Real-time monitoring of additive concentrations in acidic copper plating solution is critical for ensuring process stability and reliability in integrated circuit manufacturing. Traditional detection systems rely on bulky rotating platinum disk electrodes (2–3 mm diameter) that consume large solution volumes to maintain unrestricted flow at high speeds, complicating operational workflows and limiting miniaturization. A team of scientists has addressed these challenges by developing a novel electrochemical microfluidic workstation that combines 3D-printed microfluidic chips with static platinum ultra-microelectrodes. By integrating microfluidic programmed mixing, the system reduces single-test solution consumption to 220 microliters. Calibration curves based on additive effects on copper deposition kinetics enable concentration detection with average relative errors below 10%. Their work is published in the journal Industrial Chemistry & Materials on June 26.

Cell sheet preparation for use in tissue engineering and regenerative therapies could be significantly improved with the use of thermo-responsive polymer brushes, adjusted in length and density according to specific cell types

- University of Leicester scientists analyse the chemical composition of corals to spot the signs of deforestation

- Corals absorb trace elements in water into their skeletons, which provides a proxy for nearby soil erosion

- Fills a huge gap in environmental data on deforestation impacting coastal ecosystems

- University of Leicester’s science and innovation park to lead on a European Space Agency project to build a Double-Walled Isolator (DWI) to support analysis of extra-terrestrial samples

- Samples could be stored and handled and initially analysed in the DWI, to reduce the risk of cross contamination on Earth

- Work has started with funding of €5 million

In a paper published in National Science Review, a research team led by Chinese scientists quantifies changes in dissolved carbon storage within China's lakes and reservoirs alongside dissolved carbon fluxes in rivers over the past three decades, systematically revealing how climate change, anthropogenic disturbances, and water chemistry factors collectively drive the dynamics of dissolved carbon in inland waters. The study finds that dissolved carbon storage across China's inland waters has increased significantly during this period, with riverine carbon fluxes primarily driven by climate and human factors, while lake and reservoir carbon storage is dominated by water chemistry controls.

The SUNER-C project, launched in 2022 and funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme, has officially concluded after three years of promoting solar fuels and chemicals as part of Europe's renewable energy transition. Its main mission was to build a strong, collaborative community and lay the groundwork for the future of solar-based energy solutions in Europe.

Researchers have long focused on the STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes) pathway as a way to harness the immune system’s natural defenses against cancer. This pathway, which plays a key role in helping the body defend against potential pathogens, can be leveraged to trigger an innate immune response that targets cancer cells. However, a study published July 3 in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, led by biochemist Lingyin Li (Bluesky: @lingyinli.bsky.social), is spearheading a new school of thought.