How many coins can touch one coin, or how many basketballs can ‘kiss’ one basketball at the same time? This seemingly playful question lies at the heart of the famous kissing number problem, a mathematical riddle that becomes almost supernaturally difficult to work out in dimensions beyond 4D. Breaking a 20 year drought, an Aalto University researcher found three new bounds for the famous mathematical ‘kissing number’ dilemma –– and AI managed to find just one.

This study reports the first in plant synthesis of luminescent and photo-responsive lignin by genetically engineering poplar trees to incorporate scopoletin into the lignin polymer. Through controlled enzyme expression, we achieved lignin with strong, stable luminescence, visible-range emission, and resistance to quenching. Additionally, the material exhibits pH-responsive fluorescence and reversible photo-dimerization, enabling light-controlled functionality. These unique properties open new opportunities for sustainable biomaterials with potential applications in environmental sensing, smart polymers, and advanced photonic materials.

The secretory pathway in eukaryotic cells is crucial for maintaining cellular function and physiological activities, as it ensures the accurate transport of proteins to specific subcellular locations or for secretion outside the cell. A research team led by Prof. GUO Yusong from the Division of Life Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has been extensively investigating the molecular mechanisms by which cargo proteins are recognized and loaded into transport vesicles in the secretory pathway. The team has successfully reconstituted the packaging of multiple disease-related cargo proteins into vesicles along the secretory route, providing a powerful tool for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of cargo loading. In addition, they developed an innovative analysis platform that integrates vesicle reconstitution with electron microscopy and proteomics, enabling systematic identification of vesicle protein composition and morphological features. This comprehensive approach has proven effective in uncovering novel cargo clients and cellular factors that mediate vesicular trafficking (Figure 1).

Researchers have developed a novel chemical process to recycle waste sourced from fishing nets and automotive parts