Project Launch 

„TripleBird“: Making Biodiversity Count 

In many places, the condition of ecosystems is deteriorating, and the populations of numerous animal and plant species are in decline. In the TripleBird project, the UFZ is using the very well-documented population trends of bird species in Germany to demonstrate the local decline in biodiversity. A technical data infrastructure is being established, and model-based scenarios and applications are being developed for nature conservation, business and the financial sector. 

Project Launch 

One Health: Environmental Factors and Immune System

Pollutants, psychosocial stressors, antibiotics and an unhealthy diet affect the human immune system and microbiome. They can contribute to an increased risk of infection, reduced immune resilience and an altered immune response to vaccination. But how do pregnant women, children and adolescents in particular respond? This is the focus of the EMVIC project, coordinated by the UFZ. The project utilises data from the mother-child cohort LiNA, which was established at the UFZ. 

Chemicals Policy

New Regulations on the Handling of Novel Entities

According to the ‘Planetary Boundaries’ concept, the carrying capacity for novel entities such as microplastics and nanoplastics is considered to have been exceeded. However, a team of experts led by the UFZ concludes that the proposed target of zero for the release of these substances into the environment is neither achievable nor sensible, as human societies rely on the services they provide. They propose adjusted targets, supported by global monitoring of environmental impacts. 

Political Decision-Making Processes

How Narratives Shape Raw Materials Policy 

In 2024, the Critical Raw Materials Act came into force. The EU regulation is intended to secure the supply of essential metallic raw materials and, in doing so, ensure Europe’s independence. In Communications Earth & Environment, researchers at the UFZ demonstrate how certain narratives have led to sustainability principles being sidelined in the pursuit of security of supply. The study also highlights options for strengthening sustainability principles in political discourse. 

New Cleaning Method

How can PFAS be removed from water?

Whether it’s an outdoor jacket or a non-stick frying pan – PFAS are used in many products because of their excellent performance in daily use. They then enter the environment via various routes, posing a risk to human health and proving difficult to remove. However, the two UFZ chemists, Dr Anett Georgi and Dr Katrin Mackenzie, have succeeded in doing just that with their new process. In the detektor.fm podcast, they explain how it works and what still needs to be done to make it market ready. 

The Big Questions in 10 Minutes

Water Cycle: “Where has our Water Gone?”

Can water be ‘used up’? Yes, for example by breaking it down into hydrogen and oxygen, or through photosynthesis in plants. One thing is certain, however: if the water on Earth had been weighed a billion years ago, the scales would have shown the same reading as they do today. UFZ hydrologist Prof Ralf Merz explains in the MDR podcast why water does not really disappear and how Germany’s approach to water management in the countryside needs to change in light of climate change.