A new viewpoint article published in JMIR Mental Health argues that AI systems should evaluate the reliability of human training and feedback data to improve safety in mental health applications.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions worldwide, yet effective treatments remain limited. A new review outlines how stem cell-based therapies can promote brain repair by reducing inflammation, supporting neural regeneration, and restoring neural function. It also highlights emerging strategies such as exosome-based therapies and biomaterial scaffolds. While early clinical trials and preclinical findings are encouraging, translating these advances into reliable clinical treatments remains a critical next step.

Humans constantly read each other's facial expressions during conversation, adjusting their responses based on what they see. Abdallah Hussein Sham, a recent doctor at Tallinn University, developed a new technology that allows AI agents and metahumans to do the same.

Researchers at the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics engineered a new desalination method that produces drinking water from seawater without chemical additives. In a study in Light: Science & Applications, Professor Chunlei Guo and his collaborators describe how their solar-powered system uses specially engineered black metal to absorb sunlight. Its self-cleaning surface separates and collects salts, instead of dumping them as harmful brine waste, and from the salts, the system can extract lithium, a key material for rechargeable batteries. The approach could help address global water shortages and growing mineral demand.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how biomedical materials are discovered and designed. In a new review published in Science Bulletin, researchers summarize how machine learning and generative AI are helping scientists predict material behaviors such as drug release, biocompatibility, and catalytic activity, and even propose entirely new inorganic materials for biomedical applications. The review highlights emerging applications in drug delivery, cancer therapy, anti-inflammatory treatment, and tissue engineering, while also discussing the challenges that still limit clinical translation.

A research team led by Professor Gao Zexia from Huazhong Agricultural University in China has successfully cultivated grass carp completely lacking intermuscular bones (IBs)—small, sharp skeletal structures that not only pose consumption risks to consumers but also limit processing efficiency. By runx2b gene editing, the team obtained genetically stable F₂ populations of grass carp without IBs. Comprehensive phenotypic analysis revealed no significant differences between IBs-free and the wild-type grass carp in overall skeletal development, bone mineral density, muscle composition or nutritional content. Multi-omics data further demonstrated adaptive remodeling in Calcium Signaling and Muscle Contraction Pathways, indicating normal physiological compensation. This study provides a feasible strategy for improving the fish efficiency of aquaculture breeding and enhancing the supply of high quality fish protein.

The Universitat Jaume I of Castelló and GEA Biotechnology have developed an antifungal aqueous suspension for the prevention of fungal infections in crops and fruit during the pre- and post-harvest stages. The new formulation is aimed at the biotechnology and agricultural sectors, and the partners are seeking collaboration for further development and adaptation to commercial applications.

The technology is based on biodegradable chitosan microcapsules encapsulating anethole, a natural compound with antifungal activity, which improves its stability and enables controlled release on crop and fruit surfaces. According to the research team, led by Carolina Clausell from the Ecophysiology and Biotechnology research group coordinated by Aurelio Gómez Cadenas, the formulation “enhances the antifungal efficacy of natural compounds and offers a more sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic fungicides”.

Vortices in superconductors have so far been considered a disruption, as they can impair the superconducting properties. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) proved now in experiment that magnetic vortices can be used as controllable quantum systems in certain materials. This means that a previously unwanted phenomenon is becoming a potential resource in quantum technologies, opening up new avenues for the development of quantum computers, highly sensitive sensor systems, and innovative approaches in materials research. The results have been published in Nature.  (DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10441-7)

EU-funded researchers have completed the most comprehensive assessment ever of Europe's "urban mine" — the critical raw materials embedded in waste streams including electronics, batteries, vehicles, wind turbines, and demolition debris. The  FutuRaM (Future Availability of Secondary Raw Materials) project mapped 42 critical elements across seven waste categories in 31 countries, finding that annual recovery could reach 4.1–5.7 million tonnes by 2050, potentially substituting up to 56% of primary material imports. Recovery of key metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel could grow dramatically, reducing dependence on China and other suppliers. The project's Urban Mine Platform makes all data publicly accessible to guide investment and policy decisions.