Recently, a team of Estonian scientists published a study that may revolutionize how we analyze fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) measurements and address one of the major weaknesses in this approach. They used powerful computational tools originally built for artificial intelligence, but instead of relying on AI's "black box" methods, they applied these tools to optimize transparent, physics-based models.

Three of America’s most promising young scientists were awarded top honors tonight at the 2025 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists, one of the country’s most significant prizes for early-career researchers. Presented by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences, the awards recognize exceptional scientific achievement and innovation by U.S.-based researchers aged 42 and younger.

The winners of the 2025 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists are:

Life Sciences Laureate: Philip J. Kranzusch, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Harvard Medical School (Microbiology) - Recognized for discovering that human innate immunity evolved from ancient pathways in bacteria, explaining the molecular basis for how human cells defend against infections and cancer.

 

Chemical Sciences Laureate: Frank Leibfarth, PhD, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Polymer Chemistry) - Recognized for pioneering approaches to upcycle plastic waste and remove toxic ‘forever chemicals’ from water by developing reactions and catalysts that selectively control the structure and function of polymers.

 

Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate: Elaina J. Sutley, PhD, University of Kansas (Civil Engineering) - Recognized for comprehensive, systematic computer modeling and engineering to address disaster mitigation and recovery, informing building codes and disaster readiness policies across the country.

Rice University has named 10 graduate students as recipients of the 2025-26 Chevron Energy Graduate Fellowships, a program created through a partnership between the Rice Sustainability Institute and Chevron. Each fellow receives a $10,000 award to support research advancing scalable energy innovations that reduce emissions, accelerate low-carbon technologies and improve the reliability and efficiency of current and future energy systems.

In a pioneering study that explores innovative solutions for soil salinization, researchers are investigating the effects of subsurface organic fertilization on microbial necromass accumulation in saline soils. The study, titled "Subsurface Application of Organic Ameliorant in Saline Soils Increases Microbial Necromass Accumulation in Mineral-Associated Organic Matter," is led by Prof. Yuyi Li from the State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arable Land in China at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, China. This research offers valuable insights into how subsurface organic fertilization can enhance soil health and mitigate the impacts of salinization.

As renewable energy technologies advance, researchers aim to make solar power more efficient, affordable, and durable. Scientists from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania, in collaboration with international partners, have achieved one of the highest efficiencies ever reported for fully inorganic perovskite solar cells. They have also demonstrated for the first time that these cells can operate stably for hundreds of hours, approaching the reliability of commercial silicon solar cells.