Transfer hydrogenation (TH) emerges as a frontier in hydrogenation science for utilizing safe and available non-H₂ hydrogen sources. Single-atom catalysts (SACs), with maximal atom utilization, well-defined active sites, and tunable structures, are attractive heterogeneous catalysts for TH due to the superior performance, clear structure-performance relationship, and low cost. This review categorizes TH by hydrogen sources, exploring the correlation between SACs’ structural characters and catalytic behaviors as well as corresponding synthetic strategies toward the featured structures of SACs. It also discusses challenges/opportunities remained in the field of TH promoted by SACs, guiding the design of high-performance SACs for the environmental-friendly and cost-effective hydrogenation technology.

This study used the concept of reinforcement learning to explain the navigation of chemotactic cells toward sparsely distributed targets, showing how decentralized information processing through environmental interaction can lead to highly intelligent behavior. Simulations showed that groups of simple agents could navigate mazes more robustly than a more intelligent single agent. This demonstrates that decentralized teams of simple agents can efficiently process information as a group, with potential applications in medicine, artificial intelligence, and robotics.

SAN ANTONIO — October 15, 2025 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and 8 Rivers have patented a system that leverages fluctuations in energy demand by using liquid oxygen storage (LOX) to make power plants more cost-effective and efficient. To accomplish this, the Institute modified a recently developed power cycle, the Allam-Fetvedt Cycle, which combusts fuel, like natural gas, using an oxygen and carbon dioxide mixture to allow complete carbon capture, producing minimal greenhouse gas emissions.

University of Tennessee AgResearch hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center highlighting new on-site facilities, precision agriculture equipment and laboratory renovations funded through the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

A study of elephants, giraffes and other wildlife in Namibia’s Etosha National Park underscores the ways in which the environment, biological sex, and anatomical distinctions can drive variation in the gut microbiomes across plant-eating species. Because the gut microbiome plays a critical role in animal health, the work can be used to inform conservation efforts.

Organoids are three-dimensional, self-organizing structures derived from stem cells that faithfully mimic the complexity of human organs. This review explores the innovations in organoid technology, covering their construction, applications, and future challenges. By replicating in vivo conditions, organoids have become indispensable tools for disease modeling, drug screening, and personalized medicine, with growing significance in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research.

A Harvard team has demonstrated that robots can be designed to react to their environment and perform tasks by programming intelligence into their structure.