Decades ago, archaeologists discovered a sticky substance in a copper jar in an ancient Greek shrine. And until recently, the identity of the residue was still murky — is it a mixture of fats, oils and beeswax or something else? Researchers publishing in the Journal of the American Chemical Society have reanalyzed samples of the residue using modern analytical techniques and determined that it’s likely the remains of ancient honey — a conclusion previous analyses rejected.

Over 500 million years ago, nature evolved a remarkable trick: generating vibrant, shimmering colours via intricate, microscopic structures in feathers, wings and shells that reflect light in precise ways. This “structural colour” has continued to fascinate and perplex scientists—but now, researchers from Trinity College Dublin have taken a major step forward in harnessing it for advanced materials science.

A team, led by Professor Colm Delaney from Trinity’s School of Chemistry and AMBER, the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research, has developed a pioneering method, inspired by nature, to create and programme structural colours using a cutting-edge microfabrication technique. 

The work, which has been funded by a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant, could have major implications for environmental sensing, biomedical diagnostics, and photonic materials.

Professor Chuang Yu from Huazhong University of Science and Technology significantly enhanced the air stability of chlorine-rich Li₅.₅PS₄.₅Cl₁.₅ electrolyte and improved the electrochemical performance of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries through a phosphate group doping strategy.