6-May-2025 Tracking contaminant accumulation in Arctic marine mammals McGill University A new method of tracking the dietary habits and contaminant exposure of animals in Arctic marine ecosystems is providing critical insights as climate change reshapes the region's food web. A team of researchers led by Adam Pedersen, a recent PhD graduate from McGill University’s Department of Natural Resource Sciences, outline the approach in a new study. Their method uses carbon isotopes of fatty acids to better understand what migratory species, such as killer whales, and Arctic predators, such as polar bears, eat and how they accumulate harmful contaminants. Journal Science of The Total Environment
6-May-2025 A global network of researchers pools sound data on biodiversity INRAE - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment For the first time passive acoustic monitoring data from all ecological realms have been catalogued on a global scale in a collective effort uniting 350 collaborators working in 57 different countries, coordinated by an INRAE team with French involvement from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN). A summary published in Global Ecology & Biogeography highlights the importance of international collaboration on high-stakes issues such as climate change and the decline in biodiversity. Journal Global Ecology and Biogeography
6-May-2025 Research warns of the hurdles facing the EU's energy and digital transition Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) The study shows that digitalization is not contributing to achieving the energy transition Journal Environmental Science & Policy
6-May-2025 A smarter way to check battery health—fast, easy, and accurate KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. As lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) continue to power electric vehicles and energy storage systems, their long-term health remains a critical challenge. A groundbreaking new method combines deep learning with physical modeling to deliver rapid, accurate degradation diagnosis at the electrode level. This innovative approach requires only 11 data points from a charging cycle, achieving reliable predictions in just 2.5 minutes. By simplifying the data needed and eliminating the need for specialized equipment, this technique offers a faster, more accessible solution to battery health monitoring—paving the way for safer, more efficient battery management in large-scale applications. Journal eScience Funder National Key Research and Development Program of China, Beijing Natural Science Foundation, National Natural Science Foundation of China
6-May-2025 Identifying pathogens within minutes instead of days Technical University of Munich (TUM) - Mass spectrometer identifies pathogens directly in tissue and stool samples - So far 232 medically important bacterial species detectable - Database must now be further expanded Speed and reliability are crucial in the diagnosis of diseases. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Imperial College London have developed a new method to identify bacteria with unprecedented speed. This means that the waiting time can be reduced from several days to just a few minutes. Journal Nature Communications
5-May-2025 New insights into how cancer spreads prompt rethink of metastasis care McGill University A McGill University-led research collaboration has achieved a breakthrough in understanding how cancer spreads. A clinical study of ovarian and colorectal cancer patients found cancer cells move in the bloodstream in clusters more commonly than was previously thought. The discovery could help doctors more quickly identify which cancer patients are at high risk of having their cancer spread to other organs, knowledge that could guide treatment decisions. The findings also potentially open new avenues for treatment. Journal Communications Medicine Funder Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Fonds de recherche du Québec
5-May-2025 Tea plants’ secret weapon: key genes unlock herbivore defense Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science A recent study reveals how tea plants defend themselves against herbivores by activating specific genes. Journal Horticulture Research
2-May-2025 Droughts and heatwaves reduce plants’ ability to absorb CO₂ Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Frequent heat and drought events in southwestern Europe are reducing ecosystems’ capacity to absorb CO₂, according to a recent study by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB). Journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles
1-May-2025 FSU scientists discover exotic states of matter in graphene, offering new possibilities for quantum computing Florida State University Florida State University Assistant Professor of Physics Zhengguang Lu and fellow researchers have discovered new states of matter in graphene — a form of carbon made from a single layer of atoms — with unusual electrical properties that could make them a valuable tool for building more powerful electronics and quantum computers. Journal Nature Funder U.S. Department of Energy
1-May-2025 Spacecraft that sweat? A cool new way to tackle atmospheric reentry Texas A&M University The Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University is partnering with Canopy Aerospace to develop and test a 3D-printed material that releases or “sweats” a coolant gas to protect spacecraft. This technology, part of a $1.7 million Air Force Small Business Technology Transfer grant, could enable the design of fully and rapidly reusable spacecraft.
