A new University at Buffalo study examines what happens to discarded cigarette butts when released into the environment. Findings showing that one cigarette filter can release up to two dozen microfibers almost immediately upon contacting water. More than 100 additional microfibers may break free of the filter within 10 days depending on how the water is moving.

This quick release of cellulose acetate fibers – what most cigarette filters are made of – had not been precisely measured before. This builds upon the evidence that cigarette butts –the most littered item worldwide – are a direct and underestimated source of microplastic pollution.

Hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks offer a cleaner alternative to diesel transport, but public support is essential for large-scale adoption. In a new study, researchers surveyed households in South Korea to measure willingness to pay for expanding hydrogen truck deployment. The results show strong public acceptance, with benefits exceeding carbon reduction costs, indicating the policy is socially profitable and supports long-term low-carbon transport transitions under national climate policy goals frameworks.

Researchers developed ShapKAN, a deep learning model integrated into the AI4Min-PE platform (http://pe.ai4mineral.com), enabling instant prediction and visualization of key thermodynamic parameters up to 500 GPa. This open AI tool supports the discovery of new chemical behaviors of minerals and elements under extreme conditions.