7-May-2025 New strategy to prevent explosions in industrial polymerization: TEMPO inhibits thermal runaway of TBPB Maximum Academic Press A research team has uncovered a promising solution to reduce the explosive potential of tert-butyl perbenzoate (TBPB), a widely used chemical initiator in polymerization processes. Journal Emergency Management Science and Technology
6-May-2025 Humpback whales’ use of memory to time their migration could prove less effective amid climate change McGill University A new study led by McGill University researchers indicates that humpback whales in the southeastern Pacific combine real-time environmental cues with their memories of conditions in their Antarctic feeding grounds to determine when to embark on their annual 10,000-kilometre journey. With climate change accelerating, the researchers warn this strategy may become less effective amid shifting ocean conditions. Journal Scientific Reports
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 Hospitality service design can promote healthy aging Texas A&M AgriLife Communications A new research study co-authored by Babak Taheri, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, demonstrates that principles of service marketing and experience design, traditionally used in hospitality settings, can also offer powerful tools for promoting healthy behaviors.
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
