7-Apr-2026 Engineered biochar and bacteria team up to lock toxic metals in polluted soils Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University Heavy metal contamination from industrial activities remains a major environmental challenge worldwide, especially at sites affected by lead and zinc smelting. Now, a new study offers a promising, low-cost strategy to stabilize multiple toxic metals in soil using a novel combination of biochar and beneficial bacteria. Journal Biochar
7-Apr-2026 Biochar and plant hormone team up to protect wheat from toxic metals and drought Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University A new study reveals that combining biochar with a natural plant hormone can significantly improve wheat’s ability to withstand two major agricultural threats: cadmium contamination and drought. Journal Biochar
7-Apr-2026 How marketing can help US firms combat import competition American Marketing Association Marketing leadership, strategic differentiation, and robust customer relationships can help firms weather pressures from imports. Journal Journal of Marketing
7-Apr-2026 How to plan electricity expansion in hydro-dependent systems? Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral In hydro-dependent power systems, water availability varies due to droughts and climate variability, increasing the risk of supply shortages. We present an integrated framework for planning generation and transmission expansion under hydrological uncertainty. The approach uses Monte Carlo simulations to estimate hydropower availability factors and a multi-stage MINLP model that integrates reservoir operation and transmission line reconductoring. It is applied to a 24-bus equivalent system over the 2025–2040 period and evaluated under three scenarios with 19,200 simulations. The full renewable scenario reduces total system cost and unserved power Journal Energy Conversion and Management
7-Apr-2026 Fly ball! Harvard University A study by Harvard neuroscientists shows how fruit flies learn how to manipulate balls with “play-like” experimentation. Journal Current Biology
7-Apr-2026 Light-driven method enables sustainable production of porous semiconducting polymers Koç University A new study reports a visible-light-driven method to synthesize porous semiconducting polymers under ambient conditions without metal catalysts, offering a more sustainable and efficient route with strong photocatalytic performance. Journal Nature Communications
7-Apr-2026 Cryptorchidism’s rare cause: Be aware of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome Higher Education Press A 4‑month‑old male infant who presented with left cryptorchidism and was ultimately diagnosed with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) with transverse testicular ectopia. Two novel mutations in the AMHR2 gene were identified. Journal UroPrecision
7-Apr-2026 Green biocatalyst: Agro-waste boosts enzyme for silver recycling HEP Data Cooperation Journals Bacillus sp. CL14 produced proteases with diverse substrates using hydrolyzed feather meal, linseed flour and canola meal. The crude enzyme was successfully applied to hydrolyze the gelatin layer in waste X-ray films, which might be a cost-effective and eco-friendly strategy for silver recovery. Journal Systems Microbiology and Biomanufacturing
7-Apr-2026 Engineered super-enzyme paves way for high-yield human milk oligosaccharide HEP Data Cooperation Journals Mining a highly active α-1,2-fucosyltransferase and implementing a dual-module metabolic bypass knockout strategy combined with global regulation in engineered Escherichia coli, an efficient microbial accumulation platform of 2’-Fucosyllactose (11.02 g/L, 13.7-fold enhanced) was established. Journal Systems Microbiology and Biomanufacturing
7-Apr-2026 Swipe right? Dating apps linked to body image pressures Adelaide University Bumble, Tinder or Hinge – they’re the fast-paced, image-driven dating platforms millions rely on to find everything from love to a late-night fling. But new Adelaide University research suggests they may also be undermining how young adults see their bodies. Journal Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
