Water-based process could make compostable packaging practical at industrial speeds About 30% of plastics consumed are made to last forever but are discarded after a single use. Researchers at Virginia Tech are working to change that with a new approach that could make environmentally responsible packaging more practical at scale.

A new water-based process enables scalable production of multilayer bioplastic films for compostable packaging, offering improved strength and barrier properties without toxic solvents. doi.org/hbx2qx

Your liver is hiding a shifting cellular map, and diet can rapidly redraw its internal landscape As we go about our day, the trillions of cells in our bodies run like well-oiled machines: continually sensing what's happening around them and making modifications to keep us humming along.

A new imaging technique maps organelle changes in liver cells, showing that diet can rapidly alter cellular states and may impact the liver’s ability to adapt to future stresses.

Breakthrough sulfur polymer kills dangerous fungi and bacteria while sparing human and plant cells Antimicrobial resistance is becoming a global burden in human health and food production, so affordable new materials are needed to overcome this growing problem.

A newly developed sulfur-rich polymer demonstrates strong antimicrobial and antifungal activity while remaining non-toxic to human and plant cells, offering potential applications in medicine and agriculture. doi.org/hbx2qv

B cells that fight infections may also boost muscle performance during exercise B cells are white blood cells that form a core part of the body's adaptive immune system, enabling it to recognize specific infections, remember them, and mount a targeted response by producing antibodies.

B cells, known for their role in immunity, may also support muscle performance during exercise by influencing metabolic signaling between the liver and muscles, according to findings in mice. doi.org/hbx2qt

Decommissioned wind turbines may leave 20,000 blades landfilled or burned by 2040 Europe's oldest offshore wind turbines are now being dismantled, after having delivered clean energy since the early 1990s.

By 2040, up to 20,000 wind turbine blades in Europe may be landfilled or incinerated due to limited recycling options, highlighting a growing resource and waste management challenge. doi.org/gkhj3t

AI can use a photo of the eye to estimate retinal age, flag risk for major diseases There may be some truth to the saying "the eyes are the window to the soul." Age-related changes are reflected in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

AI can estimate retinal age from eye photos, potentially identifying individuals at higher risk for diseases such as diabetes and heart disease through non-invasive screening. doi.org/hbx2qq

The edge of the Milky Way's star-forming disk revealed How far the Milky Way's disk extends has long been difficult to define—it doesn't end sharply, but fades away gradually at its outer edges.

Astronomers have mapped the edge of the Milky Way's star-forming disk, finding that most star formation occurs within 40,000 light-years of the Galactic Center. doi.org/hbx2qp

Malaria lights up under magnets and polarized light, opening the door to faster, smarter blood testing Researchers have developed a new microscopy method that uses a magnetic field and polarized light to provide quantitative measurements that could enable faster and more objective detection of malaria in blood.

A new microscopy technique using magnets and polarized light enables rapid, quantitative detection of malaria in blood samples, potentially improving diagnosis and large-scale screening. doi.org/hbx2f2

Perovskite quantum dots crack two big barriers, staying stable in polar solvents and growing with atomic precision Perovskite quantum dots are considered promising materials for LEDs, photocatalysis, and future quantum light sources. Researchers at LMU Munich have managed to master two major hurdles in working with these quantum dots: their stability in solution and precise control of their growth.

Perovskite quantum dots now demonstrate stability in polar solvents and can be grown with atomic precision, advancing their potential for optoelectronic and quantum light applications. doi.org/hbx2fx

Put a nanodiamond under intense pressure and it becomes flexible Diamond is among the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth, but if you shrink it down to the nanoscale, it is surprisingly elastic.

Nanodiamonds just a few nanometers across become significantly more flexible under pressure, due to a unique internal layer that acts as a microscopic shock absorber. This property could enable new quantum and sensing technologies. doi.org/hbx2fs

Black bears are emerging as roaming reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria across expanding US ranges A new gut microbiome study of bears in eastern North Carolina expands our understanding of microbial ecosystems in omnivores and contributes to the broader idea that bear feces could help scientists monitor changes in the environment.

