Researchers at TU Delft (The Netherlands) and Brown University have developed scalable nanotechnology-based lightsails that could support future advances in space exploration and experimental physics. Their research, published in Nature Communications, introduces new materials and production methods to create the thinnest large-scale reflectors ever made. ‘This is not just another step in making things smaller; it’s an entirely new way of thinking about nanotechnology,’ explains Dr. Richard Norte, associate professor at TU Delft. ‘We’re creating high-aspect-ratio devices that are thinner than anything previously engineered but span dimensions akin to massive structures.’

MIT scientists used light to control how a starfish egg cell jiggles and moves during its earliest stage of development. Their optical system could guide the design of synthetic, light-activated cells for wound healing or drug delivery.

The research team led by Professor Aiwen Lei and Hong Yi from Wuhan University developed a tandem electro-thermal synthesis strategy to synthesize trivalent phosphorus compounds. By utilizing a TBAI-DMAP adduct as the catalytic system and employing white phosphorus and weakly nucleophilic reagents as starting materials, they successfully synthesized trivalent phosphorus transfer reagents with certain stability under high current density conditions. These reagents were then converted into various electron-rich trivalent phosphorus compounds through thermochemical transformation.

In a paper published in National Science Review, a team of Chinese scientists develop an AI-powered framework designed to achieve real-time, seamless retrieval of PM₁₀ concentrations. This breakthrough addresses the challenges of spatial gaps and nighttime observation deficiencies in current satellite-based PM10 data. It extends daily data to high-resolution, real-time hourly insights, providing strong support for precise dust storm monitoring.

When wildfires threaten communities, human health can be impacted as smoke distributes on the breeze, infiltrating various structures. To help people protect themselves and their families, researchers have developed a low-cost, durable, do-it-yourself air filtration system that works as well as more expensive HEPA filters to clear indoor air pollutants such as smoke — or possibly limit the impact of airborne disease spread. They will present their results at the ACS Spring 2025 Digital Meeting.

This work provides valuable insights into the design of efficient heterojunctions for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction.

A research group led by Associate Professor Takashi Kikuchi and Professor Wei Li from the Department of Pharmacognosy at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, along with Professor Atsushi Sugiyama from the Department of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine and Industry-Academia Collaboration Advisor Katsuhiko Ito, has analyzed the chemical compounds of the roots of Codonopsis lanceolata (commonly known as “Tsuruninjin”) grown in Nagano Prefecture. Their findings have revealed the compounds of the plant and, in particular, demonstrated that its major compound, lancemaside A, exhibits vasodilatory effects, suggesting that Codonopsis lanceolata could be effectively utilized as a health-promoting material in the future.

This research was published in the academic journal Chemistry on January 6, 2025.