A few tears may someday reveal important clues about a person’s neurological health. Researchers reporting in ACS Omega developed a low-cost electrochemical sensor designed to detect dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in movement, learning, motivation, and emotional regulation. They tested the device using artificial human tears, where it accurately detected a range of dopamine concentrations. The technology could support the development of new tools for monitoring Parkinson’s disease and other conditions linked to atypical dopamine levels. 

Weyl topological superconductivity is a rare state promising for quantum computing, but it usually requires complex band properties like strong spin-orbit coupling. Researchers have now shown that transitioning from a 2D square to a 3D cubic lattice, simple repulsive interactions between electrons create geometric frustration. This naturally forms a unique octupolar Weyl superconducting state. By removing the need for spin-orbit coupling, this opens a simpler, universal path for discovering new quantum materials and realizing unconventional 3D superconductivity

A strategy encompassing simultaneous coprecipitation and oxidation has allowed the synthesis of highly oxidized amorphous precursors for BiNi₁₋ₓFeₓO₃. This approach overcomes conventional challenges by reducing environmental impact, improving safety, and reducing synthesis time by generating a highly oxidized amorphous precursor, allowing for a more efficient and controlled production of advanced functional oxides.

Researchers have traced the journey of a plastic bottle cap recovered near the waters of southern Japan by combining data from the label, chemical clues in tiny shells, and ocean current simulations. They found 307 organisms, including a polychaetae worm not found in Japanese waters before. The findings, published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, show that when species that significantly shape their environments (ecosystem engineers) colonize plastic debris, entire micro-communities can be transported over extended periods, with implications for invasive species risk and marine biodiversity conservation. 

POSTECH Demonstrates Stable Stacking of More Than 10 Ultrathin Si Chips, Achieving Four Times Higher Integration Density Than Commercial HBM.

High-speed movies of microscopic worms may sound like a dull night at the cinema, but this advanced imaging capability could help scientists better understand how diseases begin and progress, track subtle changes in cells and study how the body responds to treatments.

A new study published in Biochar reveals how specially prepared biochar can directly suppress a destructive soil-borne pathogen while helping rebuild a richer and more stable soil bacterial community. The findings offer a clearer scientific basis for designing biochar amendments that protect crops without broadly damaging beneficial soil life.

A new online Forum on Biochar Research will bring together global expertise to explain how three decades of biochar science are reshaping understanding of soil health, crop productivity and climate action. The event, titled “Review and synthesis of 30 years of biochar research and development,” will be delivered by Prof. Stephen Joseph of The University of New South Wales, Australia, and hosted by Prof. Jianying Shang of China Agricultural University.