Writing in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, a Chinese–industry team describe an industrial-scale route for spirally winding 0.3 mm bamboo veneers into 8–12 mm drinking straws. Steam-softened, flattened Moso bamboo is ultrasound-cleaned to remove colourants and starch, eliminating mould risk, then bonded with food-grade water-borne polyurethane. The resulting straws deliver compression (≈17 MPa) and bending (≈14 MPa) strengths that match premium paper straws yet absorb 60 % less liquid; 1 500-consumer blind tests ranked them first over paper and PLA. Life-cycle screening indicates 70 % lower CO₂ footprint than polypropylene.

Researchers review how hydrogel-based wearable devices can collect and analyze sweat to monitor health biomarkers like glucose, lactate, and electrolytes. These flexible, biocompatible sensors offer a non-invasive alternative to blood tests for real-time health tracking.

Scientists have designed a new type of gas sensor that can tell apart “mirror image” versions of the same smell molecule, even at very low concentrations. By coating carbon nanotubes with custom-built sugar-based receptors, the sensor can spot tiny structural differences in common volatile compounds like terpenes. This approach could help power future “electronic noses” for non-invasive medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and quality control in food, beverages, and fragrances.

In a remarkable leap forward for green chemistry, researchers at the School of Life and Environmental Science, Shaoxing University, China, have developed an innovative method to efficiently adsorb and reduce Au(III) ions to gold particles using cost-effective chitosan-functionalized cellulose nanofibers. This groundbreaking study, titled "Efficient Adsorption and Reduction of Au(III) to Gold Particles Using Cost-Effective Chitosan Functionalized Cellulose Nanofiber," offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for gold recovery, led by Prof. Baowei Hu.

The proliferation of rooftop solar panels and distributed batteries in residential neighborhoods has created new challenges for power grid operators. Blockchain technology is emerging as a promising solution for enabling secure energy trading among these networked communities. However, designing a blockchain system that can handle the real-time operational requirements and cybersecurity concerns of actual power systems remains a critical challenge. To address this issue, researchers at Illinois Institute of Technology developed and tested a permissioned blockchain system on networked microgrids connecting the IllinoisTech campus with the Bronzeville community in Chicago, demonstrating significant cost savings and revenue increases for participating neighborhoods.

Researchers from The University of Osaka created a reagent for important building-block molecules with an abundant main-group element, gallium. These early findings show that an organic gallium compound can display transition-metal-like reactivity under light irradiation. Using common main-group elements like gallium offers a new way to make sustainable catalysts that do not need expensive transition metals, which are environmentally damaging and vulnerable to supply disruption.