A new discovery at the University of Missouri reveals that vitamin C may help protect reproductive health from a harmful environmental chemical. Using a fish model, researchers found that exposure to potassium perchlorate, a chemical commonly used in explosives and fireworks, can harm sperm production, potentially reducing fertility.

There is an increasing demand for novel materials with high-temperature oxidation resistance in harsh environments. Now, a joint research team from Jeonbuk National University and Korea Institute of Materials Science have demonstrated promising alumina-forming ferritic alloys that exhibit high-temperature oxidation resistance even under prolonged steam exposure. They achieve an outstanding balance between steam oxidation resistance, high-temperature strength, and cost- effectiveness, making them lucrative for high-temperature structural applications in extreme environments.

China Finance Review International has announced a call for papers for a special issue titled “New Frontiers in Sustainable Finance.” The issue invites original research on how sustainability and ESG considerations are reshaping financial markets, corporate behavior, and regulatory frameworks. Manuscript submissions open on 31 October 2025 and close on 31 July 2026.

A new rapid test for hepatitis C could help identify many more patients who could be cured of the deadly disease, but its use may be limited unless insurers’ reimbursement rises to cover its high cost, according to researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. The finger-stick test can be performed and results obtained in about an hour in an emergency department, clinic, or doctor's office. Point-of-care tests enable patients to start treatment while they are still in the clinic or emergency room, thereby making it much more likely they will be cured.