Silver-based atomic switches that create stable electrical connections between individual molecules and electrodes have been developed by researchers from Japan, addressing a key challenge in wiring molecular electronics. The switch operates by forming and breaking silver atomic filaments when a voltage is applied and reversed, corresponding to the “on” and “off” states. This method enables the scalable integration of molecular components, paving the way for ultra-compact and energy-efficient circuits built from single molecules.

A new hydrogel-based breakthrough is transforming extracellular vesicle research. Using meso–macroporous PEGDA hydrogels with ~400 nm pores, researchers can now isolate EVs directly from raw biofluids like blood, urine, milk, and more without preprocessing or specialized equipment. The method is faster, scalable, and highly efficient, yielding up to 1,500× more for milk EVs than traditional techniques. Beyond isolation, EVs can be preserved, enriched, and applied in diagnostics, therapeutics, and industrial-scale research.

Smart polymers change their properties in response to temperature, stress, or other stimuli, making them useful in drug delivery and soft robotics. But a major hurdle has been understanding how they behave when flowing or being stretched—conditions they face in real-world use. Now, researchers from Tokyo University of Science have developed a custom rheo-impedance device that provides the first look at these details, paving the way for more reliable and responsive smart materials.

The metal recycling industry is growing, not least due to the use of metals in green energy electronic components. Researchers at Lund University have examined the inhaled air of workers at 13 recycling companies in Sweden. Among the results, high levels of lead in air and elevated levels of multiple metals were detected in the blood of those who work in recycling.