Researchers demonstrated highly dispersed NaVO₃ nanoparticles, as a ^•CH₂Cl radical surface-confined coupling center, demonstrating its superior performance in the selective coupling of methyl chloride to synthesize vinyl chloride. By incorporating NaVO₃ onto the surface of CeO₂, the catalyst enables effective capture of ^•CH₂Cl radicals during the CH₃Cl oxidative pyrolysis and its subsequent conversion into C₂H₃Cl, achieving a C₂H₃Cl selectivity of 56.7% and a CH₃Cl conversion of 56.6% at 750 °C.

A research team has outlined how synthetic biology can accelerate discoveries in plant–microbe interactions, offering strategies to enhance disease resistance, engineer synthetic symbioses, and manipulate root microbiomes.

A research team has reviewed how machine learning (ML) is revolutionizing fermentation design and process optimization by providing powerful simulation and prediction tools.

A research team has proposed a new approach to improve photosynthesis by replacing the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxidase (RuBisCO) with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC).

In a study published in MedComm - Oncology, researchers report that the enzyme O-GlcNAc Transferase (OGT) plays a key role in driving liver cancer linked to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD-HCC). The team found that OGT levels increase as the disease progresses. They also discovered that OGT modifies the tumor suppressor protein PTEN in a way that disrupts its normal function, this modification leads to PTEN degradation and reduced phospholipase activity, triggering a cancer-promoting signaling pathway and accelerating tumor growth. The findings suggest that targeting OGT could offer a new therapeutic approach for treating MASLD-related liver cancer.

A recent study published in Life Metabolism by researchers from the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University has identified the gut commensal bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) as a potent modulator of liver fibrosis (Figure 1). The study reveals that AKK alleviates hepatic fibrosis by promoting propionate-driven antioxidant defense across the gut–liver axis, thereby offering new mechanistic insights and therapeutic opportunities for chronic liver disease.

Tiny aquatic organisms can pass microplastics and heavy metals up the food chain. In zebrafish, this long-term transfer led to stunted organ growth and hormone imbalances, showing how hidden pollution may disrupt development. The study warns that such pollutants can build up across species, posing risks not only to ecosystems but also to food safety.