A comprehensive expert consensus published in Intelligent Medicine establishes the first comprehensive framework for classifying, annotating, and quality-controlling dry eye imaging datasets across five core modalities, directly addressing the upstream data infrastructure gap that has long constrained AI development in ophthalmology.

Researchers at Kanazawa University, in collaboration with Diamond and Carbon Applications (Germany), have developed a buried-growth process for nitrogen–vacancy (NV) centers in diamond using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD). By employing nitrogen-radical selective etching, which simultaneously enhances metal-mask durability through nitridation, the team enabled a continuous etching–growth sequence within a single MPCVD process. Optical measurements confirmed highly aligned NV centers selectively buried in predefined regions. This integrated approach provides a stable and scalable platform for orientation-controlled diamond qubits and future room-temperature quantum technologies.

Dyes are used to colour papers, leather products, garments, and are also employed in the rubber and cosmetic industries. But what happens after these dyes have served their purpose? Billions of tons of dye-containing wastewater enter water systems every year, eventually rendering them unfit for human and animal use. They can also lead to serious health issues such as breathing problems, jaundice, and cancer. As an effort to tackle this issue, researchers have developed advanced materials, which act like microscopic sponges, as a promising solution to industrial wastewater treatment. 

Research sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory shows that microgravity disrupts how engineered microbes absorb nutrients, limiting their ability to produce useful materials in space. Published in npj Microgravity, the study examined Escherichia coli engineered to produce melanin—a protective pigment that could help shield astronauts and spacecraft from radiation and environmental stress. While the microbes successfully activated the genetic pathway for melanin production, nutrient uptake was impaired in microgravity, leaving key resources unused. Complementary ground-based experiments confirmed that fluid mixing and nutrient transport are major challenges. In contrast, fungal strains tested in the study remained resilient and continued producing melanin, highlighting their potential for space-based biomanufacturing. The findings will inform the design of future bioreactors and systems to enable reliable production of protective materials, medicines, and other valuable compounds during long-duration missions.

A University of Florida-led study of 1,051 Floridians finds strategic environmental communication significantly boosts public support for roadside pollinator habitat, with agricultural benefit frames driving the strongest attitudinal shifts.