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Reimagining waste as a resource: Scientists in Saarland transform polystyrene into nylon precursors

Researchers at Saarland University have developed a process that transforms hard-to-recycle polystyrene into a sought-after feedstock for high-quality technical and high-performance polymers. This 'biological upcycling' enables the production of nylon precursors, offering a clear advantage over conventional recycling.

SourceSaarland University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 30, 2025

New single-dose, temperature-stable rabies vaccines could expand global access

Researchers at CU Boulder have developed a new method for creating human rabies vaccines that are stable at high temperatures and can be stored in a dry powder form. This innovation addresses the storage challenges faced by developing countries, where traditional vaccines often require refrigeration or specialized cold storage equipment.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Sciences·DateSep 23, 2025

Poplar tree discovery could help shape the future of energy and biomaterials

A University of Missouri-led study has uncovered how poplar trees can naturally adjust a key part of their wood chemistry based on changes in their environment, supporting improved bioenergy production. The discovery sheds light on the role of lignin and its potential to create better biofuels and sustainable products.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 18, 2025

New method to synthesize carbohydrates could pave the way to biomedical advances

Researchers have discovered a way to selectively create links between sugar molecules, enabling precise control over the stereochemistry of oligosaccharides. This breakthrough could open up new avenues of biomedical research into these versatile molecules, providing access to previously difficult-to-construct oligosaccharides.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Synthesis·DateAug 12, 2025

Solving a dirty problem with sunlight and oil

A Norwegian University of Science and Technology doctoral thesis presents a creative method to remove organic pollutants from wastewater using sunlight and small droplets of oil. The technology uses titanium dioxide nanoparticles to stabilize the oil droplets, which act as tiny chemical reactors to break down pollutants.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalChemical Engineering Journal Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2025

Using lightning to make ammonia out of thin air

University of Sydney researchers have developed a method to produce ammonia in gas form using electricity, offering a more sustainable alternative to the current Haber-Bosch process. This new approach reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, making it a promising solution for the agricultural and hydrogen industries.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 3, 2025

Using light-powered enzymes to build clean, high-value chemicals

Scientists developed a precise, cost-effective way to make chiral ketones for medicines, agrochemicals, and more using photocatalysis. This approach solves the challenge of reaching remote stereocenters in molecules, allowing for eco-friendly production of valuable chemicals.

Hard-to-avoid emissions: Limited potential for marine carbon dioxide removal in Germany’s seas

A new study finds that ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and storage in German waters is feasible but with limitations, such as local marine conditions and required materials, energy, and infrastructure. Only five methods were shortlisted for implementation in German North Sea and Baltic waters.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalEarth's Future·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 29, 2025

Green recipe: Engineered yeast boosts D-lactic acid production

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University developed an engineered yeast that can produce record-high yields of D-lactic acid from methanol, a key compound used in biodegradable plastics and pharmaceuticals. The optimized yeast strain achieves a 1.5-fold boost in production compared to other methanol-based methods.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalBiotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 20, 2025

Bioprocessing method yields high-value products alongside biofuels

Researchers developed a sustainable process to recover valuable products from oilcane bagasse, generating multiple product streams. The process recovers anthocyanins and vegetative lipids for natural colorants and biofuel production, making the process more cost-effective and sustainable.

Jeffrey Hubbell joins NYU Tandon to lead new university-wide health engineering initiative & expand the school’s bioengineering focus

Jeffrey Hubbell joins NYU Tandon to lead a cross-university collaborative initiative integrating engineering, sciences, and medicine to advance healthcare innovation. The initiative aims to translate scientific discoveries into pioneering treatments through unprecedented investments in faculty, facilities, and programming.

Microwaving waste cooking oil into useful chemicals

A team from Kyushu University has developed a zeolite catalyst that can be heated using microwaves to speed up the conversion of fatty acid esters to olefins. This process improves energy efficiency and reduces carbon dioxide production, offering a more sustainable chemical industry.

SourceKyushu University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 9, 2024

New additive process can make better — and greener — high-value chemicals

Researchers at the University of Illinois developed an eco-friendly method to precisely mix fluorine into olefins using natural enzymes and light, offering a more efficient strategy for creating high-value chemicals with potential applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, renewable fuels and more.