Black bears in eastern North Carolina carry diverse gut microbes, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria, highlighting their potential role in tracking environmental and microbial changes. doi.org/hbxz6f

CHIME tracks a hyperactive repeating fast radio burst source Using the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), an international team of astronomers has performed radio observations of FRB 20220912A—a highly active source of repeating fast radio bursts.

CHIME observations of FRB 20220912A reveal highly variable burst rates and a steadily increasing dispersion measure, suggesting this repeating fast radio burst may have a distinct local environment. doi.org/hbxz4k

Alternating atomic layers enable rare electron pairing mechanism in new unconventional superconductor Superconductors, materials that can conduct electricity with a resistance of zero, have proved to be highly promising for the development of quantum technologies, medical imaging devices, particle accelerators and other advanced technologies.

A newly synthesized superconductor, BaTa₂S₅, exhibits rare spin-triplet electron pairing and maintains superconductivity under extremely high magnetic fields, expanding possibilities for quantum technologies. doi.org/hbxzkb

Bullying and adverse social climate take measurable toll on mental health of gender-diverse youth: Study Gender-diverse adolescents who experience bullying and live in states with persistently unsupportive gender identity laws are significantly more likely to suffer escalating psychological distress compared to their peers, according to new research by UCLA Health.

Gender-diverse adolescents facing bullying and living in states with unsupportive gender identity laws experience greater psychological distress and subtle warning signs of mental health risk. doi.org/hbxxtg

What Chinese characters can tell us about designing strong materials From the geometric symmetry in Islamic tiles to the mechanical versatility of origami, cultural patterns have an extensive range of structures.

Metamaterials inspired by the geometric structure of Chinese characters demonstrate how curves and crossbeams can influence stiffness, flexibility, and load distribution in material design.

From Siri to scams, AI voice clones now beat human speech in noisy settings Synthetic voices are increasingly a part of our lives, from digital assistants like Siri and Alexa to automated telemarketers and answering machines.

Voice clones generated by AI are more intelligible than human speech in noisy environments, outperforming both traditional synthetic voices and natural voices across diverse listener groups. doi.org/hbxxs8

One-step method reveals structures of RNA-protein complexes in living cells A new method developed at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions allows researchers to better understand how RNA works.

A new one-step method enables direct mapping of RNA 3D structures and protein binding sites in living cells, offering insights into RNA function and cellular processes. doi.org/hbxxs5

Unexpected cancer mutations in brain's immune cells may help fuel Alzheimer's disease As the body ages, cells naturally accumulate dozens of genetic mutations each year. New research from Boston Children's Hospital, published in Cell, finds that the brain's resident immune cells, microglia, amass mutations in specific cancer-driving genes, yet they don't manifest as cancer.

Mutations in cancer-related genes found in brain immune cells and blood may contribute to Alzheimer's disease, suggesting new possibilities for diagnostics and treatment strategies.

HIV's earliest immune battle leaves blood traces that forecast powerful antibodies years later Some people living with HIV develop antibodies capable of neutralizing many different strains of the virus. New research links this to immune responses that occur early in infection.

Early immune responses in HIV infection leave genetic traces in blood that may predict the later development of broadly neutralizing antibodies, offering insights for future vaccine strategies. doi.org/hbxr8w

Wastewater sludge treatment boosts renewable natural gas 200% and halves disposal costs A pilot study of a new method for treating sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant efficiently created renewable natural gas while reducing the cost of the treatment.

A new wastewater sludge treatment method increases renewable natural gas production by 200% and reduces disposal costs by nearly half, offering a more sustainable approach for energy and waste management. doi.org/hbxv98

Stretching and squeezing diamond opens new path for ultra-precise quantum sensors Researchers have discovered a new way to tune the quantum properties of tiny defects in diamond—by gently stretching or compressing the crystal.

