Long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) can disrupt immune balance and worsen lung health. In a recent study, researchers from Korea exposed mice to PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 to examine their effects on lung inflammation and immune responses. The results showed elevated T_H2 cytokines and activation of the NRF2 pathway, contributing to allergic-type lung damage. These findings suggest that air pollution may promote asthma and chronic lung diseases by altering immune regulation and increasing oxidative stress.

Sepsis continues to cause nearly one in five deaths globally, with little improvement despite existing guidelines. This editorial explores why current efforts fall short and outlines future directions for research and care. Key areas include AI-based early detection, faster diagnostics, personalized treatments, and improved trial designs. By closing the gap between evidence and bedside practice, these strategies offer a path toward reducing sepsis deaths and advancing global critical care.

The Helfrich theory of membrane bending, supported by molecular dynamics simulations, is a promising approach for evaluating mechanical properties of graphene nanosheets, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. This hybrid approach allows direct evaluation of bending rigidities of graphene nanosheets, even with lattice defects, without requiring experimental tests, offering valuable insights for designing novel two-dimensional materials with tailored mechanical properties.

In a step toward smarter materials, researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo collaborated with researchers from Switzerland to develop a smart hinge-like molecule that can indicate mechanical stress in polymeric materials through fluorescence. Using a framework of [2.2]paracyclophane and two pyrene-based luminophores (light-emitting compounds), the developed molecule exhibits excellent stress-sensing with high durability—offering a powerful tool for real-time monitoring of mechanical damage.

Researchers from the Building Engineering Laboratory (LabIC.UGR) are collaborating with the University of Bologna (Italy) on the design and evaluation of the resistance of asphalt made from pellets of this waste, in a project co-funded by the Chinese government

Novel machine learning algorithm can analyse microscope images of corroded metal surfaces to estimate corrosion severity

Scientists in Belfast and Nigeria have developed a diagnostic tool that deploys microbes to uncover the timeline of crude oil contamination in soils.The collaborative project is led by researchers from Queenʼs University Belfast and partners in Nigeria and is outlined in the study ʽ’Developing a Molecular Tool for Evaluating the Status of Petrochemical-Contaminated Soils Using functional Gene Ratio Strategy’, which appears in Letters in Applied Microbiology, an Applied Microbiology International publication.