Americans love their corn — whether it’s canned, fresh off the cob or in their favorite breakfast cereal.

But what if this staple grain could be more than just a starch? What if it could become a critical source of protein and fiber while helping prevent cancer, obesity, diabetes and inflammation?

It can, University of Missouri researchers say. And the secret is in the color.

The relatively new industry has been challenged by wind-blown cross-pollination between neighboring hemp fields.

The rainforest in the Amazon basin transpires vast amounts of gaseous isoprene. Until now, it was assumed that this molecule is not transported far up into the atmosphere, as it rapidly declines when exposed to light conditions. The CAFE-Brazil measurement campaign provided data for two studies – now published as the Nature cover story – which demonstrate, however, that nocturnal thunderstorms transport the isoprene to an altitude of up to 15 kilometers. There, it reacts to form chemical compounds capable of forming vast numbers of new aerosol particles. These grow further and contribute to cloud formation as condensation nuclei. This mechanism is likely to affect the climate, too.

Fructose consumption has increased considerably over the past five decades, largely due to the widespread use of high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener in beverages and ultra-processed foods. New research from Washington University in St. Louis shows that dietary fructose promotes tumor growth in animal models of melanoma, breast cancer and cervical cancer. However, fructose does not directly fuel tumors, according to the study published Dec. 4 in the journal Nature. Instead, WashU scientists discovered that the liver converts fructose into usable nutrients for cancer cells, a compelling finding that could open up new avenues for care and treatment of many different types of cancer.

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have developed an innovative cationic covalent organic framework (COF) that efficiently detects and removes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a harmful and persistent pollutant, from drinking water. This breakthrough addresses a global challenge of removing perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals”, which raised environmental and health concerns due to their accumulation in water and links to severe health risks, including cancer and developmental issues. 

Researchers discovered evidence of in situ spheroid formation in distant starburst galaxies. Their findings were based on analysis of data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submilllimeter Array (ALMA) on over 100 Submillimeter Bright Galaxies (SMGs).  The SMGs featured redshifts from the “Cosmic noon” era of the Universe—between 8–12 billion years ago—when many galaxies were actively forming stars.