Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Waters Corporation have revealed that lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) — the delivery vehicles for RNA therapies — come in a surprising range of shapes and structures. Reported in Nature Biotechnology, the study shows that these structural differences directly influence how well LNPs deliver their therapeutic cargo, offering a blueprint for tailoring nanoparticles to specific diseases. The findings open the door to a new era of precision design for RNA medicines, moving beyond today’s trial-and-error approach.

Researchers have developed an improved method of gene editing that is precise, more efficient than other similar methods and can correct many disease-causing mutations at once in mammalian cells. The new method uses genetic elements from bacteria called retrons that help protect the microbes from viral infection.

New research from Queen Mary University of London shows that plastic pollution may linger at the ocean’s surface for more than a century. The study explains how buoyant plastics slowly sink through the water column, reshaping understanding of marine pollution.

In the high-altitude and extremely remote region of Dolpo in north-west Nepal, there are numerous Buddhist temples whose history dates back to the 11th century. The structures are threatened by earthquakes, landslides and planned infrastructure projects such as the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. There is also a lack of financial resources for long-term maintenance. Researchers from the Institute of Architectural Theory, History of Art and Cultural Studies and the Institute of Engineering Geodesy and Measurement Systems at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) want to prevent the loss of this cultural heritage, which has hardly been researched up to now. With the support of the Austrian Science Fund FWF, they have documented, analysed and measured buildings as part of several expeditions and preserved some of the temple complexes as 3D computer models – and could thus also have contributed to the preservation of the real buildings. The results have now been published in the journal “Heritage”.

Electrochemical water splitting holds promise for producing clean hydrogen at industrial scales, but current technologies often falter under large current densities. Recent advances in catalyst design and scalable synthesis strategies are bridging this gap, offering materials that maintain high efficiency, stability, and durability under harsh operational conditions. This review synthesizes progress in scalable electrocatalyst production, from electrodeposition and corrosion engineering to thermal treatment approaches, and further to their combinations. By addressing the key challenges of performance degradation, bubble management, and cost limitations, the study highlights emerging solutions that can accelerate the industrial adoption of green hydrogen production technologies.

Small-scale robots designed to operate on water surfaces face challenges in mobility, adaptability, and multifunctionality. This study introduces bio-inspired “S-aquabots” powered by a programmable Marangoni motor (PM-motor), enabling highly controllable propulsion, efficient fuel use, and silent motion. The robots mimic natural leaves, blending seamlessly into aquatic environments while achieving a 3.5-fold improvement in fuel efficiency compared to conventional designs. With flexible hybrid electronics, the S-aquabots perform complex maneuvers, transmit real-time video, and monitor environmental conditions. By combining biomimicry with advanced engineering, these devices open new possibilities for environmental monitoring, pollution control, and adaptive robotics in outdoor aquatic systems.

When dust sticks to a surface or a lizard sits on a ceiling, it is due to ‘nature’s invisible glue’. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have now discovered a quick and easy way to study the hidden forces that bind the smallest objects in the universe together. Using gold, salt water and light, they have created a platform on which the forces can be seen through colours.