Researchers have shown how receptors selectively recognize chemical messengers, insights that could guide protein engineering and drug design going forward.

A single radioactive cloud was likely responsible for dispersing highly radioactive microscopic particles across large parts of Fukushima Prefecture during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The finding helps us understand the dispersion of radioactive materials after the accident.

Metabolism-inspired hydrogels are redefining how soft materials function. Researchers have designed copolymer networks that enable hydrogels to mimic biological processes, such as self-oscillation and light-to-chemical energy conversion. By integrating multiple components step by step, these systems move beyond simple responses to achieve coordinated, life-like behavior. This approach marks a shift toward advanced bio-inspired systems, where polymer networks actively drive energy conversion and function, opening new possibilities for smart materials and sustainable technologies.

Fast charging shortens the life of vehicle batteries, but is necessary on longer journeys with electric vehicles. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have now developed a new AI method that adapts fast charging to the health of the battery. Their study shows that battery life can be increased by almost 23 per cent without extending the charging time. All that is required is an update of the vehicle’s software.

Hyper performing Laser emission technology based on OLED–liquid crystal platforms achieving tens-fold enhanced color purity over OLEDs and continuous wavelength tuning over 135 nm at 1.5 V operation.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a water-based nanotechnology formulation that improves how agricultural pesticides adhere to plant leaves, reducing chemical waste and environmental runoff while increasing effectiveness in wind and rain.

A Korean research team has successfully developed a technology that converts carbon dioxide (CO₂) into liquid hydrocarbons such as gasoline and naphtha, achieving pilot-scale production of 50 kg per day. Dr. Jeong-Rang Kim’s research team at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), in collaboration with GS Engineering & Construction and Hanwha TotalEnergies, developed catalyst and process technology that directly converts CO₂ and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons without intermediate steps. This work was conducted under the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Carbon Resource Platform Chemical Project.

Researchers at the National University of Singapore have developed a high-throughput method to identify gold nanoparticles capable of delivering therapies directly to mitochondria (the energy centres inside cancer cells). By tagging nanoparticles with unique DNA “barcodes”, the team was able to track and compare dozens of designs simultaneously in living tumour models, rapidly identifying those most effective at reaching this critical subcellular target.