Researchers at the Emory University and Georgia State University in the USA will be establishing a new drug development center aimed at preventing the next pandemic. With a federal funding of 52 million dollars, the new center will be led and co-founded by researchers who have successfully collaborated on antiviral drugs in the past.

Denmark's first plant to produce hydrogen by catalytic pyrolysis of biogas will be ready in three years. The technology can convert carbon — captured via photosynthesis — into solid form and simultaneously produce hydrogen very energy-efficiently.

Marine virologists have discovered a new bacteriophage in the sediment of the Mariana Trench, Earth's deepest point. This phage infects Halomonas bacteria commonly found in extreme deep-sea environments. The study sheds light on the co-evolution of phages and their hosts in isolated, harsh conditions.

A drug discovery method was used to identify naturally occurring metabolite that converts ‘bad’ fat to ‘good’ fat. This discovery offers a potential way of addressing metabolic conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Plant cells can silence certain genes – even in far distance. This so called RNA interference is known for a while, but it was not yet proven what messenger substance “transmits” RNA interference. Now, ETH researchers have definitively shown that these messengers in plants are short double-stranded RNA fragments.

Development of neural networks or AI tools for data analysis is increasing exponentially. However, networks existing in natural ecosystems, such as webs of interspecies relationships, have information processing potential that has largely remained untapped.

Researchers have suggested that the addition of nutritionally important mineral salts to noncaloric sweeteners will help it to taste more like real sugar. The blend also proved to give better flavor to zero- and low-calorie drinks.

A study supported by the National Institutes of Health has revealed that adults with hypertension witnessed a small increase in their blood pressure during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. It adds that measures such as home-monitoring and telemedicine may have helped to keep the pressure under control.

With an aim to expand its business in Asia, Biontech has acquired one of Novartis’ GMP-certified manufacturing facilities in Singapore. With this move, the company intends to establish its first mrna facility in the country.

Researchers have shown that milk alternatives made from rice and coconut water underwent changes during the heat treatment process and intends to use these findings for future research into dairy-free and functional beverages.