Scientists solve chemical mystery at the interface of biology and technology

Researchers at the University of Washington have solved a long-standing chemical mystery in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), which allow current to flow in devices like implantable biosensors. The study reveals that OECTs turn on via a two-step process, causing a lag, and off through a simpler one-step process.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 30, 2024

Pushing the boundaries of ultrasound imaging: breaking new ground with ultrafast technology

Researchers have enhanced microvascular sensitivity using ultrafast ultrasound, capturing the three-dimensional vascular network of renal arteries and veins without contrast agents. This technique reveals sharp decreases in renal blood flow during acute renal failure and chronic vascular degeneration in diabetic nephropathy.

Unveiling a new era of imaging: Boston University engineers lead breakthrough microscopy techniques

Researchers create new methods to visualize and understand samples with increased accuracy and sensitivity. The development of photothermal microscopy, also known as VIP microscopy, enables scientists to probe specific chemical bonds in a specimen, allowing them to map molecules at low concentrations without dye labeling.

SourceBoston University·JournalNature Communications·TypeImaging analysis·DateDec 4, 2023

Team creates synthetic enzymes to unravel molecular mysteries

A team of researchers developed synthetic enzymes that can control the behavior of the signaling protein Vg1, which plays a key role in vertebrate embryonic development. The study uses zebrafish to investigate how Vg1 is formed and found that it must undergo additional processing before it can be activated.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2023

New recipes for better solar fuel production

A team of researchers from China and the UK has developed new ways to optimise the production of solar fuels by creating novel photocatalysts. These photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide with boron nitride, can absorb more wavelengths of light and produce more hydrogen compared to traditional methods.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalApplied Surface Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2023

Tiny microbes could brew big benefits for green biomanufacturing

Researchers have engineered bacteria to combine natural enzymatic reactions with the carbene transfer reaction, producing new-to-nature carbon products that can be used in biochemicals and advanced biofuels. This breakthrough could reduce industrial emissions by providing sustainable alternatives to chemical manufacturing processes.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2023

Development of an artificial kidney for early detection of drug toxicity

A research team from Pohang University of Science & Technology has engineered an artificial kidney to detect adverse drug reactions and provide personalized treatment. The team successfully fabricated a glomerular microvessel-on-a-chip that recapitulates the kidney's filtering function and evaluates its response to various toxins.

Uncovering the secrets of electron-eating microorganisms

Researchers at Aarhus University are studying electro-trophic microorganisms that convert green electricity and CO2 into high-value products. The project aims to understand the underlying mechanisms of these microbes, which could lead to breakthroughs in microbiological Power-to-X and novel tools for microbial corrosion prevention.

New enzyme could mean better drugs

Rice University scientists identified a new Diels-Alderase enzyme, CtdP, which catalyzes the Diels-Alder reaction with precise stereochemistry control. This discovery could lead to improved pharmaceutical synthesis and development of more effective drugs.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2023

High-quality growth

Assistant Professor SUZUKI Hiroo and colleagues have developed a method to grow highly crystalline TMDCs, such as MoS2 and WS2, using chemical vapor deposition in a stacked substrate configuration. The technique produces samples with large domains and optimal photoluminescence characteristics.

SourceOkayama University·JournalACS Nano·DateOct 5, 2022

Distantly related viruses share self-assembly mechanism

Researchers have discovered that two distantly related RNA viruses perform chemical choreography in strikingly similar ways, forming a symmetrical icosahedral shell. This finding has potential applications in improving pharmaceutical delivery and engineering, as well as understanding protein folding mechanisms.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 22, 2022

Interactive map of metabolical synthesis of chemicals​

Researchers have developed an interactive metabolic map of bio-based chemicals, providing a versatile tool for easy assessment and optimization of synthetic pathways. The map enables exploration and analysis of complex networks of biological and/or chemical reactions, facilitating the design and production of desired chemicals.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalTrends in Biotechnology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 11, 2022

Custom suits for worms that really deliver

Researchers from Osaka University have developed a system to coat nematodes with hydrogel sheaths that can carry functional cargo. The study found that the sheaths protect the worms from UV light and hydrogen peroxide while allowing them to deliver anti-cancer agents to kill cancer cells in vitro.

SourceOsaka University·JournalMaterials Today Bio·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 22, 2022