A new species of bacteria has been discovered off the coast of Oʻahu, shedding light on how unseen microbial life connects Hawaiʻi’s land and sea ecosystems.

Researchers at Rice University, UTHealth School of Dentistry, and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have developed a smartphone-based imaging system, mDOC, to help dental professionals identify patients who may need referral for oral cancer evaluation. The device captures white light and autofluorescence images of the mouth and uses a machine learning algorithm to assess risk. In a study of 50 patients at community dental clinics, the system demonstrated 60 percent sensitivity and 88 percent specificity in identifying lesions requiring expert review—outperforming standard clinical exams. The technology offers a fast, low-cost tool to support early detection and timely referral in routine dental care settings.

For the first time, researchers from Florida International University (FIU), working in collaboration with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, have detected a dozen different “forever chemicals” known as PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) within the Miccosukee Indian Reservation in the Everglades. The findings, published in Environmental Research, raise new questions about potential impacts to water quality, ecosystem health and ongoing Everglades restoration efforts.

A team from the the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) has developed an innovative robotic platform, powered by artificial intelligence, that promises to revolutionize the design of sustainable chemical processes. The system, named Reac-Discovery, makes it possible to optimize in just a few days what previously could take months or even years of work in a traditional laboratory, thanks to its high level of integration and automation.

In the search for eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic herbicides, researchers from Kyushu University, Japan, have identified a potent, weed-inhibiting compound in the leaves of the Manchurian walnut tree (Juglans mandshurica Maxim.). The discovery of the compound, 2Z-decaprenol, and its unique mode of action on plants could lead to the development of more sustainable herbicides. The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.