A first-of-its-kind study from researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities shows how remote sensing can help monitor and remove plastic debris from freshwater environments like the Mississippi River.

Trimethoprim (TMP), a widely used antibiotic often present in wastewater treatment plant discharge, can disrupt the ecosystem and pose risks to human health when it contaminates soil and water. To address this issue, researchers from Korea have developed a convenient, disposable electrochemical sensor for rapid on-site detection of TMP in water samples. This innovative μTMP-chip enables efficient monitoring and management of environmental pollutants such as antibiotics.

Researchers from the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, have developed a new technology that uses microorganisms to convert the CO₂ in chimney smoke directly for new purposes – for example fuels or substances for the chemicals industry. The technology removes and converts CO₂ directly in the capture unit instead of having to apply high heat like more conventional approaches. The research has recently been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

Hand choice, an unconscious decision, is influenced by target-related information, but if these are non-informative, the choice will be approximately 50–50. In this equilibrium situation, non-target information may also aid in decision-making, but no research has demonstrated this. Now, researchers have investigated the effect of somatosensory stimulation on motor decisions in healthy participants. The results revealed that wrist stimulation significantly increased the likelihood of choosing the stimulated hand, highlighting its application in stroke rehabilitation.

The British Science Association (BSA) has awarded an Honorary Fellowship to Swansea University’s Professor Tom Crick MBE.