Continuous increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration has led to significant climate and environmental concerns. CO₂ capture and thermal insulation are effective measures to reduce CO₂ emissions. Among these, aerogels exhibit remarkable performance in excellent performance in thermal insulation and CO₂ adsorption owing to their unique and tailorable porous structure and surface chemistry. Nonetheless, while methyl-functionalized aerogels for thermal insulation and amine-functionalized aerogels for CO₂ capture have been extensively developed, it remains challenging to integrate amine and methyl groups in a material stably owing to their quite different feature. This major limitation leads to an increase in cost and a reduction of flexibility in terms of manufacture and application.

In the fight against cancer, immunotherapy – which aims to boost the body’s natural defences against cancer - is experiencing remarkable growth. Most of these treatments are based on CD8 T lymphocytes, ‘‘killer cells’’ able to eliminate diseased cells. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has explored an alternative approach involving CD4 T lymphocytes. Long considered mere auxiliary cells, their therapeutic potential has been considered of secondary importance. But the scientists have discovered that they also have strong killing capacity, while continuing to support other immune cells. Using cell engineering technologies, the team reprogrammed the cells to target a tumour marker found in many cancers, both in adults and children. These results, published in the journal Science Advances, offer hope for a faster therapeutic strategy that could benefit a greater number of patients.