Antibiotic resistance is worsening worldwide, and plasmid conjugation is a major way resistance genes spread. A new study in Engineering finds that cinnamic acid, a safe, common food additive, can block this transfer process. It works by disrupting bacterial energy metabolism and reducing ATP supply. Tests in lab conditions, gut bacteria, and mice all show positive effects without harming health or gut flora, offering a promising natural way to fight drug-resistant infections.

Scientists at Zhejiang University have created a self-powered implantable sensor that tracks hydrogen peroxide levels in plants in real time, a key signal of plant stress. Powered by light, this high-precision sensor monitors how plants respond to osmotic, mechanical and UV stress, offering a new tool for crop health monitoring and stress-resistance breeding research.

The Centre for Research in Robotics and Underwater Technologies (CIRTESU) at the Universitat Jaume I in Castelló has developed an experimental modular, bio-inspired robotic fish prototype (UJIFISH) for inspection, hybrid teleoperation and sensor deployment in aquaculture. Its innovation lies in a functional design that eliminates stress factors such as propellers and high-intensity lighting, while maintaining high standards of modularity and interoperability.

The biomimetic platform has been designed to minimise environmental disturbance and reduce stress in fish by using bio-inspired undulatory propulsion, which lowers mechanical noise, hydraulic turbulence and physical disruption. The system is equipped with a modular sensing system for real-time data acquisition and image transmission, with hybrid communication capabilities via cable or acoustic modem. It features a panoramic vision system with a 180-degree field of view and can operate at depths of up to 20 metres, with remote control ranges of up to 150 metres vertically and 500 metres horizontally.

UJIFISH incorporates sensors for continuous measurement of water temperature and depth, with the option to integrate additional sensors to monitor parameters such as salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and gases. It enables direct inspection of net structures and monitoring of environmental conditions around fish, and includes a deployment system for transporting and releasing auxiliary components at specific locations. Its geometry and movement have been scaled to match adult fish, producing smoother hydrodynamic profiles and reducing acoustic disturbance.

Experimental results have confirmed the prototype’s functional viability, demonstrating high manoeuvrability and reliable target detection accuracy in controlled tests involving net inspection, teleoperation, data collection and sensor deployment. According to the research team, the flexibility of UJIFISH-I is essential in aquaculture environments, where monitoring requirements and technological constraints vary depending on species, infrastructure and environmental conditions.