Biodegradable food packaging materials offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, but their applications are often limited by lower oxygen barrier performance and mechanical strength. Now, Professor Andi Dirpan from Hasanuddin University, along with researchers from India and Malaysia, have developed multilayered polylactic acid films reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose and oxygen scavenger butylated hydroxytoluene. The resulting bioplastic improved oxygen-scavenging functionality with strength, offering the promise of a safe and sustainable solution for food packaging.

The National Initiative for RNA Biology and its Applications (NIRBA) officially opened its new Hub at the National University of Singapore (NUS) today, marking a significant milestone in Singapore’s efforts to strengthen its capabilities in RNA science and accelerate the translation of research into healthcare, economic and societal impact.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Mr Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of the National Research Foundation (NRF), and attended by leaders from academia, research institutions, industry and government agencies. Serving as the focal point of NIRBA’s hub-and-spoke model, the Hub will unite researchers, clinicians, technology platforms and industry partners to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and accelerate innovation in RNA science.

The sand used to build cities, roads and other infrastructure is being removed from many rivers faster than nature can replace it, according to a global review led by researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore).

An international team of scientists has uncovered new information about the natural enemies of the weevil beetle Lixus subtilis, a notorious agricultural pest. Published in the journal ZooKeys, the study reveals the discovery of an entirely new species of hyperparasitoid wasp in China, named after the famous writer Ernest Hemingway, alongside the first regional record of a wasp species that parasitises the weevil pest. Together, these findings offer critical insights into complex agricultural food chains and provide a foundational step toward developing better biological pest control methods.