Rising global sea levels, driven by the greenhouse effect, now pose an irreversible threat to coastal cities. Prof. Xiao Lin ZHAO, Chair Professor of Civil Infrastructure of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and his research team have proposed a sustainable and smart floating structure solution, offering an affordable and eco-friendly approach to urban development in Hong Kong. 

University of Maryland researchers discovered the gene that makes a rare form of wheat grow three ovaries per flower instead of one. Since each ovary can potentially develop into a grain of wheat, the gene could help farmers grow much more wheat per acre. Their work was published on October 14, 2025, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

PET-CT combines the functional information gained through PET with the structural details gained by a CT scan, aiding in early detection of recurrent disease.

MIT physicists improved the stability of optical atomic clocks by reducing “quantum noise” — a fundamental measurement limitation. The work could enable more precise, portable optical atomic clocks that track even tinier intervals of time, up to 100 trillion times per second.

The brain’s mechanisms for repairing injuries caused by trauma or degenerative diseases are not yet known in detail. Now, a study by the University of Barcelona describes a new strategy based on stem cell therapy that could enhance neuronal regeneration and neuroplasticity when this vital organ is damaged. The results reveal that the use of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), combined with stem cell-based cell therapies, could help in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or brain injuries.

A National Science Foundation grant will support Anne Brown’s goal to enhance the technical and practical data science skills of students studying molecular bioscience.

Wetlands act as nature’s kidneys: They trap sediments, absorb excess nutrients and turn pollutants into less harmful substances. Now, the list of pollutants wetland plants can remove includes per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). From a greenhouse study, researchers in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology report that moisture-loving yellow flag irises and fungi on their roots are a promising combination for PFAS removal. As part of a constructed wetland, this pair could effectively treat contaminated wastewater.