Sometimes plants are so similar to each other that the methods developed by 18^th century scientist Carl Linnaeus for identifying species are not enough. In a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, completely new species of daisies have been discovered when analysed using modern DNA technology.

Ising machines are specialized computing systems designed to solve complex optimization problems by arranging “spins” to minimize system energy. However, their fully connected architecture leads to a large circuit footprint, limiting scalability. In a recent study, researchers from Japan developed a method to halve the required spin–spin interactions using a novel matrix-folding technique. Their findings will pave the way for highly scalable Ising machines, making them more practical for real-world applications.

The predominant treatment for prostate cancer, a prevalent malignancy in men, is the surgical removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy) for which biopsy is a prerequisite. However, the high costs and associated complications of biopsy impose financial and health burdens on patients. A new study developed a diagnostic strategy for patients with prostate cancer to undergo radical prostatectomy without the need for biopsy, potentially decreasing hospital stay duration and reduced expenditure for patients.

A new electrode design developed at MIT boosts the efficiency of electrochemical reactions that turn carbon dioxide into ethylene and other products.

Industrial gas separation, essential for clean energy and environmental protection, demands efficiency and adaptability. Current materials, however, lack the flexibility to selectively separate gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) and hydrogen (H₂) while remaining energy-efficient. Researchers at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS) at Kyoto University and the Department of Chemical Engineering at National Taiwan University have developed a phase-transformable membrane that could meet these needs.