The fungus Talaromyces verruculosus can produce the chemical erythro-isocitric acid, which has received little attention on the market to date, directly from cheap plant waste and thus make it interesting for industrial utilization. Using the natural abilities of the non-genetically modified fungus, a research team from Jena has discovered a method for the efficient conversion of cellulose into a form of isocitric acid. The new production method could significantly simplify the previously complex and multi-stage process for obtaining platform chemicals from cellulose by requiring only a single bioprocess. Thanks to the new cost-effective method, the rarely utilized sister molecule of the intensively used citric acid can benefit a sustainable circular economy – provided there is a market for it. The study was published by a research team from the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI) in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

Analyzing DNA is routine in health care, but some genetic samples come from wilder places. Argonne National Laboratory’s Environmental Sample Preparation and Sequencing Facility has the skills to study nature’s weirdest, rarest genetic material.

A study published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts reveals that living mycelium composites, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional construction materials, can discern different weights through unique patterns of electrical activity. This discovery by researchers at the University of the West of England and the Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology in Spain introduces the potential for these biomaterials to be used as sensors in sustainable construction.

The Longevity & Aging Series launched its second season with a premiere episode featuring Dr. Irina Conboy and Xiaoyue (Serafina) Mei from the University of California, Berkeley.

A comprehensive spatial transcriptomic atlas of non-human primate (NHP) ovarian aging reveals the cellular and molecular alterations associated with ovarian aging at spatial resolution.

An open-access catalog of the global ocean genome offers novel taxonomical and functional insights and unlocks the potential of blue biotechnology

Traditional juice extraction methods, though sufficient for juice production, have limitations in terms of yield, quality, nutritional value, and sustainability. This has led to a growing need for improved juice extraction methods that can address these challenges and meet the evolving preferences of health-conscious consumers. PEF excels in juice extraction with high efficiency, preserving sensory properties and nutrients, while consuming less energy and offering excellent scalability as compared to other physical field technologies.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have used robots and artificial intelligence to dramatically speed up data collection and analysis in X-ray studies of liquids.