A study published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts examines whether hydrophilic deep eutectic solvents (DESs) can provide a technically and economically viable alternative to conventional pre-hydrolysis Kraft pulping for dissolving pulp production. Using Aspen Plus process simulation together with techno-economic analysis, life-cycle assessment, sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis, the researchers evaluated five process configurations at an industrially relevant scale. The results indicate comparable pulp yields, while revealing that DES recovery and energy consumption remain major barriers to competitiveness. A pre-hydrolysis-assisted configuration achieved the lowest modeled minimum selling price of 1,330 yuan per air-dry metric ton. The analysis also shows that economic and environmental performance do not necessarily favor the same process configuration.

A perspective published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts examines the emerging role of silk fibroin (SF)/polylactic acid (PLA) composite scaffolds in bone and related tissue regeneration. The review brings together evidence on material chemistry, scaffold architecture, interfacial bonding, degradation, mechanotransduction, osteogenesis, angiogenesis and immunomodulation. Rather than treating fabrication methods or biological responses separately, the authors discuss how these factors interact to determine scaffold performance. The review also assesses evidence across in vitro, animal and translational studies, concluding that substantial work remains before SF/PLA scaffolds can move toward human clinical applications.

A modular, origami-inspired aquaculture system could help move seaweed farming into the open ocean, where strong currents and scarce nutrients limit scale.

By pairing high-frequency sound waves with roller pressing, researchers have found a way to line up microscopic heat-channelling particles inside flexible plastics in under a second without needing external heat. The finished material is 19 times stronger and conducts heat 171% more effectively, offering a fast, energy-efficient route to keep bendable electronics and wearables from overheating.

Endosymbionts are widely distributed across various cell types in insects and are transmitted primarily vertically, while also spreading among different hosts through horizontal transmission. Functionally, they can be divided into obligate (primary) and facultative (secondary) endosymbionts. Obligate endosymbionts are essential for host survival, supporting growth, development, and stress resistance by synthesizing key nutrients such as amino acids and vitamins. Although facultative endosymbionts are not required for survival, they influence host phenotypes through reproductive manipulation, immune regulation, and environmental adaptation. The two types are functionally complementary, jointly meeting the host’s core needs in nutrient acquisition, reproductive strategies, and environmental adaptation.

Canavalia gladiata, commonly known as sword bean, is a leguminous crop with high seed protein content (26%–30%) and oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids. Despite its nutritional promise, the species has remained underutilized, largely because a complete genome and the genetic basis of its nutritional traits were lacking. Now, a research team from Yunnan University and BGI Research (Wuhan) has assembled the first gap-free telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome of C. gladiata, combined with integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of developing seeds. The study was published in Journal of Systematics and Evolution.

Early fire detection systems that are highly sensitive are essential for reducing the impact of fire disasters. However, their development still faces significant challenges due to the lack of capability for simultaneous monitoring of both temperature and gas. Herein, we propose a facile coaxial wet-spinning strategy to fabricate a dual-parameter fiber sensor capable of simultaneously detecting carbon monoxide (CO) and temperature for early combustion warning. The resulting core–sheath structured fiber consists of a CO sensing sheath made of SnO₂/In₂O₃ heterojunction/aramid nanofiber (ANF)/silver nanowire composite with biomimetic gradient pores, an ANF isolation layer, and a temperature sensing core composed of MXene. The gradient porous sheath constructed by gradient-induced phase separation technology exhibits gradually decreasing pore sizes from outer (> 10 μm) to inner (< 3 μm) regions. This structure demonstrates a significant enhancement in the fiber sensor’s sensitivity to CO, achieving a 15% higher response compared to non-gradient porous structures (ΔR/R₀ = 0.95%/ppm; detection limit of 10 ppm), with the response time reduced to 19.28 s, surpassing the response speed of most fire-warning fibers. Additionally, this fiber sensor can rapidly monitor abnormal temperature increases, enabling flame alarm functionality within 3 s. It also achieves precise real-time temperature detection within the range of 50–300 °C, exhibiting high sensitivity (20.6 μV K⁻¹) and a strong linear correlation (R² = 0.99). This work highlights the significant potential of gradient pore in enhancing CO sensing and offers a novel perspective for the design of ultrafast early fire-warning fiber sensors.