As global plastic production continues to rise, replacing fossil-based plastics with renewable and biodegradable alternatives has become increasingly urgent. Researchers have now evaluated hemp hurd-based biocomposite films as sustainable substitutes for conventional packaging and mulch films using a full cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment. Published in Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, the study demonstrates that these biocomposites maintain mechanical performance comparable to conventional plastics while offering clear environmental advantages. Among the disposal options studied, anaerobic digestion showed the lowest global warming potential due to electricity generation from biogas and the reuse of digestate as a soil conditioner. The results provide practical guidance for integrating agricultural residues into circular bioplastic systems and improving waste management strategies for emerging bio-based materials.

Staples like rice, wheat and maize sustain caloric requirements of billions of people worldwide. However, their refined grains lack essential nutrients, driving widespread protein malnutrition and lack of essential amino acids.

In APL Bioengineering, researchers designed a force-sensing miniature robot, called a mobile microgripper, to handle cell spheroids with care. The MMG resembles the gripping part of the claw toy, made of two arms connected by a hinge for a controlled — and gentle — gripping. It’s controlled by magnets, which are biocompatible with spheroids, decreasing the risk of collateral damage, and the gripping force is monitored and adjusted in real time, allowing researchers to adapt to the delicate nature of the cells.

MIT researchers developed a method for making an iron-containing gel that can form soft, magnetically activated structures. The gel could be the basis for microscopic robots and materials that can be controlled by an external magnet, for example to release drugs or grab biopsies within the body.

Globally, more than 460 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year, with millions of tonnes leaking into the environment. In a new paper published in Chem Catalysis, Adelaide University researchers explain how solar-powered technologies can convert plastic into hydrogen, a clean fuel with zero emissions.

Simulations by a team of scientists, including University of Groningen Professor of Artificial Intelligence Davide Grossi, show that an unrestricted flow of information can amplify incorrect ideas amongst like-minded people.

A new artificial intelligence model, PLGMamba, improves hyperspectral image super-resolution by combining local spectral similarity with global feature modeling.