Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a soft, tiny sensor that mimics how sensory cells convert touch into electrical signals. Using salt water and charged particles, the sensor generates signals through a mechanism similar to that of human touch receptors. The technology could eventually enable prostheses to connect directly to the nervous system and provide a sense of touch. However, further research is needed before the sensor can stimulate nerves and be tested clinically.

Wearable neuromorphic devices could enable low-power sensing and health-monitoring technologies, but many existing architectures rely on external power sources. Researchers have developed a flexible, self-powered neuromorphic device that combines a triboelectric nanogenerator with an ion-gel-gated transistor to convert mechanical movement into electrical spikes that regulate synaptic behavior. The device reproduces hierarchical memory and spike-rate-dependent learning, highlighting its potential for future wearable neuromorphic applications.

A research team led by Kyushu University have developed a new water-soluble and metal-free molecule that could be detected by both fluorescence imaging and utilized as an MRI contrast agent. The team modified the luminescent organic radical tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) methyl (TTM) to make it water-soluble. The new molecule produced deep-red fluorescence in water and enhanced the contrast of MRI phantom images by approximately 2.5 to 4.5 times stronger than that of previously reported water-soluble TTM radicals.

Using an integrated New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) framework combining bioinformatics, 3D modeling, machine learning, and in vitro assays, this study analyzed 107 ecological factors and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) diversity across 169 mammalian species. Key discoveries include an expanded ligand-binding pocket in omnivores, a cetacean-specific substitution, and brain-to-body mass ratio as a sensitivity predictor. These findings provide essential molecular mechanisms for predicting wildlife chemical sensitivity.