Vienna: he and his team experienced the explosive nature of the topic at first hand a few months ago during field research in the Canadian Arctic. Read more in the guest article.
16. February 2023
Environmental Health

When air becomes visible

Air pollution has been an issue for centuries, but during the COVID-19 pandemic humanity acutely and simultaneously recognised the physical presence of air. The research project "Air and Environmental Health in the (Post-)COVID-19 World" explores changing perceptions of air.