A study published in Journal of Railway Science and Technology developed a class of polymer fiber-reinforced concrete that mitigates brittle behavior under low vacuum conditions. Using acoustic emission techniques, the research examined how low vacuum environments, fiber type, fiber content, and coarse aggregates affect the mechanical properties of two fiber-reinforced concretes, identifying an optimal material combination.

Microscopy is a vital tool for exploring the mysteries of life, enabling scientists to observe the dynamic changes of cells and organelles across spatial and temporal scales. However, because cells are primarily composed of water and exhibit low refractive-index contrast, it remains challenging to clearly visualize their internal structures. In recent years, Intensity Diffraction Tomography (IDT), an emerging label-free 3D imaging technique, has attracted increasing attention. Instead of relying on fluorescent dyes, IDT directly exploits the intrinsic refractive-index distribution of cells for imaging, thereby avoiding phototoxicity and photobleaching and making it particularly suitable for long-term live-cell observation. When combined with 3D fluorescence microscopy, this dual-modal approach can simultaneously provide molecular specificity and global structural information, offering a powerful tool for deciphering cellular components and their interactions. Nevertheless, long-term imaging (from several hours to days) is often hindered by the optical complexity of cells, environmental thermal drift, and mechanical instabilities of the microscope, which lead to time-varying aberrations and focal drift. Achieving stable, high-quality tracking of subcellular structures over extended periods therefore remains a key challenge.

Clothianidin, a widely used neonicotinoid pesticide, is notorious for its persistence in soils and accumulation in crops, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Now, scientists have found a way not only to remove this pesticide from soil but also to transform it into a useful nutrient for plants.

What if we told you that the plastic shopping bag from last week’s grocery run could one day help detect toxic metals in drinking water? Sounds like science fiction? Think again. A dazzling new breakthrough led by Dr. Indriana Kartini from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is doing exactly that—turning plastic waste into glowing nanomaterials that can sense pollution in water. And yes, it’s as cool as it sounds.

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation selected Boston College Assistant Professor of Physics Qiong Ma as one of five creative scientists in the tenth cohort of Moore Inventor Fellows. Professor Ma’s invention of “twistronic” artificial synapses is connecting discoveries in advanced materials directly with neuroscience-inspired computing. The fellowship was launched in 2016 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Moore’s Law, the groundbreaking prediction by Gordon Moore of exponential growth in computing power. The 2025 awards mark the fulfillment of a ten-year $35 million commitment to support “50 inventors to shape the next 50 years.” In that time, the program has been supporting breakthrough tools and technologies that accelerate progress in scientific discovery, environmental conservation, and patient care.