✒ The big idea is that when molluscs encounter heavy metal, pesticides or other pollutants, they close their shells.
The water supply system in Warsaw makes use of eight clams which are hooked up to computers for monitoring the city’s drinking water. The scientists do so by attaching a coil and a magnet to their shells, computers can then register whether their shells are open or closed by detecting changes in the magnetic field.
When contamination of water is detected, the system will automatically cut off water supply from the river.
Brilliant life-saving system.
P.S. for some reason this makes me think of the scene from the “Minority Report” movie.