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Tuning nitrogen and boron turns waste sawdust biochar into an efficient catalyst for antibiotic removal

Researchers have developed a biochar catalyst that can actively break down antibiotics, achieving high removal efficiency in wastewater treatment. By controlling the nitrogen-to-boron ratio, the material's surface structure and active sites can be optimized for efficient degradation.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 30, 2026

Ice Age origins of one of humanity’s oldest drug habits

A Griffith University team discovered evidence of ancient betel nut use, dating back 25,000 years, which challenged the current timeline of drug use origins. The researchers found skeletal remains with unusual dental wear patterns, indicating early humans habitually sucked whole betel nuts, causing severe periodontal disease.

SourceGriffith University·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 9, 2026

Shedding light on how bacteria assemble outer membrane proteins

A team of researchers has shed light on the mechanism of outer membrane protein assembly in bacteria, revealing key conformational changes made by a chaperone protein. The study's findings may help identify new targets for antibacterial agents and improve our understanding of Gram-negative bacteria's resistance to antibiotics.

SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2026

Scientists discover an antidote to lethal snake bites that comes straight from the source

Researchers found specific combinations of blood proteins from western diamondback rattlesnakes provided unprecedented neutralizing power against multiple dangerous snake species. Combining several FETUA proteins dramatically increased ability to neutralize venom's damaging effects.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 29, 2026

Two ways to read a genome: Scientists reveal the first body-wide, single-cell atlas that maps DNA folding and epigenetics together

Researchers at Salk Institute create a body-wide single-cell atlas of two major epigenetic systems, revealing that cell-type-specific epigenetic features can affect disease risk. The study identifies over 1.36 million differentially methylated regions and 283,606 differential chromatin loops across the human body's cell types.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalScience·DateJul 23, 2026

Invisible chemical landscapes shape life

A research team has discovered that complex chemical signals merge in the environment to form dynamic 'chemodiversity landscapes' with emergent properties. These patterns can generate novel ecological effects, shaping entire ecosystems and influencing interactions between organisms.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeSystematic review·DateJun 16, 2026

AI helps scientists design better biochar catalysts for removing antibiotic pollution

A new study uses deep learning to predict how fast biochar materials break down antibiotic contaminants, offering a faster path toward cleaner water and smarter environmental remediation. The model reveals key mechanistic insights, including catalyst properties contributing 59.3% of the predictive power.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2026

Louse-borne relapsing fever: How the pathogen evades the immune system

Researchers identified five immunomodulatory proteins in Borrelia recurrentis that prevent activation of the human complement system, allowing the pathogen to survive in the human body. These Chi proteins also convert plasminogen into active plasmin, giving Borrelia recurrentis a significant advantage in spreading after infection.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2026

How life could arise from molecules

Complex systems exhibit emergent properties due to water's unique polarity, enabling DNA to store information and proteins to adopt specific structures. This order forms the basis for complex molecules to develop unpredictable properties, driving the evolution of life.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 5, 2026

AI helps scientists design smarter biochar to remove antibiotics from water

Researchers developed an AI tool to predict how effectively biochar materials break down antibiotics, offering a faster and smarter way to design environmental cleanup technologies. The framework accurately estimates reaction rates and provides scientific insights into material characteristics that influence performance.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2026

Turning algae waste into powerful filters: New biochar membranes clean wastewater more efficiently

Researchers created a novel material by converting microalgae biomass into biochar and modifying it with amine functional groups, producing hybrid filters with enhanced purification performance. The new membranes achieved better pollutant rejection and improved resistance to fouling.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 1, 2026

An enzyme neutralizes pathogens by cleaving a bacterial toxin

Scientists at Leibniz-HKI discovered an enzyme called BurK that cleaves the toxic molecule malleicyprol in human pathogenic bacteria. This mechanism regulates toxin levels and renders it harmless to humans, offering a potential therapeutic approach for antibiotic-resistant infections.

Chemistry meets biology: controlling artificial cell membranes through catalysis

Scientists at Institute of Science Tokyo have developed an artificial metalloenzyme-based platform that enables dynamic control of artificial membranes, mimicking the behavior of natural biological membranes. The researchers successfully induced phase-separated domain disappearance and membrane division in artificial membranes using a ...

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 1, 2025

Researchers uncover potential biosignatures on Mars

A new study has revealed chemical signatures of ancient Martian microbial life in the Bright Angel formation, a region of Jezero Crater known for its fine-grained mudstones rich in oxidized iron and organic carbon. The findings suggest that early microorganisms may have played a role in shaping these rocks through redox reactions.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalNature·DateSep 10, 2025

Long-term obesity and biological aging in young adults

Chronic health issues may emerge from long-term obesity in young adults, leading to epigenetic alterations, telomere attrition, and impaired nutrient sensing. The study found a significant association between long-term obesity and accelerated biological aging, highlighting the importance of addressing obesity early on.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 11, 2025

Microbial proteins reveal chemical signatures of body sites and inflammation

A new study reveals that protein sequences associated with microbial communities in the human gut have uniquely low stoichiometric water content and undergo counterintuitive chemical shifts during inflammation. Microbial communities inhabit distinct chemical environments throughout the human body, influencing microbial evolution.

SourceELSP·JournalBiomedical Informatics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 28, 2025

A new complexity in protein chemistry

Göttingen University researchers have discovered previously undetected chemical bonds within archived protein structures, revealing an unexpected complexity in protein chemistry. These newly identified nitrogen-oxygen-sulphur (NOS) linkages broaden our understanding of how proteins respond to oxidative stress.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalCommunications Chemistry·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 20, 2025

Getting cancer to unmask itself

Researchers from Prof. Yardena Samuels's lab developed a new approach to cancer treatment by manipulating cancer cells to produce dozens of suspicious proteins, leading to a powerful immune response that destroys human cancer cells and slows tumor growth in mouse models.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalCancer Cell·DateMar 31, 2025

Sensor technology uses nature’s blueprint and machinery to monitor metabolism in body

Researchers developed a sensor platform that tracks multiple metabolites continuously, offering a window into disease onset and health status. The technology harnesses natural biochemical processes, enabling reliable detection of over 800 metabolites, with potential applications in diagnosing metabolic disorders and optimizing fitness.

SourceCalifornia NanoSystems Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 26, 2025

Were large soda lakes the cradle of life?

Phosphorus is essential for life, but it's rare at Earth's surface. Large soda lakes can maintain high phosphorus concentrations through constant inflow and minimal evaporation. This creates an ideal environment for prebiotic chemistry, making these lakes a potential cradle of life.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 25, 2025

Novel molecular insights into bone remodeling

Researchers identify Fam102a as a key regulator of both osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation, leading to enhanced osteoblast formation and bone volume. The study reveals significant protein-protein interactions involving Fam102a and Kpna2, shedding light on the critical molecular interactions involved in bone remodeling.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 21, 2025