Stevia is a widely used sweetener, but why do some stevia varieties taste cleaner and more sugar-like than others? Recent research conducted at the University of Toyama shows that stevia’s sweetness is genetically linked to variations in specific glycosyltransferase genes and their cell-specific activity in leaves. By combining genetic analysis with cell-level imaging, the team uncovered how stevia produces its high-value sweet compounds, opening the door to better-tasting natural sweeteners for foods and beverages.

Near-infrared light is invisible to humans. And yet, under the right conditions, the human eye can perceive it. Researchers from the International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER) have now shown that the efficiency of this phenomenon depends not only on the laser pulse itself, but also on two highly specific factors: the beam diameter and the precise focusing of light on the retina.

Optical skyrmions hold promise for robust information carriers, yet existing technologies are limited to narrow-band generation. Scientists in China and Singapore invented an on-chip platform using ferroelectric spherulites. This device breaks the bandwidth limit by generating stable skyrmions across the entire visible spectrum. The technique paves the way for high-capacity optical communications and topological quantum light sources.

Physicists discover a new type of phase separation driven by a proliferating medium that rewrites the physics of particles inside it

Professor Chi Ming Che, Zhou Guangzhao Professor in Natural Sciences and Chair Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and the Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited (LSCCB), and Dr Wei Liu, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, HKU, and LSCCB, have developed an innovative portable AI-enabled optical sensing device that enables rapid, non-invasive cancer risk detection using just a saliva sample. This innovative technology integrates advanced chemical sensing with artificial intelligence and was awarded a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (2026), recognising its scientific excellence and strong potential for practical application.   

Minnesota Sea Grant researchers documented PFAS as a persistent presence in the Great Lakes atmosphere, with PFAS appearing in every rain and snow sample collected during a two-year project across Minnesota and Michigan. The researchers will present three analyses from the United States Geological Survey-funded project, Tracing Atmospherically Deposited PFAS from Source to Sediment in the Great Lakes Region, at the National Atmospheric Deposition Program Scientific Symposium, June 9-12, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin.

A new web tool called StructureMASST lets anyone search the world’s public metabolomics data by chemical structure.

Dan Russell from Pennsylvania State University will present his acoustic analysis of torpedo bats as part of the 190th ASA Meeting. He used modal analysis, which involves striking the bat with a special hammer and measuring both the impact force and the resulting vibrations. By striking and measuring at various points, he can see how movement in each part of the bat affects every other part. The analysis shows that the torpedo bat shape does affect the location of the sweet spot, which likely impacts how the bat feels.