As climate change and declining public investment strain global food systems, institutions like CIMMYT play a critical role in sustaining agriculture worldwide

With the departure of the research vessel Polarstern from Punta Arenas (Chile) scheduled for this weekend, the "Summer Weddell Sea Outflow Study" (SWOS) international expedition will commence. Up to early April, a multidisciplinary international research team will investigate the northwestern region of the Weddell Sea – an area of central importance for the global climate and ocean system, but one that can only be explored on site by research icebreakers such as the Polarstern due to challenging sea ice conditions.

Ultra-thin crystalline silicon is an exciting material for next-generation bioelectronics, transforming rigid silicon into flexible nanomembranes while preserving superior electrical performance and CMOS compatibility. A new review paper systematically explores its manufacturing roadmap—from high-temperature on-wafer processes like oxidation and doping, through transfer printing techniques, to diverse applications including wearable health monitors, electrophysiological sensors, personalized neuromodulation, bio-integrated prosthetics, and bioresorbable implants that dissolve post-use.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and February’s designation as American Heart Month serves as an annual reminder of the importance of heart health. In a Q&A, Dr. Ramy Sadek, a board-certified cardiologist with UCR Health, discusses how lifestyle changes, appropriate medical screening, and managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol can reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.

India’s vast network of overhead power lines presents a persistent challenge for inspection and maintenance, with current methods proving either unsafe or prohibitively expensive. Two undergraduate students from IITGN’s Mechanical Engineering Department are addressing this gap by developing a wire-crawling robot that can autonomously traverse high-voltage power lines for inspection. What began as a classroom assignment for Nikhil Kumar Lal and Manas Kalal has evolved into a tangible prototype, whose thoughtful mechanical design is addressing large-scale infrastructure needs.