Researchers have demonstrated a new and sustainable way to make the chemicals that are the basis of thousands of products – from plastics to cosmetics – we use every day.

In a new paper published today in Chem, a team of Columbia chemists has identified how to combine matter and light to get the best of both worlds: polaritons with strong interactions and fast, wavelike flow. These distinctive behaviors can be used to power optical computers and other light-based quantum devices.

Engineers and scientists, as well as artists, have long been inspired by the beauty and functionality of nature’s designs. Japan designed high-speed trains to cut through the air as smoothly as the kingfisher cuts through water, for example, but useful designs can also be found at a microscopic level. The study of biology in combination with materials science is called biomateriomics. An Italian research team sees great potential in the application of generative artificial intelligence to this already interdisciplinary field. They have described this potential, and the associated limitations and challenges, in an open access review article titled “Generative Artificial Intelligence for Advancing Discovery and Design in Biomateriomics,” published May 1 in Intelligent Computing, a Science Partner Journal.

CHIKVdb is a comprehensive genomic database developed to address limitations in existing resources for chikungunya virus (CHIKV) surveillance and outbreak response. It integrates 8,193 nucleotide and 10,637 protein sequences from 99 countries over 40 years, accompanied by standardized metadata. The platform features an interactive web interface with tools for phylogenetic analysis, source tracing, SNP identification, and genotype identification, streamlining workflows for public health and research applications. Global analyses reveal spatiotemporal heterogeneity in CHIKV transmission, highlighting the predominance of ECSA and ECSA-IOL genotypes and the central role of human and mosquito hosts. CHIKVdb enhances genomic surveillance by providing curated data and analytical capabilities, supporting efforts in pandemic preparedness and targeted control strategies. The database is freely accessible at https://nmdc.cn/gcpathogen/chikv.