Researchers at ETH Zurich have cultivated bacteria in the laboratory in such a way that they can efficiently utilise methanol. The metabolism of these bacteria can now be tapped into to produce valuable products that the chemical industry currently extracts from fossil raw materials.

PCBs, integral for housing and connecting electronic components, have traditionally been non-recyclable composites of glass fiber and plastic, often ending up in landfills or incinerated to recover valuable metals. In response, University of Washington researchers have pioneered a recyclable PCB using vitrimers, innovative polymers that can be dissolved, reformed, and reused with minimal material loss.

Researchers will undertake three different projects which will focus on understanding inflammatory responses and how to treat heart disease caused by inflammation, specifically in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

MIT physicists have developed a new technique to position atoms at unprecedentedly close distances of just 50 nanometers, enhancing magnetic interactions by a thousandfold. This breakthrough allows for the observation of new quantum phenomena, such as synchronized oscillations and thermalization between atomic layers, opening new avenues for the development of quantum materials and computing.

Contrary to previous assumptions, nerve cells in the human neocortex are wired differently than in mice. A study found that human neurons communicate in one direction, while in mice, signals tend to flow in loops. This increases the efficiency and capacity of the human brain to process information.

Jennifer Acuff and her team at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture developed a food processing method that optimizes the preservation of vitamins, minerals, and flavor in low-moisture foods like powdered milk. This new framework allows the food industry to tailor safety standards within FDA guidelines, ensuring both consumer safety and product excellence.

Scientists have developed the first wireless, implantable temperature sensor to detect inflammatory flareups in patients with Crohn’s disease. The approach could help clinicians to act earlier to prevent or limit the permanent damage caused by inflammatory episodes.

University of Utah biologists have uncovered intriguing differences in heart regeneration between zebrafish, which can heal its own heart, and medaka, which cannot. Their research reveals unique immune responses and cellular interactions that could inform future treatments for human heart patients.

Researchers at TU Wien and the Università Politecnica delle Marche have created a wall paint that cleans and refreshes the air we breathe. Infused with special titanium oxide nanoparticles, this paint doesn't just capture air pollutants — it destroys them with the power of sunlight.

Pet dogs and cats play an important role in the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, new research presented at the Escmid Global Congress in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) suggests.