A new way to identify salts in nuclear waste melters could help improve clean-up technology, including at the Hanford Site, one of the largest, most complex nuclear waste clean-up sites in the world. Reporting in the journal Measurement, Washington State University researchers used two detectors to find thin layers of sulfate, chloride and fluoride salts during vitrification, a nuclear waste storage process that involves converting the waste into glass. The formation of salts can be problematic for waste processing and storage.

Researchers at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center in Berlin are developing a targeted treatment for muscular dystrophy with the help of gene-editing. Preclinical research led by the Spuler Lab published in “Nature Communications” now paves the way for first-in-human clinical trials. 

Extreme temperatures, scarce water resources, and unpredictable weather characterize the challenging conditions of a typical desert. The Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), Chinese Academy of Sciences has been dedicated to transforming the stretches of arid land into thriving ecosystems, focusing on the sustainable development of these areas. On December 9 2024, XIEG showcased its contributions toward this objective at the "Green Technology, Green Future" side event at the China Pavilion of UNCCD COP16.

Leading UCLA psychiatry and psychology professor Dr. Carrie Bearden combines genetics and neuroscience to investigate early indicators of psychosis risk in adolescents. Her innovative research at UCLA's Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior bridges crucial gaps between genetic predisposition and clinical intervention, offering new hope for early detection and prevention.