A new version of Cellpose – the popular tool developed by researchers at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus that maps the boundaries of diverse cells in microscopy images – now works on less-than-perfect pictures that are noisy, blurry, or undersampled.

A Nebraska research team recently published a study in Communications Earth and Environment that is one of the first to show that methanogens, micro-organsms ubiquitous in low-oxygen envrionments like aquifers, soil and even permafrost, can propel their growth by dissolving calcium carbonate, one of the Earth's most abundant minerals. The discovery paints a clearer picture of carbon flow through the environment and offers new information to guide bioenergy development. 

Electronic textiles, such as heating pads and electric blankets, can keep the wearer warm and help ease aches and pains. However, prolonged use of these devices could cause heat-related illnesses, including hyperthermia or burns. Recently, a group of researchers designed and tested a “smart” jacket equipped with environmental sensors, heat-generating and color-changing yarns, and artificial intelligence (AI) to control temperature and prevent overheating. Their results are published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 

University of Texas at Dallas researchers have discovered why LiNiO₂ batteries break down, and they are testing a solution that could remove a key barrier to widespread use of the material. They published their findings online Dec. 10 in the journal Advanced Energy Materials.

The team plans first to manufacture LiNiO₂ batteries in the lab and ultimately to work with an industry partner to commercialize the technology.

Florida Atlantic University has officially established itself among the most prestigious colleges and universities in the United States for its notable accomplishments in research. It now holds the esteemed designation of “R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, and shares this status with less than 5% of the nearly 4,000 universities in the U.S.