Over time, stress and anxiety can build to a point where life’s challenges become overwhelming and cause physical effects. Now, in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, researchers report a dental floss pick with a built-in sensor that could monitor stress as part of a daily routine. The device, which accurately senses levels of the stress hormone cortisol in minutes, could help users recognize when it’s time to get help.

Mercury is released by environmental and human-driven processes. And some forms, specifically methylmercury, are toxic to humans. Therefore, policies and regulations to limit mercury emissions have been implemented across the globe. And, according to research published in ACS ES&T Air, those efforts may be working. Researchers found that atmospheric mercury levels have decreased by almost 70% in the last 20 years, mainly because human-caused emissions have been reduced.

Surgical face masks help prevent the spread of airborne pathogens and therefore were ubiquitous during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a modified mask could also protect a wearer by detecting health conditions, including chronic kidney disease. Researchers reporting in ACS Sensors incorporated a specialized breath sensor within the fabric of a face mask to detect metabolites associated with the disease. In initial tests, the sensor correctly identified people with the condition most of the time.