To ensure that the tissue structures of biological samples are easily recognisable under the electron microscope, they are treated with a staining agent. The standard staining agent for this is uranyl acetate. However, some laboratories are not allowed to use this highly toxic and radioactive substance for safety reasons. A research team at the Institute of Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis (FELMI-ZFE) at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) has now found an environmentally friendly alternative: ordinary espresso. Images of the samples treated with it were of equally good quality as images of comparative samples, which were prepared with uranyl acetate. The researchers have published their findings in the journal Methods.

Scientists at the University of Connecticut have developed a handheld ‘pocket microscope’ that directly visualizes DNA and proteins in living cells without stains or labels. The system uses deep-ultraviolet light to map molecules with femtogram sensitivity, achieving 308-nanometer resolution across centimeter-wide areas. The device enables instant pathology diagnosis, identifies cancer cells, and maps brain neurons -- all while preserving samples’ natural state. This technology could transform medical diagnostics, from operating rooms to space missions.

In International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, researchers have created a new class of ultrathin hydrogel electrodes that could finally make long-term wearable health monitoring practical, bringing the promise of 24/7 and high-fidelity health monitoring closer to reality.

In the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, researchers use a nickel–titanium shape memory alloy shaped through laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to create tiny and wavy structural features only 0.3 millimeters across, much smaller and more controlled than what is typically possible in metal metamaterials.

A research team led by Dr. Shin Hur at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM, President Seog-Hyeon Ryu), including Syed Turab Haider Zaidi, a student researcher from the UST–KIMM School at KIMM, in collaboration with Dr. Byung-Chul Lee’s team at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), has developed the world’s first skin-attachable, noninvasive blood pressure sensor using PMN-PT single-crystal piezoelectric composites integrated through a low-temperature soldering process.

New research from Australia highlights the need for artificial intelligence (AI) systems to complement –  not impede – worker safety and welfare in workplaces. 

While Australia has taken commendable first steps towards responsible governance of AI, its current regulatory apparatus lacks the legally binding and workplace-specific and mechanisms necessary to mitigate emerging risks, according to Future of Work expert Associate Professor Andreas Cebulla, from Flinders University.