This two-year effort develops innovative 3D-printed materials to remove excess phosphorus from freshwater systems and curb harmful algal blooms. Backed by statewide water-quality investments and prior research, the project will create durable, retrievable structures that provide a more effective, environmentally safe method for long-term nutrient removal. It also includes educational outreach to strengthen the local workforce and public awareness. The work addresses the growing threat HABs pose to ecosystems, public health, the economy and quality of life, driven largely by phosphorus from runoff and other nutrient sources.

Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä have discovered a simple way to program synthetic molecules so they can form specific spiral-like structures by embedding instructions directly into their sequence. This breakthrough could lead to new smart materials and molecular devices that adapt to their surroundings.

Using a dual-cation substitution approach, researchers at Science Tokyo introduced ferromagnetism into bismuth ferrite, a well-known and promising multiferroic material for next-generation memory technologies. By replacing ions at both the bismuth and iron sites with calcium ions and heavier elements, they modified the spin structure and achieved ferromagnetism at room temperature. Additionally, negative thermal expansion was observed. This ability to engineer magnetism and thermal expansion in a multiferroic material aids in realizing future memory devices.

Pioneering theoretical physicist Fan Zhang, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Physics at The University of Texas at Dallas, is the recipient of the 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Physical Sciences from TAMEST. He was chosen for his transformational research exploring new topological quantum matter, which has changed how we think about physics.