revolutionary platform developed by researchers Joshua A. Pixley and Matthew Styles in the Bryan Dickinson lab that dramatically accelerates the discovery of custom protein binders. Recently published in PNAS, the PANCS-spec-Binders platform bypasses traditional, months-long biochemical bottlenecks by screening billions of synthetic variants simultaneously to isolate high-fidelity binders in just a matter of days. Utilizing an innovative process of simultaneous selection and counterselection, the platform achieves exceptional "isoform-level" precision—successfully distinguishing between nearly identical proteins, such as the cancer-linked KRAS mutation and its healthy counterpart HRAS. By eliminating the need for exhaustive secondary screenings, this breakthrough removes a major obstacle in chemical biology, opening new frontiers for the rapid development of highly targeted therapeutics and diagnostics.

Researchers have demonstrated that seaweed can be cultivated successfully at scale within offshore wind farms. By combining renewable energy production with seaweed farming, the same marine areas can produce food, feed and bio-based materials while helping remove nutrients from the sea. The technology is ready for deployment, but further growth now depends on developing markets, value chains and consumer demand for seaweed-based products.

This Q&A addresses how the history of sports in the U.S. reflects the changing economics and values of the nation as well as how politics and gambling are central to the story of sport. 

Can psychedelics help our minds and brains stay healthy as we grow older? That’s the question posed by a study launched earlier this year at the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics. The study is the first psychedelic neuroimaging study specifically focused on older adults, and will use MRI and other measures to investigate how psilocybin impacts memory, perception, emotion, and brain structure and function.

The dyes used in the clothes industry almost always come from fossil-fuel based chemicals. In the long-term, this will not be sustainable. In Sweden, scientists in the EU research project Locality are exploring whether algae can provide a more sustainable way to dye textiles.  

James “Jim” E. Serafin Jr. has been named director of the Facilities and Operations Directorate at ORNL. In this role, he will oversee the infrastructure, services, safety, and modernization efforts that support ORNL’s expanding research mission. Serafin brings extensive leadership experience in facilities management, laboratory modernization, and strategic planning, having previously led ORNL’s Facilities Management and Laboratory Modernization divisions.

Breakthrough treatment for rare and devastating epilepsy syndrome builds on years of research led by Hebrew University scientist Prof. Rami Aqeilan.

The project “Reconciling Fundamental Physics” explores how to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity. It integrates particle physics, cosmology, and gravity, emphasizing theoretical models tested through astronomical and laboratory data. The initiative also supports education, collaboration, and public outreach to advance understanding of the universe’s fundamental laws.