Quantum mechanics and gravity are two fundamental theories in physics that govern the natural world. However, uniting these two principles into the single theory of “quantum gravity” has yet to be done. Now, researchers have developed a theoretical framework that outlines what observations can distinguish between classical and quantum descriptions of gravity. The framework provides researchers a roadmap for designing experiments to find answers to one of the most sought-after theories in modern science.

A long-term study found that post-COVID symptoms were most common during the Delta period and declined during the Omicron periods. Children consistently showed far lower rates than adults across all periods. Yet some adults continued to experience symptoms beyond two years, highlighting the continuing need for long-term support.

How did a large crab end up trapped inside a plastic bottle with an opening smaller than its body? Hiroshima University researchers investigated this unusual marine mystery, revealing a lesser-known impact of marine plastic pollution on crustaceans.

Oxidative addition is often carried out using transition metals and is challenging to perform at centers of more abundant main-group elements, particularly group 13 elements. Researchers at The University of Osaka, led by Takuya Kodama, achieved oxidative addition of an aryl iodide to a group 13 (gallium) center. The reaction is initiated by visible light. The reaction proceeds via a novel mechanism, photoinduced disproportionation, whereby photoexcited gallium exchanges electrons with ground-state gallium.

Researchers from Japan investigated how microtubules contribute to communication between granulosa cells and oocytes during ovarian follicle development. Focusing on the microtubule-stabilizing protein Camsap3, the team used knockout mouse models and advanced imaging techniques to examine the organization of transzonal projections. Their findings reveal an overlooked role for microtubules in female fertility and provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms that support follicle maturation and successful ovulation.

Earth’s 660-km seismic discontinuity has long been attributed to ringwoodite breakdown, but this alone cannot explain complex seismic observations. Now, researchers have shown that the boundary forms through a coupled post-spinel transition involving majorite garnet, the mantle’s second most abundant mineral. This mechanism consistently explains seismic structure beneath subduction zones and mantle plumes and supports a compositionally homogeneous, pyrolite-like mantle, providing new insights into Earth’s deep interior and mantle dynamics.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers developed a silica capsule–based technology that enables easy separation and reuse of colorants from plastics, overcoming limitations of conventional recycling. This approach allows repeated upcycling into high-quality, vividly colored materials with significantly lower energy consumption.

Researchers at the University of Osaka developed the CLiB assay, a high-throughput platform to engineer protein-based lipid-binding probes. By screening a library of protein variants, they created a highly sensitive probe for the signaling lipid PI(3,5)P₂. This tool allowed the team to visualize how cells remodel their membranes to engulf damaged materials, providing a framework for developing next-generation biosensors and unlocking new insights into the dynamic landscape of biological membranes.

Researchers at Ehime University developed a molecular design strategy that imparts degradability to carbon–carbon backbone polymers by incorporating alkoxycarbonylmethylene (ACM) units. These units act as degradation-inducing sites, enabling backbone cleavage under mild basic conditions. The approach was successfully applied to polystyrene and PMMA derivatives, which became degradable while retaining or improving key thermophysical properties. This work provides a promising route toward sustainable plastics with controlled end-of-life degradation and improved environmental compatibility.