Iron-deficiency anemia is a common condition marked by tiredness, headaches or ice cravings. But the oral iron supplements used to treat it can leave behind excess iron that causes inflammation and an upset stomach. A new supplement reported in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces combines iron, prebiotics and probiotics. In trials, the treatment successfully restored blood iron levels in anemic mice without initiating an inflammatory response or throwing off the balance of the gut microbiota.

The chemist Johannes Lelieveld uses innovative measurement methods and computer models to examine how chemical and meteorological processes impact Earth’s atmosphere. His research offers vital insights into the atmosphere’s self-cleaning capacity as well as into the influence of different kinds of emissions on climate and human health. The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Stifterverband are honouring his achievements with the 2024 Carl-Friedrich-von-Weizsäcker-Prize. The prize, endowed with 30,000 euros, is awarded for scientific achievements that deal with important challenges facing society. It is thus the German award for scientists working in the area of science-based policy advice.