New research from an international group looking at ancient sediment cores in the North Atlantic has for the first time shown a strong correlation between sediment changes and a marked period of global cooling that occurred in the Northern Hemisphere some 3.6 million years ago. The changes in sediments imply profound changes in the circulation of deep water currents occurred at this time.

This crucial piece of work, which showed sediments changed in multiple sites east of the mid-Atlantic ridge but not west of that important geographical feature, opens multiple doors to future research aimed at better understanding the link between deep water currents, Atlantic Ocean heat and salt distribution and ice-sheet expansion, and climatic change.

Researchers have developed a novel wearable biosensor for continuous cortisol monitoring, leveraging computational chemistry and advanced electronics. The system integrates molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) optimized via density functional theory for high selectivity, paired with organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) for high sensitivity, achieving an ultra-low detection limit (0.36 nmol/L). Unlike traditional sensors, the device allows in-situ regeneration of MIPs using electric fields, enabling eight reuse cycles. A microfluidic sweat-sampling module and iontophoresis-driven sweat induction ensure noninvasive, real-time tracking, validated by circadian rhythm studies matching ELISA results. Encased in 3D-printed flexible packaging, the wireless system maintains stability under bending, paving the way for closed-loop therapeutics and precision health applications.

Inspired by the hollow skeletal structure of bird bones, which optimizes oxygen storage and respiratory efficiency, researchers from the University of Science and Technology Beijing developed a 3D hollow diamond-enhanced PEG composite PCM. The composite, HDF/PEG, leverages the excellent thermal conductivity of diamond and the advantages of a 3D interconnected structure to create a high-conductivity transport network.

Artificial light, once a luxury, has become central to modern life, with its evolution spanning from fire to LEDs. Now, researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw and Warsaw University of Technology led by Prof. Janusz Lewiński in collaboration with Prof. Andrew E. H. Wheatley from Cambridge University have developed a new class of efficient light-emitting materials as the promising candidates to be applied to lighten the darkness. They demonstrated easily accessible aluminium-based organometallic complexes that have the potential to be applied in optoelectronic devices. Let’s take a look closer at their recent studies.

This work provides valuable insights into the design of noble metal-loaded electrocatalysts with oxygen-rich reducible oxide supports, which can enhance catalytic efficiency in energy conversion reactions and improve resilience against CO poisoning.

A moisture-absorbing cooling composite enhances solar panel efficiency and durability in hot, humid climates.

Konstantin Vodopyanov, a professor at UCF's College of Sciences and CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics co-authored a new study that explores how EOS transmits ultrashort laser pulses through crystals that change in response to an applied electric field. This technique allows researchers to accurately capture the shape and timing of electric fields across a broad range of frequencies.