THE FUSE

When drinking water is stored in containers, a thin layer of microorganisms can grow at the interface of the container and water. This thin layer is called a biofilm. It’s made up of bacteria that make the water unsafe to drink. Slimy biofilms are harder to kill with ordinary disinfectants like chlorine. So scientists are always looking for new ways to clean water in household storage systems. Nanotechnologists Lijo Mona and Muthumuni Managa are exploring innovative ways to eradicate pathogens in water. They’ve reviewed the ways that photosensitiser agents (molecules that absorb light and transfer energy to other molecules) can trigger the chemical and biological changes that can make water safer to drink.