Ultramicroporous carbon materials with Ångstrom-precise pore engineering offer a transformative solution for separating fluorinated gases like C₃F₆ (fluorinated propylene) and C₃F₈ (fluorinated propane). A team of scientists has synthesized the CO₂-activated porous carbon adsorbents derived from a precursory resin and systematically investigated their molecular sieving behavior for C₃F₆/C₃F₈ mixtures. Through controlled thermal pyrolysis and stepwise CO₂ activation, they tailored ultramicropore size distributions to selectively exclude or admit target molecules. Their work is published in the journal Industrial Chemistry & Materials on 24 Jun 2025.

Drawing inspiration from the veinous ears of jackrabbits and elephants, Drexel University researchers have come up with a new approach to passive heating and cooling that could one day make buildings more energy efficient. Their concept, recently published in the Journal of Building Engineering, embeds a vascular network within cement-based building materials that, when filled with paraffin-based material, can help passively regulate the surface temperature of walls, floors and ceilings.

Drs. Young Kyu Hwang, Jihoon Kim, and Kyung-Ryul Oh at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) reported a novel one-pot catalytic reaction using platinum (Pt)-based transfer hydrogenation to convert xylose—a sugar commonly derived from agricultural waste such as corn cobs and birch bark—into two value-added chemicals: xylonic acid (a pharmaceutical precursor) and xylitol (a bioplastic and sweetener feedstock).

The pathophysiological mechanisms associated with the onset and progression of age-related diseases, and potential impacts of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) on aging, are not completely understood. Uncovering these mechanisms could lead to new clinical methods capable of reducing the development of age-related disease. Supported by a three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, Aric F. Logsdon, Ph.D., from the TTUHSC School of Medicine will study how brain endothelial cells handle the stressors of neuroinflammation.

High-nickel cathodes are promising for improving the energy density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, their high nickel concentration leads to intense side reactions, degrading safety and stability. While full concentration gradient (FCG) design can address this issue, current approaches limit design flexibility. Now, researchers have developed a novel mathematical framework that, combined with an automated reactor system, allows unlimited customization of FCGs with independent parameter control, leading to LIBs with enhanced safety and stability.

A new study led by Virginia Tech found that volunteer dog-handler teams — made up of everyday people and their pets — can effectively detect the elusive egg masses of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that's damaging farms and forests across the eastern and central United States.