When water freezes into ice or boils into vapour, its properties change dramatically at specific temperatures. These so-called phase transitions are fundamental to understanding materials. But how do such transitions behave in nanomaterials? In Nature Communications, a team of scientists led by TU Delft presents new insights into the complex nature of phase transitions in magnetic nanomaterials. Their findings reveal the coupling between magnetic and mechanical properties, paving the way for ultra-sensitive sensors.

A recent study by the RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau shows extensive pesticide contamination in the landscape of the Upper Rhine Region. The research team led by Carsten Brühl shows for the first time that synthetic chemical pesticides from conventional agriculture do not remain on the cultivated areas, but spread from the lowlands to the Black Forest and the Palatinate Forest. The results show that the entire landscape is contaminated with pesticide mixtures, shedding new light on the potential environmental impacts of conventional agriculture. According to the researchers, pesticide use must be reduced urgently in order to protect areas around fields, orchards and vineyards.

Pollution by marine litter of anthropogenic origin –that comes from human activity– is currently one of the biggest environmental concerns given its increasing magnitude, especially due to the considerable amount of plastics present in the marine environment.

A study carried out by the University of Malaga and the Oceanographic Centre of the Balearic Islands (COB-IEO/CSIC) highlights the importance of making accurate estimates of the amount of these contaminants to face this challenge, which not only affects the scientific community but also the general public

The Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) Precision Medicine Institute today announces the recent opening of its innovative whole-genome sequencing lab that is revolutionizing the hospital’s capabilities to make genomic results accessible and integrated into patient care. Since its launch, the lab has dramatically changed how providers and patients benefit from genetic testing based on the speed at which results are available, the ability to seamlessly integrate into the patient’s electronic health record and the ease with which families can complete the test from home. 

Kanazawa University’s Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) is now accepting proposals from industry partners for collaborative research utilizing the world’s most advanced bio-scanning probe microscope (Bio-SPM) technology. This initiative aims to foster groundbreaking industrial applications by leveraging WPI-NanoLSI’s pioneering expertise in nano-life sciences.