Penn Engineers have redesigned the lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) used to deliver mRNA vaccines, showing that subtle changes in lipid chemistry can influence immune cell metabolism and reduce inflammation. The findings suggest that lipid nanoparticles can actively shape how immune cells respond, opening new avenues for vaccines and immunotherapies.

Scientists from the University of Manchester have played a leading role in the discovery of a new subatomic particle at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The particle, known as the Ξ_cc⁺ (Xi‑cc‑plus), is a new type of heavy proton-like particle containing two charm quarks and one down quark.

Aqueous zinc batteries (ZBs) represent a promising sustainable and safe energy storage technology, yet their widespread adoption is impeded by persistent interfacial instabilities at Zn anodes. This study reports a polyhydroxy hydrogel electrolyte (PASHE) with in situ regulated interface chemistry suitable for biosensing compatible ZBs. Benefiting from the well-integrated interface via in situ strategy, the hydroxyl-rich L-sorbose in PASHE establishes kinetically favorable Zn²⁺ transport pathways and regulates interfacial ion-adsorption hierarchies, synergistically homogenizing ion distribution and promoting preferential crystallographic orientation. Furthermore, PASHE constructs a low water-activity microenvironment via interfacial preferential adsorption, oxygen-rich solid electrolyte interphase evolution, and Zn²⁺ solvation sheath reconstruction. These effects enable Zn (002)-textured electrodeposition and inhibitory side reactions, achieving dendrite-free Zn plating/stripping with exceptional stability (3300 h in Zn//Zn cells) and near-perfect reversibility (average coulombic efficiency of 99.6% over 1200 cycles in Zn//Cu cells). This strategy delivers unprecedented cyclability in flexible Zn//I₂ batteries (94.9% retention after 9000 cycles) and Zn-ion hybrid capacitors (98.0% after 43,000 cycles). Notably, we demonstrate an integrated biosensing platform that couples PASHE-based biosensor with cascaded Zn//I₂ batteries, realizing real-time monitoring of physiological signals and biomechanical motions. This work proposes dual strategies of in situ approach and functional additive to design hydrogel electrolytes, bridging high-performance ZBs with next-generation biosensing technologies.

Heavy metal pollution is quietly threatening global food security by poisoning agricultural lands. While environmental scientists have long used charred organic materials to trap toxins like cadmium in the soil, the traditional high-heat baking process is expensive and energy-intensive. Now, an international research team has developed a highly efficient, budget-friendly alternative called "oxychar" that pulls double duty—soaking up both agricultural ammonia and toxic cadmium at the same time.

Cadmium contamination in agricultural soils threatens food safety worldwide, as the toxic metal can accumulate in crops and enter the human food chain. A new study published in the journal Biochar reports that aging silicon-rich biochar derived from rice husks can significantly reduce cadmium uptake in leafy vegetables while improving plant resistance to heavy metal stress.

A new study reports that a biochar-enhanced photocatalyst can efficiently degrade antibiotic contaminants in water, offering a promising strategy for addressing one of the growing threats to global water quality.

Electrochemical capacitors, often called supercapacitors, are the sprinters of the energy world. They charge instantly and deliver massive bursts of power on demand. The trade-off, however, is their lack of endurance: they cannot store much total energy, and they tend to leak their charge quickly when sitting idle. While engineers know that cranking up the operating voltage could solve the energy density problem, doing so almost always causes the internal chemical bath (the electrolyte) to break down and fail.