Black women and others with curly or kinky hair encounter a vast and confusing array of haircare options. Now, scientists are bringing order to this chaos by identifying properties such as the number of curls or coils in a given length of hair that could eventually help users pick the perfect product and achieve consistent results.

Pharmapack Europe recently announced the winners of the ‘Pharmapack Awards 2023’. The winners showcased revolutionary innovations in novel drug delivery solutions, reusable connected devices as well as unique recyclable packaging solutions.

Lithium batteries could soon enjoy increased performance thanks to a highly ordered inorganic foam discovered at Kaust. The self-assembling foam features a complex hierarchical structure that allows it to repeatedly soak up and then release large quantities of lithium ions with ease.

Creating smart sensors to embed in our everyday objects and environments for the Internet of Things (IoT) would vastly improve daily life — but requires trillions of such small devices. Emerging alternative semiconductors that are printable, low-cost and eco-friendly could lead the way to a cheaper and more sustainable IoT.

Scientists have decoded the physical process that takes place in the mouth when a piece of chocolate is eaten, as it changes from a solid into a smooth emulsion that many people find totally irresistible.

The 2023 King Faisal Prize was awarded to Northwestern University professor Chad A. Mirkin for his outstanding work in chemistry. He was honored for his contributions to nanochemistry, specifically the discovery and development of spherical nucleic acids.

Researchers at the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country have developed a microfluidic plasma separator to optically detect blood biomarkers. They used high-resolution 3D fabrication to manufacture the innovative device.

University of Bristol’s Professor Nathan Lepora and his team were recently awarded at the Elektra Awards, an event which recognises excellence within the global electronics industry, for their innovative robotic finger-tip which makes human-like ‘nerve’ signals.

In the healthcare industry, 3D bioprinting is being used to develop human tissues for the purpose of research and development as well as regenerative medicine but now there is also a possibility that fully functional artificial organs can be printed, a move which if proved successful can revolutionize the industry like never before.

Asphaltenes, a byproduct of crude oil production, are a waste material with potential. Rice University scientists are determined to find it by converting the carbon-rich resource into useful graphene.