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These coastal wildflowers thrive in salt-laden air that kills other plants

Researchers have found that coastal wildflowers, such as the yellow monkeyflower, have evolved multiple adaptations to withstand salt spray, including altered pore structures and ability to bead up and roll off salt droplets. This knowledge could point to ways to make other plants, including crops, more resilient to salt exposure.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2026

USC technology may reduce shipping emissions by half

A USC-developed shipboard system using limestone and seawater can remove up to half of carbon dioxide emitted from shipping vessels, cutting maritime CO2 emissions by 50%. The process mimics a natural chemical reaction in the ocean, where CO2 is absorbed into water pumped onboard and then neutralized through a bed of limestone.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 26, 2025

Understanding cultural differences in salt usage may help lower consumption

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that consuming too much sodium increases the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The study highlights cultural differences in salt usage, suggesting that tailored advice on sodium intake may be effective in reducing consumption.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMay 28, 2025

Miso made in space tastes nuttier, researchers find

Scientists successfully fermented miso on the International Space Station, discovering differences in bacterial communities and flavor profiles compared to Earth-made miso. The study's findings suggest that food fermentation can thrive in space, opening up new possibilities for astronaut well-being and performance.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2025

Reduced sodium legislation saves lives

A study published in JAMA Cardiology found that legislation to reduce sodium in processed food in South Africa is linked to significant declines in blood pressure levels. The reduction in sodium intake has been associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease mortality and stroke, potentially saving millions of lives globally.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalJAMA Cardiology·DateMar 29, 2025

Food and non-alcoholic drink products in Mexico were substantially reformulated to be healthier following the 2020 introduction of warning labels identifying products with excessive content of calories, fat, salt, sugar, sweetener and caffeine

Following the introduction of warning labels in 2020, Mexico substantially reformed food and non-alcoholic drink products to be healthier. The reformulation resulted in a significant reduction of excessive calories, fats, salts, sugars, sweeteners, and caffeine content in these products.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 18, 2025

Salts as building blocks for organocatalysis

Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum developed a novel approach to create salts that catalyze specific reactions. The cation and anion components of the salt play crucial roles in ensuring the correct handedness of the resultant molecule.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 6, 2025

UH researchers making clean water more accessible

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new membrane that allows water to flow eight times faster while maintaining high salt rejection rates. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective desalination systems, lowering costs and increasing access to clean water.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateFeb 26, 2025

Want some salt with that?

Researchers found evidence of sodium carbonate, halite, and sodium sulfates on Ryugu, indicating liquid saline water once existed within its parent body. This discovery provides insights into the chemical history of Ryugu and sheds light on the loss of liquid water in the outer Solar System.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 14, 2025

Salt deposit ring inside your pasta pan?

Scientists from the University of Twente and INRAE discovered that releasing small particles of salt into a tank of water creates a circular pattern due to gravity-induced wake drag. The experiment reveals that the optimal amount of water and particle size affect the shape and size of the salt ring.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateJan 21, 2025

How 70% of the Mediterranean Sea was lost 5.5 million years ago

Scientists analyzed chlorine isotopes in salt extracted from the Mediterranean seabed to identify two phases of the Messinian Salinity Crisis. The event resulted in a massive loss of up to 70% of the sea's water volume over a short period, triggering volcanic eruptions and global climatic effects.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 18, 2024

Hypersaline brine produced by fracking has left us in a pickle. A new process developed by Lehigh University researchers could help dry it up.

A new process developed by Lehigh University researchers uses evaporative ion exchange (EIX) to concentrate hypersaline brine at room temperature, avoiding scaling and fouling. The process has shown promising results in concentrating salts from hypersaline water, with the potential for widespread use.

SourceLehigh University·JournalNature Water·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2024

Assorted, distinctive behavior of molten uranium salt revealed by neutrons

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have documented the chemistry dynamics and structure of high-temperature liquid uranium trichloride (UCl3) salt, a potential nuclear fuel source for next-generation reactors. The study used neutron scattering techniques to reveal details about the nature of materials, including the bonding d...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 3, 2024

Salt stress induces SFT expression, promotes early flowering, and inhibits floral organ development by disturbing cell cycle in tomato

Salt stress induces early flowering in tomatoes by upregulating the SINGLE-FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) gene, which promotes accelerated flowering and inhibits floral organ development. Additionally, salt stress disrupts cell cycle progression in floral organs, leading to reduced organ size and altered morphology.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalVegetable Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 29, 2024

Salt-stress survival: AI-powered study decodes the resilience of Spartina alterniflora

A collaborative research team used machine learning to investigate the transcriptomic responses of Spartina alterniflora to various salt concentrations. The study revealed significant transcriptional changes and identified a key gene family member that shows potential for genetic engineering to improve crop resilience.