Hundreds of thousands of people undergo corrective eye surgeries each year, including the laser-assisted technique known as LASIK. But the procedure involves cutting away tissue, which can result in negative side effects, prompting researchers to develop a less invasive technique that takes the laser out of LASIK by remodeling cornea tissue, rather than removing it, in initial animal tissue tests. The researchers will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.

Saliva is more than spit. It helps with chewing and swallowing, protects teeth and gums, and even has antimicrobial and digestive properties. However, certain conditions or medical treatments, such as hemodialysis, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, reduce natural saliva production. Now, researchers publishing in ACS Applied Polymer Materials have created a reusable hydrogel that releases artificial saliva over time, which could help provide sustained relief from dry mouth.

Dried fruit is a tasty snack or sweet addition to recipes, but the water removal process often requires heat and energy. In a step toward more sustainable food preservation, researchers reporting in ACS Food Science & Technology have developed a method to dry food at room temperature by adjusting air pressure conditions and using food-safe calcium chloride. In a proof-of-concept, the system successfully dried mango and apple slices to commercial levels.