Scientists at Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) have successfully realized the highly selective asymmetric 1,6-addition of aliphatic Grignard reagents to α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. This new methodology employs an iron catalyst in combination with a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, which suppresses undesired side reactions and drives highly regio-, stereo-, and enantioselective alkyl migration. The achievement represents a major advance in organic synthesis, offering new opportunities for drug discovery, materials chemistry, and the fine-chemical sector.

A piece of research carried out by the EHU’s Spectroscopy Group and the Biofisika Institute (CSIC/EHU) and published in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society has analysed the stepwise hydration of prolinol, a molecule widely used as a catalyst and as a building block in chemical synthesis. The study shows that just a few water molecules are capable of completely changing the preferred structure of prolinol.

The static nature of conventional phonon polaritonic crystals (PoCs) limits their use in adaptive nanophotonics. Now, scientists have created a hybrid α-MoO₃/graphene PoC that achieves dynamic control of low-loss Bloch modes. Using electrostatic gating, they demonstrated real-time reconfiguration of mode patterns and intensity. This approach also enabled selective signal enhancement via "flat bands" and achieved switchable far-field leakage. This platform paves the way for reconfigurable optical devices and adaptive optical devices.

A University of Missouri researcher is pioneering an innovative solution to remove tiny bits of plastic pollution from our water.

Surface ozone pollution remains stubbornly persistent even as emissions of traditional precursors decline. 

Electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) generated from nuclear explosions, high-power electromagnetic pulse devices, and intentional electromagnetic interference can significantly impact civilian and military infrastructure. Recently, researchers from the Republic of Korea and the USA have developed a transparent glass window based on an asymmetric hexagonal metal mesh film with ultra-wideband EMP-shielding capabilities for infrastructure protection. Notably, the proposed innovation is resistant to humidity, mechanical abrasion, and corrosive species.

By changing the physical structure of gold at the nanoscale, researchers can drastically change how the material interacts with light – and, as a result, its electronic and optical properties. This is shown by a study from Umeå University published in Nature Communications.

Low algal growth despite high iron supply: A new study in Nature Geoscience uncovers a surprising link between West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat and the growth of marine algae over the past 500,000 years. The team's findings suggest that global warming could potentially result in a reduced uptake of carbon dioxide in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean if the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is considered unstable, continues to shrink.