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Feature Stories

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 13-Jun-2026 12:15 ET (13-Jun-2026 16:15 GMT/UTC)

Pioneering semiconductor nanomaterials for renewable energy and sustainable technologies

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Prof. Wang Lianzhou, Chair Professor of Energy Materials of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, leads cutting-edge research on semiconductor nanomaterials for renewable energy conversion and storage, with a focus on solar-to-chemical and solar -to-electricity conversion and storage systems. His work addresses two major challenges in the field: efficiency and cost. By designing advanced catalysts and electrode materials, his team aims to improve energy conversion—from solar water splitting to hydrogen production—and storage capacities in batteries, making renewable technologies more practical and economically competitive.

Alexandria on the Tigris: a forgotten and rediscovered metropolis

University of Konstanz

Two thousand years ago, Alexandria on the Tigris was a flourishing trade centre and regional capital near the Persian Gulf. Today, only its extended rampart is visible in the southern Iraqi landscape. A British-German research team including archaeologist Stefan Hauser from the University of Konstanz explores the city's remains and reconstructs its function in the ancient world.

Rice360 and African universities inspiring new generation of inventors and global health innovators

Rice University

When the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies launched the first design studios in partner universities across Africa during Phase 1 of the NEST360 initiative, the vision was clear: create sustainable, university-based ecosystems that empower students to design, prototype and commercialize lifesaving technologies inspired by real needs in their own communities. Today, that vision is thriving, powered by a growing network of design studios modeled after Rice’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) and by a collaborative, invention education approach that is transforming engineering training and strengthening innovation capacity across Africa.

Unraveling sex differences in motor unit behavior in Parkinson's disease: New insights for personalized treatment

Kanazawa University

An international collaborative research team, including researchers from the Faculty of Frontier Engineering at Kanazawa University, has for the first time elucidated sex differences in motor unit firing patterns in patients with Parkinson's disease. Utilizing high-density surface electromyography (HD-SEMG), their detailed analysis of motor unit activity revealed that female patients exhibited significantly greater asymmetry in motor unit discharge rates and lower persistent inward currents (PICs) compared to males. These findings suggest that neurodegeneration may be more asymmetrical in females, even when presenting with similar motor symptoms. This study indicates that motor unit behavior can serve as a sensitive evaluation tool to highlight differences in disease presentation between sexes, potentially leading to the development of personalized treatment strategies that consider sex-specific factors in the future.

Journal: European Journal of Neuroscience

ICAS and Heriot-Watt University launch global degree to accelerate accountancy careers

Heriot-Watt University

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and Heriot-Watt University (HWU) have launched a pioneering master’s programme, offering one of the most streamlined and globally accessible routes to becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA).

Billions at stake: Unveiling and mitigating double-spending attacks in Arbitrum’s rollback mechanisms

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

With the rise of cryptocurrency transactions, merchants are prioritising security due to vulnerabilities in online transaction systems. Prof. Daniel Xiapu LUO, Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and Professor of the Department of Computing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and his research team identified three double-spending attacks exploiting the rollback merchanisms. Their findings, reported to Arbitrum and Optimism, earned them a USD500K bug bounty for enhancing blockchain security. The corresponding paper was honored with the Distinguished Paper Award at ACM CCS 2024, a premier conference in cybersecurity. Subsequently, it earned the Best Practical Paper of Cybersecurity Award in 2025.

Guardians of native potatoes: rural women preserving the seeds of the Andes

Across the Andean highlands and the islands of southern Chile, rural women safeguard a valuable treasure: the diversity of native potatoes. Their quiet yet powerful work sustains the biodiversity that feeds us and the cultural heritage that connects generations.

Moulds and mycotoxins: invisible hazards in food

BfR Federal Institute for Risk Assessment

Moulds are ubiquitous in the environment and are regularly found on and in food. Like many other species of fungi, many mould‑forming fungi produce invisible toxins known as mycotoxins, which can cause serious health problems. “Gastrointestinal symptoms are a relatively mild reaction of the body to mycotoxins,” explains biochemist Dr Philip Marx-Stölting in the BfR science podcast “Risiko” (“Risk”). “Some of these toxins can also trigger mutations in cells and ultimately contribute to the development of cancer.” Marx-Stölting works at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) on a large-scale project that, as part of the European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC), also investigates these mould-derived toxins. For several relatively common mould species, the effects of their toxins on the human body have so far been only poorly studied.

A global public good: the quiet science sustaining the world’s food supply

As climate change and declining public investment strain global food systems, institutions like CIMMYT play a critical role in sustaining agriculture worldwide

Funder: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Ministry of Agriculture Mexico

Alice Gast: A Unifying Force

Fannie and John Hertz Foundation

Learn about the extraordinary career and life of Hertz Fellow Alice Gast.

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