The grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will enable researchers to study dry-season prey concentrations in the Florida Everglades. The project will collect and analyze data on aquatic prey and habitat conditions to reveal the key factors driving wading bird nesting success. By identifying when and where prey concentrate during the dry season, the research will fill a critical knowledge gap, guiding restoration under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and supporting strategies to protect the Everglades’ iconic wildlife.

Carbon fibers (CFs) are advanced materials that benefit various applications, including light-weight components for aircraft, automobiles and wind turbine blades. At present, the predominant feedstock is expensive polyacrylonitrile. A team of scientists used cheap coal and waste plastics to produce liquefied coals, which were subsequently fabricated into general-purpose and high-performance carbon fibers. This process has the potential to decrease the price of CFs and contribute to environmental and economic sustainability. Their work is published in Industrial Chemistry & Materials on October 3, 2025.

Researchers from the South China University of Technology, Jihua Laboratory, and Jilin University have developed a new way to make deep-blue OLED (organic light-emitting diode) devices more efficient without compromising on color quality.