A new study from Waseda University reveals that the motor protein myosin XI is essential for helping plants absorb boron under nutrient-deficient conditions. Researchers found that myosin XI maintains the correct positioning of the boric acid channel AtNIP5;1 in root cells by supporting endocytosis. Without myosin XI, plants fail to localize this channel properly, leading to poor boron uptake and stunted growth. The findings could inform strategies to improve crop resilience in boron-deficient soils.

A visible-light-driven postfunctionalization method developed by researchers from Japan enables the incorporation of phosphonate esters into polymers, expanding the possibilities for creating fire-resistant and temperature-responsive materials. This reaction technique offers a sustainable way to add useful functional groups to precursor polymer chains without altering their molecular weight, transforming common polymers into high-value materials that are difficult to obtain through direct polymerization of functional monomers.

Nowadays, plastic wastes have seriously endangered human health and ecological safety. Recycling plastics is a promising ap-proach to achieve multiple uses of carbon resources. In this review, photocatalysis is introduced for the conversion of plastics into various valuable chemicals. The state-of-the-art photocatalytic techniques for plastics conversion are divided into two categories of direct and indirect photoconversion. Researchers summarize in detail the photocatalytic small organic molecules conversion from polyeth-ylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene (PE) through the alkaline-assistant and hydrothermal pretreat-ments. Then, they overview the effective strategies of direct photoconverting PE, PLA and polyvinyl chloride into chemicals via the two-step process, amination strategy, and single reactive oxygen species-assistant strategy. Finally, they present some outlooks of the current challenges and propose some potential solutions in the future.

To enhance existing strategies for controlling the Aedes aegypti mosquito, geoinformation scientist Dr Steffen Knoblauch has created a high-resolution environmental suitability map for Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) that can help identify areas most conducive to breeding. It is based on advanced geospatial big data methods – leveraging openly available geodata such as satellite imagery, street view images, and climate data – that the researcher developed at Heidelberg University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR) and at HeiGIT (Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology).

On June 5 and 6, 2025, the University of Stuttgart hosted a high-profile event honoring the legacy of Frei Otto - architect, Pritzker Prize winner and master of lightweight construction. Under the title "Frei Otto 100 – The Spirit of Lightweight Construction," international guests from science, architecture, and society gathered at the Institute of Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) to celebrate the visionary thinking of one of the 20th century’s most influential designers – at the very place where Otto once worked. Frei Otto is considered a pioneer of ecological and experimental building.