An alternative to LASIK — without the lasers
Reports and Proceedings
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 20-Aug-2025 23:11 ET (21-Aug-2025 03:11 GMT/UTC)
Hundreds of thousands of people undergo corrective eye surgeries each year, including the laser-assisted technique known as LASIK. But the procedure involves cutting away tissue, which can result in negative side effects, prompting researchers to develop a less invasive technique that takes the laser out of LASIK by remodeling cornea tissue, rather than removing it, in initial animal tissue tests. The researchers will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.
Heat waves are becoming more common, severe and long-lasting. These prolonged periods of hot weather can be especially dangerous in already hot places like Texas. Now, researchers say it’s not just sky-high temperatures that make a heat wave unsafe, it’s also the heat-related increase in airborne pollutants. The researchers will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.
Finishing techniques used to make cotton fabric smooth, water-resistant and less prone to wrinkling can contain formaldehyde or PFAS and be detrimental to the environment and the wearer. Now, researchers at North Carolina State University propose a method for using cottonseed oil as a greener and safer alternative to formaldehyde and PFAS when finishing cotton fabrics to make them more water-resistant. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.
Acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause of acute liver injury in the U.S. Now, researchers propose that a new molecule has the potential to treat acetaminophen-induced liver injury (AILI) and other inflammatory conditions. As demonstrated in their small-scale AILI mouse study, the small molecule decreased liver inflammation and prevented further liver damage. The researchers will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.
From electric cars to AI data centers, there is a growing need for electricity. Nuclear fusion could provide vast energy supplies and with minimal emissions, but requires tritium, a scarce radioactive version of hydrogen. In contrast, there is an abundance of radioactive waste in the U.S. from nuclear power plant systems. To address both problems, researchers are evaluating new systems to convert nuclear waste into tritium. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.