Hokkaido University researchers have developed a hydrogel that does the opposite of what polymer-based materials, like plastic bottles, normally do: their material hardens when heated and softens when cooled. Their findings, published in the journal Advanced Materials, could lead to the fabrication of protective clothing items for traffic and sports-related accidents.

When accidents happen, the difference between life and death may come down to the materials of the car, boat or building that you find yourself in. The best possible protection requires understanding as much as possible about how different materials behave under stress. Norwegian scientists examine this issue at the nano level.

The stereoisomers of a molecule can cause different effects in a biological system. Among other things, this is important for the development of drugs. WWU chemists have succeeded in developing a synthetic process that can produce different stereoisomers from identical starting materials.

Fish such as cichlids and stingrays are capable of performing simple calculations. A research study by the University of Bonn in Germany has revealed that fish can carry out addition and subtraction in the number range of one to five.

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in the USA have revealed that a new type of cell found within human lungs can assist in the research of treatments for human lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

New UCLA research finds that 30 percent of people treated for Covid-19 developed Post Acute Sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC), most commonly known as “Long Covid”.

Plant based food and feed can contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) due to co-harvesting of weeds that contain PAs. Experts therefore recommend testing crops known to co-exist with PA containing weeds before use in food or feed.

There is a growing interest of the cultivation of macro algae. A new dissertation studies the best conditions for sustainable cultivation of the brown algae sugar kelp.

Researchers have revealed that an immune fingerprint has the potential to provide an insight into enhanced treatment of autoimmune diseases. This means that a person’s unique genetic profile could be used to deliver customized treatments to suit their immune system.

While rain is essential for the survival of plants, it also contains bacteria and other pathogens which can cause them harm. So how do plants protect themselves from this threat?