A metal-free organic liquid has been developed that phosphoresces at room temperature. Rapid phosphorescence endows the liquid with the highest phosphorescence efficiency in air among organic liquids. The new molecule has a 3-bromo-2-thienyl diketone backbone with attached dimethylocylsilyl (DMOS) groups. Attaching one DMOS group liquefies the backbone, whereas attaching two DMOS groups prevents molecular aggregation, which typically weakens phosphorescence. This new, flexible liquid can be applied to develop flexible electronic devices.

A research team from Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory introduced a new, eco-friendly method to transform carbon dioxide (CO₂, a major greenhouse gas) into useful high-performance plastics using a simple copper-based catalyst. Conducted under mild conditions at room temperature and ambient pressure, this process efficiently incorporates CO₂ into polymer materials that can be used in packaging, sensors, biomedical devices and more. The developed polymers are highly soluble, customizable, and can be quickly modified to create multifunctional materials. This innovative approach not only offers a sustainable way to recycle CO₂ but also opens new possibilities for producing advanced materials that support environmentally friendly manufacturing and help combat climate change. 

Cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs) contain carbon atoms and oxygen arranged in a ring-like structure and are ideal for designing degradable polymers. However, the complex reaction pathways and mechanistic factors involved during the polymerization process remain unclear. In a new study from Doshisha University, researchers have developed a simulation model and conducted in-depth nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses to determine the critical factors that can influence radical ring-opening polymerization of CKAs.

This news article reports on a study revealing the importance of the proboscis monkey's large nose in vocal communication. Researchers used CT scans and computer simulations to demonstrate that the nose's shape modifies the resonant frequencies of calls, creating unique vocal signatures for individual monkeys. This discovery highlights the role of the nose in enhancing vocal identity and provides insights into the evolution of communication, not just in proboscis monkeys but potentially in other species as well. The collaboration between scientists and the Yokohama Zoo Zoorasia opens exciting new avenues for understanding the link between physical traits and social behaviors in the animal kingdom.

In the next 75 years, surface sea temperatures may rise by up to 4°C, with increasingly frequent short-term marine heatwaves also predicted. This could cause significant damage to our essential marine ecosystems, for example with corals widely known to be vulnerable to bleaching. But how will fish fare in these changing climates? In iScience, researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) describe the metabolic and molecular changes that can support young clownfish to adapt to climate change and warming seas. Through genomic and transcriptomic studies across multiple tissues within young clownfish, the team identified the biological processes affected by rising water temperatures. And the outlook is more positive than we may have thought.

AI Predicts More "Super Floods" and "Extreme Droughts" for Pakistan.