Rare and endangered animals are often among the species most vulnerable to chemical pollution, yet scientists face a difficult problem when trying to assess those risks. Conventional toxicity experiments may require large numbers of organisms, making them impractical and ethically inappropriate for species with limited populations.

Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from agricultural residues, forestry waste, manure, sludge, and other biomass, has attracted growing interest as an affordable material for water purification. Its porous structure and chemically active surface can capture contaminants, while its production can transform discarded biomass into a useful environmental resource.

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo have developed ultrathin, stretchable facial electrodes that are effectively invisible and cannot be felt when worn. The electrodes reduce the visual discomfort and psychological burden associated with conventional facial sensors, allowing eye movements, facial muscle activity, and brain activity to be measured under more natural conditions. The electrodes could allow future technology to be operated with subtle facial and eye signals.

New study helps resolve one of South American archaeology's longest-running debates: the role of maize in precolonial societies. Evidence reveals that large villages in central Brazil were supported by polyculture maize farming while neighboring societies maintained diversified food production strategies. 

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels pose a significant global challenge, making the assessment of natural carbon sinks, such as forests, ever more critical. New research conducted in the Garhwal region of the Indian Himalayas investigates how different forest types contribute to carbon storage across varying altitudes. The investigation by Arvind Singh, Vinod Prasad Khanduri, and colleagues identifies distinct carbon partitioning strategies, where high-altitude conifer forests excel at storing carbon in biomass, while lower-elevation mixed broadleaf forests are superior in stabilizing soil carbon. This understanding is vital for developing effective climate mitigation plans.

Texas A&M University researchers use a naturally occurring gut chemical to heal the brain after traumatic injury, making post traumatic seizures rarer and harder to trigger while pointing toward a future where epilepsy may be prevented before it begins

AMHERST, Mass. — Chang Liu, associate professor in the Riccio College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, wants people to have access to at-home HIV tests sensitive enough for early diagnosis comparable to—or exceeding—lab standards. A new two-year, $1.3 million award from the National Institutes of Health will help him advance his proof-of-concept work toward commercialization.