28-Feb-2026 Decoding lettuce diversity to design healthier, more colorful crops Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science Lettuce is one of the world’s most widely consumed vegetables, yet its leaf shape, color, and nutritional quality remain difficult to improve simultaneously through traditional breeding. Journal Horticulture Research
28-Feb-2026 When one gene makes the difference: How partial ripening control benefits melons Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science Extending the shelf life of climacteric fruits often comes at the cost of flavor, color, and texture, creating a long-standing trade-off between storability and quality. Journal Horticulture Research
27-Feb-2026 Infrared spectroscopy sheds new light on the future of protonic ceramic cells KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. Protonic ceramic cells (PCCs) are emerging as highly efficient devices for power generation, hydrogen production, and chemical synthesis at intermediate temperatures. However, their advancement depends on a deeper understanding of proton transport, hydration mechanisms, and surface catalytic reactions. This review highlights how diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) provides a powerful, surface-sensitive approach to uncover these mechanisms in real time. By probing hydroxyl formation, carbonate species, reaction intermediates, and proton migration pathways, DRIFTS enables researchers to decode key phenomena that govern PCC performance. The study also outlines major challenges and proposes strategies to expand DRIFTS capabilities for improving materials design and accelerating PCC development. Journal eScience Funder HydroGEN Advanced Water Splitting Materials Consortium, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office
27-Feb-2026 Mechanochemical upcycling of spent LIB graphite into photocatalytic adsorbents for wastewater treatment Research Now, a team at Shanghai Jiao Tong University has developed a scalable mechanochemical approach combined with electrostatic self-assembly to convert spent LIB graphite into a high-performance photocatalytic adsorbent, named OMG17@TiO₂. This composite achieves ultrahigh adsorption capacities of 673.67 mg/g for methylene blue (MB) and 966.58 mg/g for rhodamine B (RhB), significantly outperforming most reported graphene-based materials. Journal Research Funder National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Environmental Protection Foundation
27-Feb-2026 Flood patterns have changed. Flood insurance needs to keep up. Arizona State University Arizona State University and Columbia University research finds that increased flood strikes and outdated flood prediction led to meager payouts for homeowners and massive debt for the National Flood Insurance Program — but there is a way out. Journal Natural Hazards
27-Feb-2026 Using cold plasma to repair muscle tissue Thomas Jefferson University Targeting immune cells with cold plasma to speed healing and enhance surgical outcomes.
27-Feb-2026 AI tool could help predict side effects from lung cancer treatment Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson researchers use machine learning to predict which patients are at risk of developing side effects from radiation.
27-Feb-2026 Could patient education reduce severe complications after a pancreatectomy? Thomas Jefferson University Researchers found that patients who had a single-stage total pancreatectomy faced more complications than patients that underwent a two-stage procedure.
27-Feb-2026 Cracking the genetic code of rooting power in chrysanthemum cuttings Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science Vegetative propagation is the backbone of commercial chrysanthemum production, yet large differences in rooting ability among varieties continue to limit efficiency and profitability. Journal Horticulture Research
27-Feb-2026 High light reprograms hormones and sugars to heal watermelon grafts Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science Grafting without rootstock cotyledons offers a cost-saving solution for watermelon production by eliminating shoot regrowth, yet its low survival rate has limited commercial adoption. Journal Horticulture Research
