A study in Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts reports large-area transparent bamboo produced by peroxyacetic-acid delignification followed by 20 MPa hot-pressing. A 10 µm polylactic-acid film loaded with 1% W-VO2 nanoparticles endows the composite with a 9.7% solar modulation range around a 31°C phase-change threshold. EnergyPlus simulations for four Chinese climate zones show annual energy savings of 1.6–5.6% versus clear single glass while cradle-to-gate life-cycle analysis indicates lower toxicity, particulate-matter and carbon footprints than either glass or cement.

A healthy New Jersey man, 47, died after eating hamburger. The death has prompted the leading expert on the allergy to urge vigilance among physicians and residents of the growing area home to the Lone Star tick.

Allen Institute researchers and engineers have unlocked potential and vast discoveries through the new Brain Knowledge Platform (BKP).  This first-of-its-kind database and research tool has just launched with data from over 34 million brain cells. It compiles and standardizes the world’s neuroscience data into a common format and language allowing deep, seamless collaboration between international teams all united in the common goal of finding cures for brain disease.   

In many modern sciences, data often exist on curved geometric spaces rather than flat planes, posing challenges for traditional statistical tools. These curved spaces are called Riemannian manifolds. Researchers from Pusan National University and Seoul National University have developed the “Huber mean,” a new method for robustly analyzing data on Riemannian manifolds. This study offers a powerful way to calculate averages that remain accurate even when data contain noise or outliers.

Supported catalysts are widely used in various chemical processes. However, most catalysts perform well only for specific chemical reactions, necessitating new methods to diversify and improve performance. Now, researchers have developed an innovative gas-switch-triggered reduction method for impregnation-based synthesis of supported catalysts, consisting of multiple alloyed metals. This method is simple, scalable and can be integrated easily into industrial processes, paving the way for advanced catalysts for more sustainable chemical synthesis.