Researchers at the University of Oxford, in collaboration with Pfizer, have developed a new method for converting alcohols into alkyl fluorides using potassium fluoride (KF).

Published today (30 July) in Science (DOI: 10.1126/science.aec6298), the study overcomes a long-standing challenge in Appel-type fluorination: the undesired formation of PPh₃F₂ instead of C–F bond construction.

The reaction opens up a new avenue for synthesising fluorochemicals, which are widely used in materials, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Calcium isotopes in fossilized shells show ocean acidification caused the extinction event. Massive volcanic eruptions released CO2 into the atmosphere, acidifying seawater. Fifth Northwestern study to link volcanic eruptions to ocean acidification and extinction. Ancient events help scientists understand current CO2 increases and potential consequences.

Researchers have developed an infrared spectroscopy system that detects hazardous chemical aerosols from up to 11 meters away by bouncing laser light off everyday surfaces like traffic signs and tree bark.

New recommendations from the Harm Reduction Work Group of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco's Treatment Research Network, with contributions from researchers at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, encourage clinicians to include nicotine e-cigarettes alongside other evidence-based smoking cessation options when counseling adults who smoke cigarettes. The recommendations emphasize shared decision-making and provide practical guidance to help clinicians tailor treatment to each patient's goals and preferences. The guidance is intended to help more people quit combustible cigarettes while correcting common misconceptions about nicotine e-cigarettes and supporting informed, patient-centered conversations about smoking cessation.

Researchers have developed a new imaging system that combines hyperspectral imaging with panoramic optical mapping to simultaneously visualize tissue composition and electrical activity across the entire surface of a living heart. Using a rat model of myocardial infarction, the team created detailed three-dimensional maps that distinguished healthy tissue, scar tissue, and the border zone between them based on collagen-related fluorescence signals. They then correlated these tissue maps with electrical measurements, revealing that abnormal beats often originated near the border of damaged tissue and that electrical waves slowed or became blocked within scarred regions. The system also showed that electrical activity lasted longer in infarcted tissue than in healthy tissue. By linking heart structure directly to function, the approach provides a new tool for studying how arrhythmias arise after cardiac injury and may help researchers evaluate future therapies aimed at preventing abnormal heart rhythms.