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Synthetic materials mimic seashells to enhance energy absorption

Millions of years of evolution have enabled some marine animals to grow complex protective shells composed of multiple layers that work together to dissipate physical stress. In a new study, engineers have found a way to mimic the behavior of this type of layered material, such as seashell nacre, by programming individual layers of synthetic material to work collaboratively under stress. The new material design is poised to enhance energy-absorbing systems such as wearable bandages and car bumpers with multistage responses that adapt to collision severity.

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Low-emission zones linked to improved air quality in Belgian cities

A team of health and environmental researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in Belgium, working together due to a request from health insurer Mutualités Libres, has found that converting parts of cities to low-emission zones (LEZs) improves air quality. In their study, published in the journal Environment International, the group compared air quality samples in LEZs with similar sites in other cities without LEZs.

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Microbial monitoring in reef waters offers accessible tool for ecosystem management

Corals everywhere on the planet live in harmony with microscopic organisms. Many corals get their vivid colors from microscopic algae which lives inside the corals' tissue and provides the coral with food. Even in the water surrounding coral reefs, there is a microscopic soup of bacteria, archaea, and other types of microbes that respond to changes in the habitat and can indicate whether or not the coral reef is healthy.

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Ocean microbes offer clues to environmental resilience

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new way to identify genetic changes that help tiny oxygen-producing microbes survive in extreme environments. The findings outline a new experimental approach for learning how microbes and other types of cells, including human cells, respond and adapt to environmental stress.

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Theoretical model provides fresh route to more efficient cooling using light and heat

As climate change and growing energy demands strain global systems, scientists are increasingly turning to passive cooling technologies—ways to cool objects or spaces without using electricity. One promising method is radiative cooling, which works by reflecting sunlight and releasing heat in the form of infrared radiation into space. But despite its potential, this method is limited by natural laws that cap how much heat can be emitted. Now, a proposed theoretical model has the potential to boost the power of radiative cooling, potentially changing the way we manage heat in a warming world.

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Ancient ocean sediments link changes in currents to cooling of Northern Hemisphere 3.6 million years ago

New research from an international group looking at ancient sediment cores in the North Atlantic has for the first time shown a strong correlation between sediment changes and a marked period of global cooling that occurred in the Northern Hemisphere some 3.6 million years ago. The changes in sediments imply that profound changes in the circulation of deep water currents occurred at this time.

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Subtle ligand modifications in aluminum complexes unlock enhanced solid-state light emission

Artificial light, once a luxury, has become central to modern life, with its evolution spanning from fire to LEDs. Now, researchers have developed a new class of efficient light-emitting materials as promising candidates to be applied to lighten the darkness. They demonstrated easily accessible aluminum-based organometallic complexes that have the potential to be applied in optoelectronic devices.

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Scientists map activation of prostaglandin E₂ receptor EP1 at atomic level

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a bioactive lipid derived from arachidonic acid, mediates a broad range of physiological processes through four G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) subtypes: EP1–EP4. While the high-resolution structures of EP2, EP3 and EP4 have been resolved, EP1 remained structurally uncharacterized due to its intrinsic instability, hindering detailed understanding of its Gq-mediated signaling.

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Finely-tuned TiO₂ nanorod arrays enhance solar cell efficiency

A research team led by Prof. Wang Mingtai at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a finely tuned method for growing titanium dioxide nanorod arrays (TiO2-NA) with controllable spacing without changing individual rod size and demonstrated its application in high-performance solar cells.

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From landslides to pharmaceuticals: High-precision model simulates complex granular and fluid interactions

A research team from the School of Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has developed a new computational model to study the movement of granular materials such as soils, sands and powders. By integrating the dynamic interactions among particles, air and water phases, this state-of-the-art system can accurately predict landslides, improve irrigation and oil extraction systems, and enhance food and drug production processes.

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