Applying mechanical strain to diamond can precisely tune the optical and magnetic properties of silicon-vacancy centers, enabling highly sensitive quantum sensing at the nanoscale. doi.org/hbxv95

Uganda's Python Cave reveals how a Marburg virus outbreak could begin Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a severe and often fatal hemorrhagic disease in humans caused by the Marburg virus. It is carried by Egyptian fruit bats and can spread to people after exposure in caves or mines where they live.

Footage from Uganda’s Python Cave documents frequent unprotected human and animal visits, highlighting how close contact with Marburg virus-carrying bats could facilitate disease transmission. doi.org/hbxvw9

Can a deaf person's brain turn silence into vision? A brain that develops in the deprivation of one sense reorganizes itself in surprising ways, revealing remarkable neuroplasticity.

The auditory cortex in congenitally deaf individuals can represent visual information through organized patterns of neural deactivation, highlighting new dimensions of brain plasticity. doi.org/hbxvw8

A laser inspired by black holes: Extreme physics recreated in the lab Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have successfully recreated key features of black hole physics in a laboratory setting using an innovative optical system that mimics how black holes behave after violent cosmic events such as collisions or mergers.

A tabletop optical system has been developed that mimics black hole dynamics, enabling direct observation of wave patterns and laser emission linked to curved spacetime geometry. doi.org/hbxvw7

'Seeing clearly even in the fog'—a next-generation infrared image sensor for autonomous driving Infrared sensors that detect the short-wave infrared (SWIR) region can clearly recognize objects not only during the day and at night, but also in fog or smoke, making them a key component of future intelligent technologies such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, night surveillance, and medical imaging.

A new hybrid infrared image sensor using quantum dots and two-dimensional semiconductors enables clear object detection in fog, smoke, and low light, supporting advanced autonomous technologies. doi.org/hbxvw6

Extra chromosomes may help tumor cells move and engulf neighbors, study suggests Researchers at Tulane University School of Medicine have discovered that if animal cells gain an extra set of chromosomes, a condition known as polyploidy, they activate a stress signaling pathway that causes them to become more mobile and capable of engulfing neighboring cells with normal chromosome numbers.

Cells with extra sets of chromosomes, or polyploidy, show increased mobility and the ability to engulf neighboring cells, potentially contributing to tumor aggressiveness and therapy resistance. doi.org/hbxvww

Simple ocean-based model forecasts a powerful El Niño, over 2 °C warmer than normal For decades, scientists have worked to improve predictions of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate powerhouse that can cause droughts, flooding, marine heat waves, and more around the world.

A simple ocean-based model forecasts a strong El Niño, projecting equatorial eastern Pacific temperatures to exceed normal by over 2 °C toward the end of this year. doi.org/hbxvs8

Breaking a shared defense restores antibiotics against two cystic fibrosis lung bacteria A newly discovered mechanism renders antibiotic-resistant bacteria vulnerable by disabling both their individual resistance and a process known as cross-protection, the ability of resistant bacteria to shield nearby, otherwise sensitive strains.

Disabling a shared protein-folding system in two cystic fibrosis lung bacteria restores their susceptibility to antibiotics and blocks cross-protection between resistant and sensitive strains. doi.org/hbxvr8

These penny-size ultrasonic tags ditch batteries and silently turn everyday objects into private smart home trackers Most smart home devices require power one way or another. You have to plug them in, recharge them, or replace their batteries at some point.

Battery-free ultrasonic tags, smaller than a penny, can discreetly track activity on everyday objects, offering a low-cost, private solution for smart home sensing without complex electronics.

AI maps mammals' molecular 'dark matter' by predicting billions of missing metabolites Invisible "dark matter"—what cosmologists call the mysterious glue that holds everything together—is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe.

An AI-driven chemical language model has predicted billions of previously unknown mammalian metabolites, expanding understanding of molecular diversity in bone and tissue.