β-1,2-glucans are rare bacterial carbohydrates involved in key biological processes, but their structural complexity has limited research progress. Now, a study led by researchers from Japan reports the discovery of new enzyme families that break down these molecules and proposes a new enzyme group called the “SGL clan.” These findings shed light on the molecular evolution of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes and open doors to engineering synthetic enzymes for producing novel carbohydrates. 

Researchers from Tel Aviv University and Sheba Tel Hashomer Medical Center have developed an innovative bioengineered skin equivalent for grafting in burn victims.

This breakthrough addresses a critical need in environmental monitoring: accurately understanding "how much" CO2 is being emitted to combat climate change and global warming. 

A team of Korean scientists has developed an innovative green technology that transforms plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel using only sunlight and water.

Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) Center for Nanoparticle Research, led by Professor KIM Dae-Hyeong and Professor HYEON Taeghwan of Seoul National University, announced the successful development of a photocatalytic system that produces hydrogen from PET bottles. The key innovation lies in wrapping the photocatalyst in a hydrogel polymer, which helps it float on water and stay active even under harsh environmental conditions.

A Danish-German research collaboration with participation of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) aims to develop new quantum light sources and technology for scalable quantum networks based on the rare-earth element erbium. The project EQUAL (Erbium-based silicon quantum light sources) is funded by the Innovation Fund Denmark with 40 million Danish crowns (about 5.3 million euros). It started in May of 2025 and will run for five years. 

Researchers have unveiled the first comprehensive analysis of China's urban expansion from 1990-2020, revealing how cities have adapted to their environments and faced varying disaster risks. The study found that while 83% of urban development occurred in suitable areas, 14% expanded into high-risk zones, with eastern regions facing water-related disasters, western regions threatened by earthquakes, and northeastern areas vulnerable to extreme cold.