He will also have an eight-man team monitoring his progress in a specially designed boat at the loch's surface.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Scotland | Monster underwater marathon bid

In these areas Wolfe's team, monitoring the flow of viruses between wild animals and humans, hopes to pinpoint potential killer viruses before they establish a big foothold in people.

FORBES: Nathan Wolfe chases killer microbes.

An EU team has begun work in Rome, monitoring how Italy plans to cut its debt burden, 120% of annual economic output (GDP).

BBC: Italy crisis: Mario Monti appointed new PM-designate